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What are your house rules?

Hello
Because of missunderstanding of room policies ( as many guests do not pay attention on it)
We just made small poster of rules and regulation that we keep in apartment for guest to read and understand the management policies. This also include the local government policies which have to be followed by the guest.
I hope we will decrease risk of damage made by guests and become able to to charge them easily for irrisponsible behaviour.

Please give me more ideas and opinions.


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Corinne Orde 5 years ago

Hi Beatrice,

I agree that it's very frustrating that we aren't allowed to supply our own descriptions of our property in tour own words, but the way to make sure that bookers are aware of the fact that they're booking a room in a home where there's a resident cat, is to make sure that your cat features in some of the exterior shots. Then allergic/asthmatic guests won't be able to complain that they didn't know about the presence of the cat. You can use images to give out all kinds of clues about the kind of property it is, and pictures speak louder than words. People tend not to read rules and small print, but as a general rule they do enjoy looking at pics, and will often base their final booking decision on the look of a place, so there's a good chance they will have seen the cat and gone "Ah!" in delight or "Oh!" in horror. I've had guests who came to my house because they saw the pic of the deer in the garden. I've had other guests who came because their child wanted to meet the ginger cat.

Corinne at Bressenden

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Beatrice Lioy 5 years ago

Hi Corinne, I agree with you and I have thought about doing that, but my cat is particularly good looking and when I moved to England I have paid almost a thousand pounds to import him as well from my home in Rome. You can immediately see he’s not like any other cat and he’s only 7 months old. I really do not want to encourage people to come here thinking that if we go out the can steal him or the kids can bother him or what so ever.
And I can’t even post pictures of the kitchen as I do not want them to think that they can use it. It’s very tricky and I am really not happy with what BDC is doing. We are having to text guests to make them aware of many things and many times they request to cancel for free a non refundable deal.

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michael beeston 5 years ago

Hi Graham...Loved your comments...Like you, we have some Rules on Booking.com BUT if the guest or guests don't want to listen or read....WHAT TO DO !!!

Thank goodness we have had no major problems so no complaints BUT it may happen one day....and Yes we have no Hymns after midnight hahaha.

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Karen 5 years ago

Thanks so much for the feedback to my earlier comment. It's actually good to hear that other people have the same issues. Frustrating for us all but at least I know I'm not doing something very wrong or missing an obvious solution - because there doesn't seem to be one! I'd like more information about how my property functions in the information at the time of booking. I wouldn't even call it 'house rules' because a lot of this isn't about rules or policing guests. Personally, I'm going to keep feeding back to booking.com.We can't expect change if the decision makers don't know that we need it.

Thanks again everyone :)

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pibomarco 5 years ago

I beleive that the decision makers knows quite well about our wishes, since they are operating with milions of hosts and BDC must receive a lot of requests that were denied when the host wanted to update the House rules / Fine print.
That is why I use a template message (which usually BDC recommends to do regarding additional rules ect). After each booking is made I send an email to the guest (with my "policies"). Sometimes we also inform the guest about the rules on their check-in.
I usually don't have problems with them not following the rules.. as one stated: BUT it may happen one day. Sure it will... this is just part of the business when you work with people. With the top patients I just let them be and waiting for the day when they'll check-out. I just don't tolerate partying and smoking.

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M Adamopoulou 5 years ago

No strict noise policy in The Adam’s Studio House. Guests are welcomed to our place to have fun and enjoy the Greek countryside.
Neighbors are not disturbed they are far away from us.
Athens is Europe’s city that never sleeps and we are owners that owner that slogan. Ha ha ha!!!!

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Beatrice Lioy 5 years ago

Hi pibomarco,
I have tried to do the same thing that you have suggested (sending a message template after booking) but I have had my first ever massive complaint for receiving this information only AFTER the booking. We normally allow 7 days for a free cancellation but what happens if the booking is last minute? Now to deal with this we are having to allow guests an extra 24 hours after sending the message to make sure they are happy with everything. Well, we have had a few cancellations because of this. I have put pictures of the bedroom from every possible corner but people still struggle to understand that the bathroom is not en suite. Once they paid, they pay more attention to what you say... But this means for us that the room remains blocked for those 24h in which many other people could have booked and for us is a lost.
I am afraid I will no longer want to collaborate with BDC if this doesn’t get sorted.

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pibomarco 5 years ago

In the room description it is clearly stated if the bathroom is private or shared. If they missed that, most likely they wouldn't notice this information also in the House rules or fine print section. I have a non refundable rate, and most guests will double check at least the basic information before they decide to book my place. In the end it's all about how you set your policies. More flexible you are you can expect more cancelations, no-shows ect.

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Le Balcon des Jasses 5 years ago

Hi

I don't know if I have any "special" house rules I expect people behave nice and respect my home, it is not a Hotel.

But in the 17 years I try many fun things, just a few here.

A family arrive with 3 dogs (we do not take dogs) A family arrive 2 horses, ask if the horse could walk around in my Garden, all flower was missing. A lady arrive with a 7 meter long Boa snake. A family with aquarium, a parrot, a cat, and turtles.

Many funny things happened, a Family arrive in a "New" white BENTLEY, he told me, he bought then "second hand" and got 110000 pound in discount, not bad.

And some arrive with Camping car, a boat, a plane in a very long trailer, not easy to park.

Yes, some of this are just one night, and we have fun, its ok, accept most, try to be positive and enjoy.

No, I never had a big problem, I lost a Hair dryer in 17 years, That's all.

Always smile, and enjoy, the life go on..

All the best, regards from Lucy

Le Balcon des Jasses, FRANCE

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Le Balcon des Jasses 4 years ago

Hi there, long rest, very busy, amazing summer with so many happy people. I kept my 9.5 ratings, even I couple made a mistake with a rating and gave my 4.2, grrr.

November closed, the rooms is now newly painted, two new Smart Tv installed, 

19 years in Bed and Breakfast, soon a decision will be taken how to stay or say goodbye, Really hard.

Some people have completed a university course in 4 years, I have not completed my personal life course for 40 years, How to do????

Merry Christmas to you out there, 

Lucy

Le Balcon des Jasses, France

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M Adamopoulou 5 years ago

Lucy I like positive people and positive thinking. Life is too short for worries. Our lives are full of rules so when in holidays we should relax and have fun. Let's treat guests with a smile and I'm sure everything will get along just fine....
As you mentioned Lucy weird situations may occur but life is full of them.
Don't worry be happy....

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michael beeston 5 years ago

Hi Lucy.............Love the picture and yes !!.What do we all do with strange guests/and even stranger stories sometimes.that is life.I am so sorry to hear about some of our booking.com guests and wast they do !!!..Terrible but hopefully only a few !!

for me ..Many are in Holiday mood/do not read anything/leave rubbish/messy BUT what can we do !!..not much.

I run my apartment purely for business (although I enjoy meeting people as well) so have rules and regulations and I do the meet and greet myself. .also the apartment ONLY takes 2 persons/NO CHILDREN/and many times only 1 business person so in almost 4 years no major problems apart from messy guests and rubbish. No damages and No complaints so I can not really complain and at the end of the day..maybe messy maybe some rubbish BUT the property generates a super income, and that is what we ALL want...........I charge a premium price ( many times, more expensive than the local Hotels and still get fantastic bookings and reviews)........I had to laugh..............Horses/Bentleys/Cats/Dogs/Snakes......UNBELIEVABLE !!!!..Just another quick story, we leave a large bottle of Champagne in the fridge for the guests BUT almost ALL the Asian guests do not drink it..............For Europeans and Australians it is drunk VERY QUICKLY hahaha

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Le Balcon des Jasses 5 years ago

Ha ha Michael.

No problem at all, only challenge and fun.

I do not tell you, few weeks ago I had a booking for two rooms, and 4 adult. Arrive 3pm; and - as normal - I offer coffé or a welcome drink. Two people carry big camera and professional things, and ask for some electric cable. I got it, and wait.

An movie was taken in my rooms, it was a kind of "romantic video" ass the beds was REALLY MESSY; but okl.

I ask If I could help with Evening dinner, but no, I ask time for Breakfast, but no breakfast, "we pay now, and say thank you..........................

Ohh, Just to make a Movie and left.....Next day I sleep an extra hour....

Never two days the same, but lots of fun..

Take care out there

Hi from Lucy

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michael beeston 5 years ago

hahahahah Romantic Video ...hahaha Love it..............Michael.

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M Adamopoulou 5 years ago

Wow guys you have some incredible stories. Dogs horses snakes Bentley romantic video. As Michael I couldn’t stop laughing and I thought that I had some strange guests and experiences.
Cheers and don’t worry be happy...