Could/would you have someone to stay right now?

[DancingLions]

If they rang your doorbell and announced they'd come to stay for a few days.

Relative and I are in disagreement! Relative thinks it's a nice surprise and if the visitor doesn't mind what state the house is in and/or whether you need to leave them to go to work, then it's all fine. You should be happy to see them and grateful they made the effort. I think it's massively inconvenient and would far rather know the person is coming so I can prepare, maybe book a couple of days off etc.

We're struggling to see each others view point on this so I'm curious as to what other people think.

We got rid of our guest room because it’s not possible for guests to meet the allergy rules for staying in our home without massive and unreasonable preparation. So if someone showed up on our doorstep they would not even be offered the sofa.

I wouldn’t mind, as long as it wasn’t anyone fussy or the sort of person who’s going to be looking for dust. Spare bed can soon be ready, and a quick blitz of the guest bathroom, which is the one I mostly use.

Of course in an emergency situation I'd do whatever I could to help someone, including letting them stay. Although, if I'm being honest, I would hope that would be very short term. Wouldn't be up for having anyone here for weeks on end.

My adult DC of course are always welcome, although they wouldn't just turn up unannounced anyway. Even in an emergency scenario they would have messaged or called first. They would want to make sure I'm actually here for a start.

Seems most are like me and most of the rest would at least appreciate a heads up before the person arrives!

It is a close relative and as I say, scheduled visit, lovely. I enjoy that. But the time they did show up unannounced I had a load of other stuff going on and having to host them on top of that caused me a lot of stress.

NO!

For a start, my house is only 'live-ably' clean. I like it to be immaculate when I have guests... and while I'm in work (think: extremely long shifts), it is not going to be immaculate!

Fortunately, I live too far away and too remotely for most of my family and friends to cope with 😄

I'm not quite as bothered when it comes to having someone's pet to stay over, though. They are generally much less exhausting than humans of an evening!

I would hate that! I don't like it if anyone turns up unannounced, even if it's just for a coffee. If I'm having guests, I like to prepare for them. I don't like surprises and I usually have plans for the day so I'd hate having to change them too.

Grateful THEY made an effort - what to turn up and get on tap hospitality 😄.

Catch yourself on.

No! I like privacy, doing what I like and I hate sharing my bathroom. I wouldn’t like have to worry about meals either. I might just fancy crackers and cheese, instead of feeling I had to cook full meals.
The exception is my two adult children, and even then the visit would be planned

Nope, my house is never visitor-ready and I'd resent the intrusion. I can't think of any circumstances where I'd be happy for someone to stay unannounced - we have a hotel on our road and I'd direct someone there if they had nowhere to sleep.

Yes I’d be able to put them up no problem. House is always tidy (ish) and I have always got the spare bedroom made up nicely. It may have a pile of ironing in there that would need putting away, but other than that it would be do-able.

I never have much food in though as I usually only buy enough for a couple of days at a time…there’s only me and stuff goes off so quickly. Plenty of take away shops nearby though…or I could rustle up an omelette or some cheese on toast 🤣

I do have about 40 bottles of wine though, so at least we’d have a fun evening 🙌🏼👌🏻😍

I mean, in theory there would be a room to house them if they didn’t mind sleeping in dirty sheets. The rule is that if Dh invites someone to stay, he has to sort the towels and bedding. I will not touch it. His job. The dirty sheets and towels are therefore STILL languishing in the spare room/en-suite from 3 months ago. 🙄

But if someone turned up at my house uninvited and asked to stay, I’d tell them where to go though. And it wouldn’t be as polite as to the local Travelodge. They definitely wouldn’t be invited back again.

If they want to sleep on the sofa, sure. I’ve got nowhere else for them 😂 I’m absolutely fine with unannounced guests, as long as they’re not expecting me to drop everything to entertain them, but unexpected overnight quests is another thing altogether! I don’t think I’d turn someone away but I would be baffled!

In terms of the general tidiness of the house, yes. However, the spare bedroom is currentlh a laundry dump and craft chaos room! We do actually have our pet sitter coming to stay for a few days on Friday morning, so I need to sort out the spare room tomorrow!

But just turning up unannounced and wanting to stay over?! Nope. That's not a nice surprise, it's rude and unreasonable!

I think this depends on your attitude to visitors staying in general. I'd hate it. Our meals are pre-planned & prepped, all done on the weekend, so I'd have to short out more food, with no chance to get to the grocery store. Also we have a busy schedule and I'd be peeved having to work out how to accommodate guests, or cancel existing plans. Also would have to juggle rooms around, but no real issue. I'd be annoyed at the extra work, mostly, and that most who come to stay on short notice just want a free hotel.

Whereas my friend would just love it. Really enjoys guests & will take anyone who just turns up!

My home is always visitor ready but not overnight guest ready, we don’t have a spare room or a sofa bed. We have enough rooms and beds for us, that’s it.

What would relative have done if you had other guests staying or if you were just about to go on holiday…

I think your relative is out of order

I would be horrified! My house isn't ready for an overnight visitor, and I'm not in the right headspace for being a host. I'd probably steer them off to a hotel instead.

Hopeless here but then nobody would just turn up anyway as they know we don’t have anywhere for visitors to sleep!

Yes, but only because my 18 year old and 13 year old have cleaned the entire house today AND bathed the dog! I got home not that long ago 😁

I don’t even answer the door to unexpected callers, so definitely not!

I used to get annoyed at the MN saying I never open my door but I am 100% behind this for you OP

I have a spare room that’s always tidy. It's got not clean bedding on it because if someone stays I don’t change the bedding straight away as it could be 6 months plus till someone stays again so I’ll do it just before someone stays again. Feck me changing the bedding straight away for a random turning up

kitchen is a mess at moment, I’ve been proper busy at work this week so will sort it tomorrow, don’t be turning up at my door making me feel bad for this