Manology

AMAZING how to be an house guest

Whether you’re crashing with a friend for convenience, invited for a leisurely stay at a cousin’s lake house, or headed to your future in-laws’ place for the first visit— headed to your future in-laws’ place for the first visit— house guest etiquette matters. If you have ever hosted family or friends, you know just how refreshing a well-behaved and respectful house guest is, and how exhausting a not-so-awesome house guest can be. 1. Let Them Know When You Plan to Arrive and Leave. 1. Let Them Know When You Plan to Arrive and Leave.

Let your host know what time you will arrive and what Let your host know what time you will arrive and what time you plan to leave. This gives them time on both ends time you plan to leave. This gives them time on both ends to prepare for your coming and know when their hosting to prepare for your coming and know when their hosting duties are finished! It’s respectful and allows your host to duties are finished! It’s respectful and allows your host to make plans for the rest of their day. make plans for the rest of their day. 2. Bring a Gift. 2. Bring a Gift. A grateful guest always brings their host A grateful guest always brings their host a gift—at least a little something to show their gratitude. a gift—at least a little something to show their gratitude. No need to haul something huge and extravagant to their No need to haul something huge and extravagant to their place. A local treat from your hometown bakery, a coffee place. A local treat from your hometown bakery, a coffee table book, flowers, or bottle of wine are all classic wins, table book, flowers, or bottle of wine are all classic wins, but you can be creative if you know their personality well! but you can be creative if you know their personality well! 3. Be Respectful of Their Schedules. 3. Be Respectful of Their Schedules. During your time During your time there, daily life may still happen for your host. Kids still there, daily life may still happen for your host. Kids still need to go to school, parents to work, among other things! need to go to school, parents to work, among other things! Be wary of when you are in the way and give them space Be wary of when you are in the way and give them space to do their usual routines! to do their usual routines! 4. Follow the House Rules. 4. Follow the House Rules. Each home is different! When Each home is different! When you arrive, gently inquire about how things are done to avoid you arrive, gently inquire about how things are done to avoid any misunderstandings. What time does everyone usually any misunderstandings. What time does everyone usually wake up and go to bed? Anything you should know about wake up and go to bed? Anything you should know about

the kids or pets? Should you leave the thermostat alone? the kids or pets? Should you leave the thermostat alone? Pick up on other house rules—like whether you should take Pick up on other house rules—like whether you should take your shoes off or if you shouldn’t bring your phone to the your shoes off or if you shouldn’t bring your phone to the dinner table—by being in tune with your hosts. dinner table—by being in tune with your hosts. 5. Limit Your Phone Use. 5. Limit Your Phone Use. Spending too much time with Spending too much time with your face in a screen will make your hosts feel like they’re your face in a screen will make your hosts feel like they’re boring you (and, honestly, you might be boring them). It makes your company feel like there’s somewhere else makes your company feel like there’s somewhere else you’d rather be, or someone else you’d rather be spending time with. Limit screen time and only check emails, ing time with. Limit screen time and only check emails, texts, and social media in the privacy of your own room. 6. Be Extremely Helpful. Unhelpful guests rarely get in-Unhelpful guests rarely get in vited back. Things you should offer to do—help prep or vited back. Things you should offer to do—help prep or cook meals; set the table and do the dishes; drive people cook meals; set the table and do the dishes; drive people in your car; occupy the kids while their parents take a in your car; occupy the kids while their parents take a well-deserved nap; fix a little something around the house well-deserved nap; fix a little something around the house if you have the skills; or take the dog for a walk. Even if you’re turned down, your host will appreciate the gesture. you’re turned down, your host will appreciate the gesture. 7. Offer to Buy Dinner. If applicable, treat your host to a nice dinner! This doesn’t have to be at a restaurant, you nice dinner! This doesn’t have to be at a restaurant, you can simply offer to pay for some extra groceries. If you can simply offer to pay for some extra groceries. If you are driving around town a lot during your stay, you can are driving around town a lot during your stay, you can also offer to pay for some gas as a sign of your gratitude. 8. Leave Things Better Than How You Found Them. If there’s one thing to take away from these etiquette tips, there’s one thing to take away from these etiquette tips, it should be this—leave the place as clean as possible when you go. The last thing you want is for your host to when you go. The last thing you want is for your host to have to hire a cleaner after your stay. On your last day, have to hire a cleaner after your stay. On your last day, triple-check the bedroom and bathroom for your belong-triple-check the bedroom and bathroom for your belong ings, and strip the sheets and put them in a pillowcase at ings, and strip the sheets and put them in a pillowcase at the foot of the bed. Do a quick wipe-down of the counters the foot of the bed. Do a quick wipe-down of the counters in the bathroom for toothpaste, extra cups, or loose hair. in the bathroom for toothpaste, extra cups, or loose hair. And, of course, return any items to their place, like a book And, of course, return any items to their place, like a book or magazine you borrowed from the bookshelf. or magazine you borrowed from the bookshelf. 9. Make Sure You Say Thank You. Thank your host three times—when you arrive, when you’re about to leave, and times—when you arrive, when you’re about to leave, and once more after you’ve written a handwritten thank-you once more after you’ve written a handwritten thank-you note. Believe me when I say an email won’t cut it. Throw note. Believe me when I say an email won’t cut it. Throw in a specific detail about how much fun you had doing a in a specific detail about how much fun you had doing a certain activity, how hard you laughed at a particular sto certain activity, how hard you laughed at a particular story, or how delicious a specific meal was. Finish with an ry, or how delicious a specific meal was. Finish with an offer to open up your own place later on. offer to open up your own place later on.

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