If you stayed at someone’s house what would you expect?

[Shutthedoorproperly]

I have visitors this weekend. It is sooo long since I had anyone to stay that I think I’ve lost the power of hosting! It’s at least a decade.

Someone tell me what I need to prepare/clean/sort! Thankyou!

Clean room/area/sheets and towels.

The house to be cleanish and for you to be happy to see me. Beyond that we can play it by ear. A spotless bathroom if we're sharing. No skidders in the toilet or hair in the bath!

I would also like for you to have a vague idea of the plans for my stay but we could figure that out together!

@Letsallscreamatthesistene

Id also make my guest aware that I have a 15mo that likes to wake up at 6 #sorrynotsorry but its a family home.

I have to warn people the cats can open the spare room door. Eh, it’s their room most of the time 😂

i would not expect anything much if I was visiting someones house. I would be going to visit the person/people there,that is the whole point. I do not require fancy fluffy towels, or shampoo, etc, I would not require special types of food stuffs. and bottles of water by the bed . I would not mind cat hairs, as I have three cats myself.

I always do all the washing up for everyone if I visit family, can't be bothered with dishwashers.

@WeIcomeToGilead

I can’t believe you need to ask Surely it’s largely common sense Pick the dog hairs out of the breadbin and clean the loo and you’re good to go

😂😂

I seem to remember once wondering whether I could BA to get the hoover out and get all the dog hair off the stair carpet.

@motogogo

Clean bedding, decent towel, soap, shampoo, conditioner and shower gel in the bathroom, check for allergies or dietary changes since last visit (eg have they gone vegan?). I would check whether they are comfortable dining inside if the plan is to eat out, some people are preferring to eat in the pub garden still.

A person who's fine with being a guest in someone's home but silly over dining inside in a restaurant wouldn't be going out with us at all. I wouldn't even think of asking something so ridiculous.

It is basic enough, and pure common sense. The house will usually be cleaner for the visitor than it ever is for normal day to day life.

I couldn't be arsed with all the prep, cleaning, extra food, cooking, chatting for hours on end, doing things to please the visitor when I'd rather be reading a book lol. (and terror of a hair in the bathroom). So my visitors stay in the lovely B+B down the road paid for by me. No stress on anyone and I host the visitors during the day where necessary.

Sorry now, but unless it is very close family who wouldn't notice what you did in preparation, it is time consuming and hard work having people to stay. I never stay with anyone either for the record, just go to see them and stay local. Everyone is happy and I can escape, the host is usually relieved also.

Hope the visit goes well OP.

@Bollindger

Do clean bedding. Towels on bed. Clean house as much as you are able. Do not over shop. Plan simple meals, and what you normally have. If they want wine, they can buy it. Do not offer to pay for meals out. Tell them you can all go Dutch

I cannot imagine anyone being such a CFer that they'd expect their hosts to also take them out for a meal, though, or for their hosts to supply them with alcohol.

Thankyou all!

We have lots of alcohol in the house, we actually don't drink more than 3 bottles of wine a year so most is gifts.
A friend asked to stay, yep they drank our wine, a lot of it. Let my 16 year old pay for their food, and actually asked if they needed their card as the followed to get pudding.
They also walked into an expensive restraunt and were looking at the menu and saying how good the steaks looked £25 each. I laughed and said I wasn't hungry, but would sit with them if they were buying themselves one. They looked shocked and we ended up st sandwich shop. Even there they ordered and looked at me, I said no, go ahead pay for yours, I still need to decide.
I have never let them stay again.

Clean sheets, clean room, en suite is nice(!), towels, to know what the plan is for food and whether we should help ourselves to drinks.

We're hosting this weekend and I've cleaned everywhere tonight as it's my last chance this week. Beds freshly made, towels out, some toiletries. One of the rooms has an ensuite and a coffee machine (it was a charity shop buy in perfect nick - looks barely used) and I put milk in an insulated bottle so our friends can have a tea or coffee without having to go to the kitchen. Just been out and bought gin, soft drinks, etc. Our friends are insisting they are buying us dinner on Friday night. Looking forward to seeing them.

We're going to stay with friends for the first time (I mean first stay with these particular friends) and when we saw them the other day I asked about their house rules, partly joking but also just so I'd know if there was anything I'd need to take into account. One of them emailed later saying there was only one rule, that we should make ourselves at home, not worry about disturbing them if we got up/showered before them, to help ourselves to hot drinks and breakfast as early as we wanted, etc. That was so nice to hear and exactly how I want my own guests to feel. So I think being a good host is actually more about making guests feel comfortable and relaxed, than the fluffiness of the towels or the poshness of the toiletries.