Manners and etiquette for house guests are an age-old tradition that even people in the most remote of settings continue to follow. The internet is filled with articles on how you should behave when visiting someone else’s home, but there is no article like this one! Our guest blog will give you some tips on what it means to be a good host or visitor.
The “rules for guests in my house” are a set of manners and etiquette that should be followed by all people who visit someone’s home. It is important to remember that it is not about what you want, but about what the other person wants as well.
George Marks created this image.
Thanksgiving is coming up next week, signaling the start of the holiday season. This time of year, many of you will be traveling to visit family and friends. Staying with family and friends can be a lot of fun, and everyone appreciates free housing. However, you must constantly remember that hospitality is a gift that should be gratefully appreciated. This Christmas season, or at other time of the year, here’s how to express your thanks and make your stay as enjoyable as possible.
1. Send money to cover the cost of food. Send a check ahead of time to cover the cost of groceries and other incidentals involved in entertaining and hosting you if your host will be paying for your meals while you’re there. If you wait until you arrive to give dough, your host will almost certainly decline it out of courtesy. So simply send a donation with a letter about how pleased you are to be arriving before your vacation. If your visit is just going to be a few hours, take your host out to supper and pay for it instead.
2. Arrive on time. If you inform your host that you’ll be there on Wednesday morning, make sure you arrive on time. If you’re going to be late, phone ahead and let your host know when you’ll be there.
3. Bring a present. Bring a gift to express your gratitude for the free accommodation. It does not have to be large or costly. Baked goods, flowers, bottles of wine, or one-of-a-kind presents from your hometown are always welcome.
4. Keep your surroundings tidy. Make your bed and clean up your room every day before you leave. After you’ve finished with your dishes, put them in the dishwasher.
5. Help out around the home with tasks. Always be ready to provide a hand around the home. Assist with food preparation, dishwashing, and garbage removal. A polite host would never ask you to assist them directly, so simply jump in and start helping.
6. Try to keep your presence as unobtrusive as possible to your friend’s daily schedule, family responsibilities, and profession. Of course, your buddy may want to spend time with you, but you should never make demands on their time. To avoid getting in the way or becoming an imposition, try to match your routine to that of the home.
7. Make your schedule public. Every day, inform your host of your plans and try your best to keep to them. This will assist your host in determining when meals should be served and how late they should remain up.
8. Don’t completely disregard your pal. If your buddy lives in a “destination” city and the aim of your vacation is to see the attractions as well as chat with your friend, you should not neglect the former to pursue the latter. Nobody likes to feel like they’re being used as a hostel. When your companion is at work, go sightseeing together, organize things for when they aren’t, and include your host in your outings.
9. Bring some suggestions about what you’d want to do and see. While your buddy will undoubtedly want to do numerous activities with you, they should not be expected to keep you entertained all day.
10. Keep your dissatisfaction to yourself if you don’t appreciate all of the things your host has planned for you. Visiting a friend entails going on adventures with them that they like. Let your buddy know how much you appreciate their efforts in entertaining you.
11. Do not make disparaging remarks about your host’s hometown. If you’re a proud New Yorker visiting your country relative in Omaha, don’t harp on and on about how bad their city is compared to the Big Apple. Most individuals are proud of where they live, so be liberal with your comments.
12. Always inquire. Keep in mind that you are a visitor. Even if someone advises you to make yourself at home, you should still inquire before using anything. It’s simply a matter of courtesy.
13. Don’t remain for too long. Keep your stay to no more than three days. Your host has responsibilities, and they can’t put their lives on wait indefinitely.
14. Before you go, strip the bed. After you depart, your host will most likely wash the bed sheets. Strip your bed before you leave to make their task simpler.
15. Send a thank-you message to the person who helped you. True hospitality is one of the most valuable gifts a friend can provide. Sending them a thank-you card shortly after your vacation is a great way to show your appreciation.
Do you have any more suggestions for being a nice houseguest? Please let us know in the comments section.
Tomorrow: How to be a fantastic hostess.
The “long term house guest rules” is a set of manners and etiquette that should be followed by people who are staying in someone’s home for an extended period. The long-term house guest rules include things like not bringing food into the kitchen, leaving trash out, and not using the toilet without permission.
Related Tags
- bad house guest manners
- visiting family etiquette
- signs of a bad house guest
- house rules for visiting family
- 3 day rule for house guests