Helpful Rules for House Guests to Follow!

Jan 2019

This week’s video is about rules for house guests with some do’s and don’ts.

One time I found out I was overstaying my welcome when my friend’s wife yelled at me for taking a shower because the maid had just cleaned the shower.

So I’m thinking, but I didn’t say it out loud, “what the hell am I supposed to do?”

Before we get to the do’s and don’ts, let look at some signs that you, the guest, could be…

Overstaying your welcome!

Sign #1

Your host looks angry and disengaged when s/he sees you in the morning. They may say: “no talking until I have had my second cup of coffee.”

Sign #2

Your host starts spending more time in their room.

Sign #3

They go back to their normal routine without inviting you. Your host says they have plans that were set long before you said you were going to stay over.

Sign #4

You host complains that you don’t clean the bathroom after using it. For example, you left water spots on your glass shower door.

Now for some do’s and don’ts.

Let’s start with the do’s:

DO…

Offer to do chores such as grocery shopping, filling up the car with gas, and doing the laundry.

Make sure that your planned visit happens at a convenient time for the host.

Make your bed, and keep your room and bathroom clean.

Send a handwritten thank you note once you get home. Another option is to bring or send a gift.

Make sure you show you are enjoying yourself.

Ask what you should do with the bed linen. Standard practice is to remove, fold and leave the sheets at the end of the bed

Now for some don’ts.

DON’T…

Expect dinner! Whenever you are someone’s houseguest, you are on vacation, your host has to work. You should be preparing dinner or making dinner plans; don’t ask your host where are we going to eat tonight. They just had a crappy day at work. How about helping out and picking a place?

Stay too long, no longer than 3 nights. Remember guests like fish start to stink after 3 days.

Use their electronics without asking first.

Use It or Lose It – Rules for House Guests

When you are a house guest, look out for the signs you may be overstaying your welcome

And remember the do’s and don’ts.

When to Use It

Whenever you are someone’s houseguest

What Do You Think?

Have you ever overstayed your welcome or had someone overstay their welcome? Do you have any other do’s and don’ts that we didn’t mention?

Please share your thoughts in the comments below!

Until next time, behave and as always…Prime Your Pump!
–Howie

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Ah yes, the trials and tribulations of being a house guest or a host. Probably the first item that must be established in advance is the length of the visit. Never let a visit be open ended. Three nights seems to be the optimum, although there are exceptions. When we visit my sister in Missouri, or she & her husband fly west, a week appears to be ideal for both of us. But that’s a special circumstance.
When visiting friends in another state, we to try and limit the length to 3 days so as not to be a bother. On one of the nights, we take the host out to dinner at a place of their choosing, as we are probably not familiar with the dining options in their area. What housewife does not appreciate a No Cook night.
Giving the hosts a good bottle of wine always seems to be appreciated. You are so absolutely correct regarding neatness in the bedroom and bath. When at Pat’s we strip down the bed on the last day, and pile the sheets and towels on top of the washer, as that’s where she wants them. We also try our best not to mess up the bathroom, especially the mirror. Yes, your habits do change in somebody else’s house.
Absolutely correct about electronics. Last summer in Missouri I asked my B-I-L if I could use his computer. He loaned me an old laptop to futz around with for emails and the net. No hassle.

In 1970 while living in the group house in Pennsylvania 5 of us decided to drive to Indianapolis for the annual race. This was a no brainer for me, something I had always wanted to do since I was a kid. So we pile into Dennis’s old Dodge, and off we go. His parents lived in Indianapolis, so we would make their house the “headquarters”. One of my best road trips ever. 4 of us crashed on Dennis’s parents floor – not the first nor the last time I’ve slept on a floor. We watched the race from the infield at Turn One and got totally blitzed. Upon returning to Pennsylvania, I bought a small schmaltzy card in a gift shop and sent it to Dennis’s mother, thanking her for the hospitality and use of the floor. About a week later, Dennis comes up to me and that his mother received the card and was totally impressed. I was the only person to send one.

One Reply to “Helpful Rules for House Guests to Follow!”

Dave Savadge says:

January 18, 2019 at 4:37 pm

Ah yes, the trials and tribulations of being a house guest or a host. Probably the first item that must be established in advance is the length of the visit. Never let a visit be open ended. Three nights seems to be the optimum, although there are exceptions. When we visit my sister in Missouri, or she & her husband fly west, a week appears to be ideal for both of us. But that’s a special circumstance.
When visiting friends in another state, we to try and limit the length to 3 days so as not to be a bother. On one of the nights, we take the host out to dinner at a place of their choosing, as we are probably not familiar with the dining options in their area. What housewife does not appreciate a No Cook night.
Giving the hosts a good bottle of wine always seems to be appreciated. You are so absolutely correct regarding neatness in the bedroom and bath. When at Pat’s we strip down the bed on the last day, and pile the sheets and towels on top of the washer, as that’s where she wants them. We also try our best not to mess up the bathroom, especially the mirror. Yes, your habits do change in somebody else’s house.
Absolutely correct about electronics. Last summer in Missouri I asked my B-I-L if I could use his computer. He loaned me an old laptop to futz around with for emails and the net. No hassle.

In 1970 while living in the group house in Pennsylvania 5 of us decided to drive to Indianapolis for the annual race. This was a no brainer for me, something I had always wanted to do since I was a kid. So we pile into Dennis’s old Dodge, and off we go. His parents lived in Indianapolis, so we would make their house the “headquarters”. One of my best road trips ever. 4 of us crashed on Dennis’s parents floor – not the first nor the last time I’ve slept on a floor. We watched the race from the infield at Turn One and got totally blitzed. Upon returning to Pennsylvania, I bought a small schmaltzy card in a gift shop and sent it to Dennis’s mother, thanking her for the hospitality and use of the floor. About a week later, Dennis comes up to me and that his mother received the card and was totally impressed. I was the only person to send one.