It is October First! And for anyone in retail that means THE HOLIDAYS ARE AROUND THE CORNER!!! Which means food, family, and relatives or friends crashing on your sofa. Lots of people in a small space can lead to tensions, so here are some notes for the hosts and hostess out there, as well as any guests.
Hosts & Hostesses:
Check with your Roommates: Seems like a no brain-er but sometimes in our excitement to see our old friends we might agree to let them stay before we check in with the other members of our household. Maybe your Significant Other prefers to hang out in his bathrobe in the mornings and doesn't want your Mom on the couch. Maybe your roommates prefer keeping the number of strangers they share a bathroom with to a minimum. Either way nothing feels worse than having to go back to your guests & let them know the invitation is rescinded.
Be Aware of Your Space: Do you really have the space to fit a guest? Would it mean they are sleeping on the floor? Do you have pets? Will other people be staying there? These are all things your house guest should know before they come stay with you. No one likes arriving & expecting the guest room, only to find out they are on the pull out couch. Just keep the lines of communication open.
Stock Up: You will have another person in the house: do you have enough toilet paper? paper towels? Coffee? Milk? Towels? A quick check a few days before can make a big difference on the essentials. If there is something you don't have enough of (towels for example), let your guests know it is BYO. Also, it is VERY helpful to have another set of keys made for them so your guest can come & go as they please.
Talk Schedules: Is your guest in town for an event? Do they have other friends in the area they want to see? Are they traveling for work? Get an idea of how they want to spend their time. Midnight Margaritas might not be so appealing to someone who has a breakfast meeting the next day.
Be Honest About Your Schedule: How much time you will have with your guests? How willing you are to play tour guide? Sometimes a guide book & recommendations for the area are all someone needs, other times they want as much time as possible with you. If you are not up for it on weeknights, make they very clear when you are discussing the plans. If the holidays are a stressful times because you are going to be cooking 24/7 and still need to do some shopping, it might not be a great idea to have guests who are not independent.
Guests:
Give Plenty of Notice: No matter how many times someone says "You are always welcome", you must give your host a heads up before you arrive. A week is the minimum amount of time to give your host so they can properly check their calendars, stock up, & clean up. If it is the holiday crunch time make it 2 weeks.
Bring a Gift: This person is saving you quite a bit in hotel fees & probably feeding you as well, the least you can do is give them a little present to let them know you appreciate them. A nice bottle of wine, some chocolates or other desserts are always nice. If you are stay for more than a few days, offer to take them out to dinner as well. Don't forget that they will have a higher water, grocery & probably electric bill after your stay.
Offer to Help: Most of the time your host will tell you to sit down and relax, but you should keep offering to give them a hand. Clearing the table, doing the dishes, & other small items like that are a big help. If your stay is more than a few days, offer to make dinner for them one night.
Pick Up After Yourself: If you are staying in a guest room, you can be a little more relaxed, but if you are in the living room, please keep your dirty clothes in your bag, & your shoes off the furniture. When it is time to leave, strip the bed and bring the bedding to the laundry hamper.
Don't over stay your welcome: Have a very clear departure date when you set up the stay. Be honest about how much you'll expect from your hosts in terms of chauffeuring, tour guiding, & the hours you like to keep. If you are coming to the area ever month, try and rotate who you stay with so as not to annoy your friends.
That's all for now friends. Please keep checking back for more etiquette tips & questions answered & feel free to write in with any questions!
XOXO
Your Amie Polie (That's Polite Friend in French-Talk)
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