Welcome to our house, please don't steal or break our very nice things.
June 20, 2015 9:14 PM Subscribe
What's a gentle phrase I can use (english or non-english) to appeal to people's best selves to ensure that items in our new guesthouse/airbnb business are treated with respect?
After nearly nine months of renovations and planning further to my original question, our guesthouse/artist residency/airbnb will be launching in early August.
One of the artists that I work with will be painting a gorgeous gold-foil piece on the front door glass and as part of that piece I would like to include some sort of 'welcome' phrase that will, in the least passive aggressive way, communicate to new guests our desire for our stuff to be hand
led carefully.
Whether or not this was a good idea is besides the point, but we have really kitted out the place with a variety of gorgeous, expensive, and in some cases, delicate items. From artwork and small knickknacks to bigger things like appliances and furniture, we're really proud of the space we have created and cannot wait to share it with people, but I know (somewhat regrettably) from my own experience, that sometimes people can be a bit horrible.
Whether it's Latin, Spanish, or English, I'm open to anything that could be effective in this regard.
Bonus Question!
airbnb hosts, are there any other methods or strategies that you can seen or used to achieve similar results for your property/things? Are there any forums where issues like this are discussed?
airbnb travellers/vistors, apart from a security deposits, are there certain things that you have seen done which made you think twice about throwing mattresses out windows or starting an informal sex party?
Thankyou!
After nearly nine months of renovations and planning further to my original question, our guesthouse/artist residency/airbnb will be launching in early August.
One of the artists that I work with will be painting a gorgeous gold-foil piece on the front door glass and as part of that piece I would like to include some sort of 'welcome' phrase that will, in the least passive aggressive way, communicate to new guests our desire for our stuff to be hand
led carefully.
Whether or not this was a good idea is besides the point, but we have really kitted out the place with a variety of gorgeous, expensive, and in some cases, delicate items. From artwork and small knickknacks to bigger things like appliances and furniture, we're really proud of the space we have created and cannot wait to share it with people, but I know (somewhat regrettably) from my own experience, that sometimes people can be a bit horrible.
Whether it's Latin, Spanish, or English, I'm open to anything that could be effective in this regard.
Bonus Question!
airbnb hosts, are there any other methods or strategies that you can seen or used to achieve similar results for your property/things? Are there any forums where issues like this are discussed?
airbnb travellers/vistors, apart from a security deposits, are there certain things that you have seen done which made you think twice about throwing mattresses out windows or starting an informal sex party?
Thankyou!
Best answer: Maybe I'm just contrary, but the nicer I'm treated, the more likely I am to reciprocate. One host left a handwritten card and a six-pack of local beer; I remember the place fondly. Passive-aggressive notes tend to trigger my own passive-aggressiveness, though I try to rein it in.
posted by jaguar at 9:44 PM on June 20, 2015 [25 favorites]
posted by jaguar at 9:44 PM on June 20, 2015 [25 favorites]
Best answer: airbnb travellers/vistors, apart from a security deposits, are there certain things that you have seen done which made you think twice about throwing mattresses out windows or starting an informal sex party?
Hands down, family photos of relatable people. It makes it a little less 'Wow, this could be ANYONE's space!' and more 'this is someone's space, they probably like having nice things.'
posted by corb at 9:46 PM on June 20, 2015 [8 favorites]
Hands down, family photos of relatable people. It makes it a little less 'Wow, this could be ANYONE's space!' and more 'this is someone's space, they probably like having nice things.'
posted by corb at 9:46 PM on June 20, 2015 [8 favorites]
I hate to be the killjoy, but if it would really devastate you to have something broken or stolen after your guests have a party, just don't leave it there. Even with the best intentions, accidents happen. I'm not talking furniture, more delicate knickknack that are easily broken or pocketed. As you said, most people are great, some people are not.
posted by Jubey at 9:54 PM on June 20, 2015 [69 favorites]
posted by Jubey at 9:54 PM on June 20, 2015 [69 favorites]
Best answer: This may be better for inside rather than the front door. Studies have found that including a photo of human eyes next to instructions (like "leave $1 for a bagel" in a break room) significantly increases compliance. Maybe a framed photo of you+yours (tight on your heads to show yours eyes) with a light message ("Please enjoy your stay in our home").
Also, have several mirrors. There's a reason drug stores like Walgreens have mirrors lining the periphery (seeing oneself in the mirrors reduces shrinkage).
posted by JackBurden at 10:03 PM on June 20, 2015 [14 favorites]
Also, have several mirrors. There's a reason drug stores like Walgreens have mirrors lining the periphery (seeing oneself in the mirrors reduces shrinkage).
posted by JackBurden at 10:03 PM on June 20, 2015 [14 favorites]
Best answer: For the things that people created for you, maybe a small blurb about the item and a photo of the artist. Sometimes putting a face to the item, and some info about the effort it took to create it can make people appreciate it's specialness, and not see it as just a random thing. This could be done museum style (small notice on the wall next to the piece) or in the folder of house instructions that you leave for your guests.
posted by vignettist at 10:12 PM on June 20, 2015 [12 favorites]
posted by vignettist at 10:12 PM on June 20, 2015 [12 favorites]
Best answer: Make sure there's room to walk in and through to the bedroom with a backpack or large suitcase without knocking something over. (So no big breakable vase exposed on a central coffee table.) Anchor knick knacks on shelves etc with blutack or something. If someone with kids is coming, remove anything delicate that's lower than your waist. My honest (but clumsy) self thanks you!!
posted by jrobin276 at 10:31 PM on June 20, 2015 [23 favorites]
posted by jrobin276 at 10:31 PM on June 20, 2015 [23 favorites]
Best answer: In an art-filled/decorated cottage I stayed at recently, the owners left a small instruction sheet that also had a statement about how the art is all custom-made and very difficult to replace, so would you please take good care of everything. That definitely made me more mindful of the objects in the cottage, as well as pay a little extra attention to them and appreciate them!
posted by tickingclock at 10:37 PM on June 20, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by tickingclock at 10:37 PM on June 20, 2015 [2 favorites]
Best answer: Could you imply in the welcome packet/email that all those beautiful items you carefully picked out are ones you'd happily provide prices for if someone simply must have them? One thing that keeps me from pilfering towels, robes, etc from hotels is the price list that reminds me that they would notice those items if they went missing and will be charging me accordingly. The gentle reminder that you're aware of what you have in your airbnb rental and would charge the guest if they were to go missing would stop someone like me, who tends to rationalize the taking of way too many fancy hotel soaps with "there's no way they'll even know these were missing". (Shamefully, I know, it's not about the fact that pilfering something might affect a real person, it's how taking something might affect me. I'm a real cheap ass.)
posted by the thorn bushes have roses at 10:41 PM on June 20, 2015 [6 favorites]
posted by the thorn bushes have roses at 10:41 PM on June 20, 2015 [6 favorites]
As I read this passage: "Whether or not this was a good idea is besides the point, but we have really kitted out the place with a variety of gorgeous, expensive, and in some cases, delicate items." I actually whispered the words "what the fuck are you doing." If you love these items as much as you seem to, please, for the love of god, don't put them in your AirBnB rental property! Even if people aren't trying to be horrible, accidents happen.
posted by town of cats at 10:49 PM on June 20, 2015 [102 favorites]
posted by town of cats at 10:49 PM on June 20, 2015 [102 favorites]
Best answer: Since it will be painted in gold foil, perhaps something about the Golden Rule?
posted by that's how you get ants at 11:18 PM on June 20, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by that's how you get ants at 11:18 PM on June 20, 2015 [2 favorites]
Best answer:
In your earlier question, you mention that your place is pet friendly. It seems like a really bad idea to have valuable, breakable stuff with animals. I'd suggest at least restricting it to small pets. Our "official" policy is no dogs (also because of livestock on the property), but we usually make an exception when people ask.
You should not put anything in the place that you're attached to. Charge enough so that when (not if) something valuable is broken/lost you can just consider it part of doing business. You don't want emotions and attachments getting in the way of that.
posted by Emanuel at 12:11 AM on June 21, 2015 [10 favorites]
airbnb hosts, are there any other methods or strategies that you can seen or used to achieve similar results for your property/things? Are there any forums where issues like this are discussed?We have a place that sounds a little bit like yours, in that it's a unique place in a beautiful rural setting that's not trivial to get too (but not too far from the nearest big cities). We've had a good number of people stay here to finish books and such. We've found that's been pretty self-selecting and our guests have all been great. We greet everyone personally and always have fresh-baked bread, eggs and milk from the farm there when they arrive. Our guests treat the place as well as could be hoped for. That being said, things do inevitably get broken. Most of the time, guests offer to replace or pay for breakage (since we don't require a security deposit), but we basically chalk it up to the cost of doing business and we say "don't worry about it" unless they insist. However, we stay away from expensive stuff and mostly go for eclectic thrift-store finds instead, so most of what's broken isn't worth more than a few dollars out of pocket.
In your earlier question, you mention that your place is pet friendly. It seems like a really bad idea to have valuable, breakable stuff with animals. I'd suggest at least restricting it to small pets. Our "official" policy is no dogs (also because of livestock on the property), but we usually make an exception when people ask.
You should not put anything in the place that you're attached to. Charge enough so that when (not if) something valuable is broken/lost you can just consider it part of doing business. You don't want emotions and attachments getting in the way of that.
posted by Emanuel at 12:11 AM on June 21, 2015 [10 favorites]
Any signs that pretend it is "your home" when it is clearly a full-time rental property would probably not make me feel friendlier.
posted by the agents of KAOS at 1:52 AM on June 21, 2015 [11 favorites]
posted by the agents of KAOS at 1:52 AM on June 21, 2015 [11 favorites]
It is kinda sad that you are setting yourself up to be upset and disappointed. Even the Most Careful Guest can break something, especially a decorative item that has no purpose except that you thought it would look nice. For many guests, decorative items are just things they have to move around and take care not to break. They don't serve a purpose to the guest. Writers and artists particularly like having space for their own thoughts, props and materials.
Credentials: six years of operating a similar business. We considered all breakages, including tears in canvas wall decorations, a broken oven door, a chewed day-bed mattress, as part of the financial and psychological cost of doing business. That said, many guests often offered to pay for damage and breakages on check-out before we even knew they occurred.
posted by Thella at 2:25 AM on June 21, 2015 [18 favorites]
Credentials: six years of operating a similar business. We considered all breakages, including tears in canvas wall decorations, a broken oven door, a chewed day-bed mattress, as part of the financial and psychological cost of doing business. That said, many guests often offered to pay for damage and breakages on check-out before we even knew they occurred.
posted by Thella at 2:25 AM on June 21, 2015 [18 favorites]
I care more about customer service than stuff. I any airbnb I've stayed in, personal human touches (welcome note from host, practical things that make the stay more comfortable or easier) have made me take extra care. It is good that you want you be as non-passive aggressive as possible. People who rent airbnbs want to feel at home and relaxed and not anxious and worried about breakages (which are just part of life).
posted by bimbam at 3:10 AM on June 21, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by bimbam at 3:10 AM on June 21, 2015 [1 favorite]
We have our place on Airbnb. I personally wouldn't like to be told not no break stuff, so I don't do it either.. I don't know, this is a game of trust in a way (although there is an insurance in place that covers whatever might go wrong), and people who are careful guests don't need to be reminded, and careless ones just won't care, in my experience.
We don't have breakable nick knacks, which is purposeful. If you don't want it broken, don't lend it (because that's what you will be doing). If you must, take the above advice and make sure your entry space is quite bare, because most are not careful lugging baggage around. Same for high traffic areas. Frankly here the stuff that disappears is things like phone chargers, toiletries (like whole package of plasters..), you get the idea. And of course, people break plates and glasses, just as I do, so it's no big deal for me.
In my experience what seems to help the most is actually meeting people, welcoming them, having a bit of a chat. I do this with over 90% of my guests, and I will make sure to always do it if I possibly can. It helps that I have a very cute, friendly and smiling toddler, but any smile is a great social tool, and I'll bet it works much better than any written message. Good luck!
posted by neblina_matinal at 4:43 AM on June 21, 2015 [1 favorite]
We don't have breakable nick knacks, which is purposeful. If you don't want it broken, don't lend it (because that's what you will be doing). If you must, take the above advice and make sure your entry space is quite bare, because most are not careful lugging baggage around. Same for high traffic areas. Frankly here the stuff that disappears is things like phone chargers, toiletries (like whole package of plasters..), you get the idea. And of course, people break plates and glasses, just as I do, so it's no big deal for me.
In my experience what seems to help the most is actually meeting people, welcoming them, having a bit of a chat. I do this with over 90% of my guests, and I will make sure to always do it if I possibly can. It helps that I have a very cute, friendly and smiling toddler, but any smile is a great social tool, and I'll bet it works much better than any written message. Good luck!
posted by neblina_matinal at 4:43 AM on June 21, 2015 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Thanks for all the great feedback and ideas everyone! Some great suggestions here, especially on the bonus questions, that I did feel needed to be marked as best. The anecdotal tales from other hosts is really helpful as well - I'd love to find a place where we can read/learn more!
That said, I did also want to just chime in to clarify my position here in that we won't be devastated or upset if things go missing or get broken - it's really just trying to minimise those occurrences and extend the life of them to the best of our ability, and there's some great starting points here, so thank you again.
Still very keen for more replies to the primary question though as it relates to the text passage for the door artwork. Given that there seems to be a trend emerging in not having a message that's too over the top and instructive, I'm happy to broaden the scope a bit to include statements a bit more general in terms of welcoming people into the space if anything comes to mind :)
posted by LongDrive at 4:50 AM on June 21, 2015
That said, I did also want to just chime in to clarify my position here in that we won't be devastated or upset if things go missing or get broken - it's really just trying to minimise those occurrences and extend the life of them to the best of our ability, and there's some great starting points here, so thank you again.
Still very keen for more replies to the primary question though as it relates to the text passage for the door artwork. Given that there seems to be a trend emerging in not having a message that's too over the top and instructive, I'm happy to broaden the scope a bit to include statements a bit more general in terms of welcoming people into the space if anything comes to mind :)
posted by LongDrive at 4:50 AM on June 21, 2015
'Welcome Home'? 'Welcome To Your Home'? 'Our Home Is Your Home'? 'Welcome! You're Home'?...
It's too bad 'Be Our Guest' now seems to be inextricable from Disney.
posted by tomboko at 5:02 AM on June 21, 2015
It's too bad 'Be Our Guest' now seems to be inextricable from Disney.
posted by tomboko at 5:02 AM on June 21, 2015
Best answer: To build on a lot of the previous answers: I would probably not book a stay at an AirBnB that looked too expensively furnished; I'd be worried about spilling coffee or knocking something over. (And if it seemed like more time and money was spent on decoration than on comfort or a good experience, I'd be pissed.)
That said, I agree with jaguar: the kinder people are to me, the more motivated I am to treat them excellently in return. Provide thoughtful touches for your guests, and they'll be more careful.
Also, consider setting up one of the obviously-meant-to-be-consumed things in a luxurious, slightly-complicated-but-still-accessible way: fruit or muffins wrapped up in a beautiful basket with cloth napkins and "Help yourself" on a high-quality card, or fluffy towels rolled up with a ribbon tied around one - but make it obvious that they can untie and unroll all the towels to their heart's content. While guests are getting their fruit or towels, they'll be directly seeing and touching the care that went into the setup, plus they can't do so without "messing up" the display a little bit. These are things that are supposed to be messed up, of course, but guests will notice that the single towel they unrolled (or whatever) makes the whole room no longer perfect, so they're more likely to think "hey, I better keep everything else the way it is" and be cautious with the rest of the stuff.
Another trick that might work is leaving out a card that says something like "We strive to provide a beautiful space for our guests. If anything appears broken or out of place, please let us know so we can take care of it." The message on the surface is "we want to be considerate hosts," but with an undertone of "please don't break our shit."
posted by Metroid Baby at 5:23 AM on June 21, 2015 [7 favorites]
That said, I agree with jaguar: the kinder people are to me, the more motivated I am to treat them excellently in return. Provide thoughtful touches for your guests, and they'll be more careful.
Also, consider setting up one of the obviously-meant-to-be-consumed things in a luxurious, slightly-complicated-but-still-accessible way: fruit or muffins wrapped up in a beautiful basket with cloth napkins and "Help yourself" on a high-quality card, or fluffy towels rolled up with a ribbon tied around one - but make it obvious that they can untie and unroll all the towels to their heart's content. While guests are getting their fruit or towels, they'll be directly seeing and touching the care that went into the setup, plus they can't do so without "messing up" the display a little bit. These are things that are supposed to be messed up, of course, but guests will notice that the single towel they unrolled (or whatever) makes the whole room no longer perfect, so they're more likely to think "hey, I better keep everything else the way it is" and be cautious with the rest of the stuff.
Another trick that might work is leaving out a card that says something like "We strive to provide a beautiful space for our guests. If anything appears broken or out of place, please let us know so we can take care of it." The message on the surface is "we want to be considerate hosts," but with an undertone of "please don't break our shit."
posted by Metroid Baby at 5:23 AM on June 21, 2015 [7 favorites]
I would be offended by a note asking me not to steal things.
In fact it would really make me want to steal something.
posted by the bricabrac man at 7:28 AM on June 21, 2015 [5 favorites]
In fact it would really make me want to steal something.
posted by the bricabrac man at 7:28 AM on June 21, 2015 [5 favorites]
I've lived almost entirely in Airbnbs for more than a year now, and I also would be irked by signs suggesting that I not steal or break things. A message like "Welcome home" would be fine, but "Welcome to our home" would strike me as odd in what's clearly a full-time rental.
More important for your business: I agree with the other commenters who say they would actually avoid renting a place that has expensive-looking stuff. When I look for a place, I rule out rentals that have lots of decor or anything that could be remotely interpreted as fussy. I live in each place for at least a month, and I'm working while I'm there, and I don't want to have to dust or otherwise coddle any decor. I've also found through experience that places with decorative items tend to have inefficiently charming kitchens or other quirks that I don't want to have to deal with when I'm learning a new city.
I've also lived recently in some commercially run temporary apartments that were seriously nice (and expensive), and even they had very little in the way of breakable objects. They had some very nice artificial flower arrangements (hard to break) and some big canvas artwork (if you bump it it's fine), but they mostly achieved a high-end look with the colors and type of furniture they chose.
posted by ceiba at 8:09 AM on June 21, 2015 [4 favorites]
More important for your business: I agree with the other commenters who say they would actually avoid renting a place that has expensive-looking stuff. When I look for a place, I rule out rentals that have lots of decor or anything that could be remotely interpreted as fussy. I live in each place for at least a month, and I'm working while I'm there, and I don't want to have to dust or otherwise coddle any decor. I've also found through experience that places with decorative items tend to have inefficiently charming kitchens or other quirks that I don't want to have to deal with when I'm learning a new city.
I've also lived recently in some commercially run temporary apartments that were seriously nice (and expensive), and even they had very little in the way of breakable objects. They had some very nice artificial flower arrangements (hard to break) and some big canvas artwork (if you bump it it's fine), but they mostly achieved a high-end look with the colors and type of furniture they chose.
posted by ceiba at 8:09 AM on June 21, 2015 [4 favorites]
We manage a rural coastal vacation rental and we get a lot of people who had stayed up the street at another vacation rental that has signs on everything: "Don't touch these figurines," "Don't play the piano," etc., etc., you get the idea. Just saying, if you don't want people to touch your things, don't leave your things where they can touch/bump/break them. As to your sign, what springs to my mind is, "Mi casa es su casa."
posted by Lynsey at 10:53 AM on June 21, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Lynsey at 10:53 AM on June 21, 2015 [1 favorite]
I used to be a landlord and my best advice is to check references.
posted by theora55 at 11:25 AM on June 21, 2015
posted by theora55 at 11:25 AM on June 21, 2015
For your gold foil sign, "Welcome" is enough. Anything permanant should be simple. The 'our home' or 'your home' additions would be grating to me because it feels either excluding or overly gushy. Save any instructions or importunate phrases for the revisable printed materials inside.
posted by monopas at 11:41 AM on June 21, 2015
posted by monopas at 11:41 AM on June 21, 2015
As an airbnb visitor, I stayed in a place recently that was gorgeous but very cluttered. I am a very careful person and look after things very well. However, after three days in this awful flat I almost ran out of motivation to be careful because no matter where I turned or leaned or tried to put something down, I'd be knocking things over, or pushing things off tables or squashing things.
So my top advice to you is to make sure your place is uncluttered and that the easiest option is always to behave in a way that doesn't damage your stuff. This means no pictures hanging behind doors that will open into them if not opened carefully, nothing in the hallways where people will be moving luggage, bedside tables clear, kitchen worksurfaces clear, a free shelf in each bathroom. If you like things like runners on tables, make them wipable or take them off. Pictures should be securely fixed to walls, or at least not in places where they are easily knocked. If you don't want people to sit on the arms of chairs, make sure there are enough seats. If you would prefer shoes off in the house have a nice, empty shoerack. If you have sculpture, make sure it's not in the path between commonly used areas. Make sure the bins are large enough and in the right places.
I know that all sounds totally obvious, but the easiest way to change behaviour is to change the environment so that it doesn't prompt the behaviour you don't want. Most people who come into your property will want to look after it and will be cursing you if you make that hard for them. In the place where we stayed the grill handle got melted onto the bottom of the grill (this is the UK, so I think you would probably call it a broiler). I don't know if we did it or if it was like that when we arrived. The reason if happened was that the grill handle had been left on the bottom of the grill at the back. You just couldn't see it and we didn't even know there was a grill handle. You need to anticipate things like that and have a system to avoid them.
posted by kadia_a at 2:53 PM on June 21, 2015 [9 favorites]
So my top advice to you is to make sure your place is uncluttered and that the easiest option is always to behave in a way that doesn't damage your stuff. This means no pictures hanging behind doors that will open into them if not opened carefully, nothing in the hallways where people will be moving luggage, bedside tables clear, kitchen worksurfaces clear, a free shelf in each bathroom. If you like things like runners on tables, make them wipable or take them off. Pictures should be securely fixed to walls, or at least not in places where they are easily knocked. If you don't want people to sit on the arms of chairs, make sure there are enough seats. If you would prefer shoes off in the house have a nice, empty shoerack. If you have sculpture, make sure it's not in the path between commonly used areas. Make sure the bins are large enough and in the right places.
I know that all sounds totally obvious, but the easiest way to change behaviour is to change the environment so that it doesn't prompt the behaviour you don't want. Most people who come into your property will want to look after it and will be cursing you if you make that hard for them. In the place where we stayed the grill handle got melted onto the bottom of the grill (this is the UK, so I think you would probably call it a broiler). I don't know if we did it or if it was like that when we arrived. The reason if happened was that the grill handle had been left on the bottom of the grill at the back. You just couldn't see it and we didn't even know there was a grill handle. You need to anticipate things like that and have a system to avoid them.
posted by kadia_a at 2:53 PM on June 21, 2015 [9 favorites]
Make it clear in your Airbnb listing that your rental isn't appropriate for children, clumsy people, etc. I've rented through them a few times, and would be miserable if I got to a place that I thought was going to be your standard Airbnb and found delicate and expensive items that my family and I had to tiptoe around.
I tend to mock the artwork I find in Airbnbs; there's a reason hotels use such generic paintings. I am a boor and your expensive objets d'art are wasted on me. Your curated collection is someone else's clutter.
I highly recommend keeping anything you care about in your own house.
posted by The corpse in the library at 9:28 PM on June 24, 2015
I tend to mock the artwork I find in Airbnbs; there's a reason hotels use such generic paintings. I am a boor and your expensive objets d'art are wasted on me. Your curated collection is someone else's clutter.
I highly recommend keeping anything you care about in your own house.
posted by The corpse in the library at 9:28 PM on June 24, 2015
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It worked on me, but I'm a good guest in general.
posted by Joseph Gurl at 9:17 PM on June 20, 2015 [2 favorites]