How to Be a Good House Guest
Traveling around the country can be rather expensive, especially if you take the cost of the hotel and meals into consideration. There is also the cost of the flight. Sometimes a family member or friend will offer you the chance to stay at their place free, thus, decreasing the amount of money that you have to fork over. There are several rules of basic common etiquette that should be followed when you are a houseguest in someone else’s home.
Common Etiquette for Houseguests -
- Discuss the date of your arrival and departure - It is important that you clearly define the day in which you will be arriving to stay as a houseguest as well as a departure date. Talk it over with your hostess to see how long she can have you for a houseguest without you becoming a burden. Once the dates have been set, stick to the plan.
- State who will be coming along- If you are planning to arrive at the home by yourself, say so. If you plan to bring the husband and kids, let the host know this as well and check to make sure that he/she has enough space to accommodate all of you.
- Follow the House Rules- It is important that you follow the house rules. This means if no shoes are allowed in the house, then it is no shoes.
- Be comfortable around their pets - Pet them if you want, but do not offer them people food. The pet owner knows how, when, and what to feed their pets. . If pets are an issue for you because of allergies or phobias, clarify that before you even arrive. Your host is NOT going to get rid of their pet for a few days just to make you comfortable and it would be horrible of you to ask them to do so. Remember that YOU are the guest
- Share in the Workload - Do not expect your hostess to do all the work. Offer to help with the dishes or even do them when she is not around. Tidy up any mess that you make and offer to assist in other chores that are needed.
Following these tips will ensure that your stay will be remembered with fondness.
Knowing the proper etiquette when staying at someone’s house will help to ensure that you may be invited back for another visit.
What are your best tips for being a house guest?
