Tales from The Shire

teapot2

Hi Fortune, I don't have my own experience but my sis has a holiday cottage. I know she has provided a varied collection of books and folk are welcome to take one and leave one. There are also a variety of DVDs for guests to watch - particularly useful if its bad weather. I'm not sure what area you're in but hers is 10 miles from the nearest shop on a single track road so she also has a collection of those wee bottles of shampoo, body wash etc - the kind you get in hotels. She's put bird feeders out where the visitors can be seen from a window and left some seeds and fat balls. Also a pair of not very expensive binoculars are provided [if there are views or animal life?] She also has folders with local info and leaflets about whats in the area, recommendations for local attractions [things that might not be in a leaflet], wild life that can be seen, she includes things like local GP number, local public transport, taxis, local shops, nearest hospital, vet, where supermarkets are......

If I can think of more I'll post again. Good luck with your venture

VintageHistorian

Me and DH have stayed in places found through AirBnB three times - twice in the UK and once in Italy.

The first one we stayed at was a room in Brighton and TBH it nearly put us off it completely! The couple letting the room emailed the day before saying they could no longer be around to let us in (we were arriving around 10pm as getting the train down after work) and would leave the key under a flowerpot that then took ages to find! We never saw them or heard from them during our time there and heard nothing about leaving on our last day, we just knew we had to be out by 10am. In the end we were going to let ourselves out and just post the key back through the letterbox but one of them heard us moving around and got up to take the key off us (in her skimpy nightie).

The one in Rome and then one in Yorkshire were separate properties and definitely better managed. In Rome someone met us there to show us around the flat and told us about the local area, and had a map pinned up on one wall with the location of the flat marked with a red pin so we could plan where to go every morning. They also emailed halfway through our week to ask if there were any problems.

In Yorkshire they gave very clear instructions about where the keys were, and had a folder with instructions including how to use the oven, turn on the heating, and a guide to good places to eat in the local area and the phone numbers to book a table. They also texted us half through our visit to ask if everything was okay, and texted again the day before we were due to leave asking us to pop the keys up to the house when we were leaving, and checked we'd enjoyed our time and hadn't had any problems. They also left us a bottle of prosecco in the fridge as we'd mentioned in the book that we were visiting for our honeymoon (AirBnB suggests you explain your reason for visiting when requesting a booking) which was very kind.

Basically if you treat it as you'd hope to be treated when visiting somewhere then you'll be fine. Our Brighton experience was clearly a couple who wanted to overpay the mortgage without any extra effort on their part!

Moneyfordreams

Only once in our 2 years with Airbnb we couldn't let someone in ourselves. They were at a wedding 45 mins drive away and wanted a late arrival. Unfortunately my mother took ill and I was unable to great them. posted them a picture of the caddy where the key was. My husband started his job a 9pm therefore couldn't be around. They left a good review. As guests had the upper floor of our house we thought privacy was important and left them everything they would need for a short break. Bread milk tea coffee biscuits , microwave , toiletries .

If we couldn't be around when they left we would inform them . There are check in and check out time slots to add to. We also added this to the listing. Our breakfast items we listed as a welcome package rather than longer stay guests thinking they would be replenished. We stopped buying individual butter due to expense and sliced a 250g bar in half to put in a little pot (poundland). We were often left with butter ends we would use ourselves.

Your self contained annex sounds ideal. Only a few guests wanted to spend more time with us. Some were odd, but mostly rewarding

Fortune_Smiles

teapot2 wrote: »

Hi Fortune, I don't have my own experience but my sis has a holiday cottage. I know she has provided a varied collection of books and folk are welcome to take one and leave one. There are also a variety of DVDs for guests to watch - particularly useful if its bad weather. I'm not sure what area you're in but hers is 10 miles from the nearest shop on a single track road so she also has a collection of those wee bottles of shampoo, body wash etc - the kind you get in hotels. She's put bird feeders out where the visitors can be seen from a window and left some seeds and fat balls. Also a pair of not very expensive binoculars are provided [if there are views or animal life?] She also has folders with local info and leaflets about whats in the area, recommendations for local attractions [things that might not be in a leaflet], wild life that can be seen, she includes things like local GP number, local public transport, taxis, local shops, nearest hospital, vet, where supermarkets are......

If I can think of more I'll post again. Good luck with your venture

This is so helpful Teapot and I love the idea of 'take one and leave one' for the books and the binoculars.

Thank you

Fortune x

Fortune_Smiles

VintageHistorian wrote: »

Me and DH have stayed in places found through AirBnB three times - twice in the UK and once in Italy.

The first one we stayed at was a room in Brighton and TBH it nearly put us off it completely! The couple letting the room emailed the day before saying they could no longer be around to let us in (we were arriving around 10pm as getting the train down after work) and would leave the key under a flowerpot that then took ages to find! We never saw them or heard from them during our time there and heard nothing about leaving on our last day, we just knew we had to be out by 10am. In the end we were going to let ourselves out and just post the key back through the letterbox but one of them heard us moving around and got up to take the key off us (in her skimpy nightie).

The one in Rome and then one in Yorkshire were separate properties and definitely better managed. In Rome someone met us there to show us around the flat and told us about the local area, and had a map pinned up on one wall with the location of the flat marked with a red pin so we could plan where to go every morning. They also emailed halfway through our week to ask if there were any problems.

In Yorkshire they gave very clear instructions about where the keys were, and had a folder with instructions including how to use the oven, turn on the heating, and a guide to good places to eat in the local area and the phone numbers to book a table. They also texted us half through our visit to ask if everything was okay, and texted again the day before we were due to leave asking us to pop the keys up to the house when we were leaving, and checked we'd enjoyed our time and hadn't had any problems. They also left us a bottle of prosecco in the fridge as we'd mentioned in the book that we were visiting for our honeymoon (AirBnB suggests - you explain your reason for visiting when requesting a booking) which was very kind.

Basically if you treat it as you'd hope to be treated when visiting somewhere then you'll be fine. Our Brighton experience was clearly a couple who wanted to overpay the mortgage without any extra effort on their part!

Thank you VH - great to hear things from a guest perspective. I have limited check ins to Fridays only so should be able to be here when people arrive. I'm going to get a key safe for the rare occasions I can't be here. It sounds as though communication is key.

Fortune x

Fortune_Smiles

Moneyfordreams wrote: »

Only once in our 2 years with Airbnb we couldn't let someone in ourselves. They were at a wedding 45 mins drive away and wanted a late arrival. Unfortunately my mother took ill and I was unable to great them. posted them a picture of the caddy where the key was. My husband started his job a 9pm therefore couldn't be around. They left a good review. As guests had the upper floor of our house we thought privacy was important and left them everything they would need for a short break. Bread milk tea coffee biscuits , microwave , toiletries .

If we couldn't be around when they left we would inform them . There are check in and check out time slots to add to. We also added this to the listing. Our breakfast items we listed as a welcome package rather than longer stay guests thinking they would be replenished. We stopped buying individual butter due to expense and sliced a 250g bar in half to put in a little pot (poundland). We were often left with butter ends we would use ourselves.

Your self contained annex sounds ideal. Only a few guests wanted to spend more time with us. Some were odd, but mostly rewarding

That's a great tip about the butter Money. I've also described breakfast items as a few 'essentials' for the first night as I'm not intending to replenish them either. We have a really fabulous independent supermarket a couple of miles up the road so I'll point people in that direction.

Thanks for the help :kisses3:

Fortune x

Fortune_Smiles

...although I don't feel as though I've accomplished much, pedaling fast and getting nowhere :rotfl:

The house is superficially clean and I've deep cleaned the bedroom. Like Cheery Daff, I really get 'Spring Cleaning' now I live in an older house. The dust bunnies only show up when the sun is shining

I've been trying to eat healthily whilst Mr F is away. I made muesli which I very much enjoyed. I couldn't find puffed wheat anywhere so used puffed buckwheat and substituted a banana for the berries. Delicious! I added a spoonful of honey to the first bowl but it really didn't need it. Lunch has been Butternut Squash and Sweetcorn Soup (I didn't bother with the topping) and supper Haddock Gratin with either sweet potato chips or a baked potato. No sugar or alcohol has touched my lips :A Well at least for the past couple of days

FDawg is fine. He was just being a drama queen. I'm trying a new training technique with him on our morning walks to try and get him to walk to heel. He doesn't pull badly, just always has to be at full lead length. I've tried so many things so we'll see if this one works. I'm also doing a little training session with him at lunchtime. He's learning how to cross his paws at the moment and to sit up. Despite being a Border Collie he is not a fast learner as he gets far too excited. I've changed his lunch time treat (again) as I discovered that the dried cow tails contain long bones! Don't even ask how I found that out :rotfl: He's now on Pizzles - no bones in those

I've been sent some drawings from Gate Man but the measurements don't look right to me. I've asked him to hold fire until Mr F is home and I can check with him.

Right, the ironing pile is calling.

Hope you're enjoying your Sunday.

Fortune x

Cheery_Daff

Impressed with your healthy eating! I'm not doing too badly although somehow I've had two scones today :rotfl:

Fortune_Smiles

Cheery_Daff wrote: »

Impressed with your healthy eating! I'm not doing too badly although somehow I've had two scones today :rotfl:

Healthy eating is a bit hit and miss for me Cheery. I'm mainly good but can't resist sweet stuff if it's in the house... and lodger friend left biscuits when she moved out

Fortune x

Fortune_Smiles

I'm feeling a bit stuck at the moment.

Mr F has returned from his business trip with a horrid lurgy. He has called in sick which is very unusual for him so he must feel bad.

He doesn't want to talk about the two most pressing issues we have at the moment: the gate and the company car, as he doesn't feel he can concentrate properly.

Storm Erik is making any outside work impossible and it's so dark and overcast that I can't see to clean properly in the annex.

I will have to just do what I can and concentrate on any positives...

Mr F has managed to sell some car seat covers we've been trying to get rid of for years. They would have been £450 new so we've been reluctant to donate them or throw them away. Although we didn't buy them directly as they came with my old car. He's managed to get £70 for them which is a great billy bonus.

As soon as it's a bit drier and lighter I can take some photographs of our old dining room table and chairs and get them on the Bay. We've been using some of the chairs up until now but I found some replacements in our local antiques emporium for a very good price. I think I should be able to recoup the cost of the new chairs and make a little extra through the sale.

I've directed any disposable income to savings this month as I think it would be better to have the cash available until we know what's happening about the company car.

Lunch yesterday was Jerusalem Artichoke Soup. I didn't bother with the croutons but I think they would have enhanced the dish. We ate lunch very late as Mr F slept until 2.00 pm :eek: so super was late too - fish and chips from the freezer.

Mr F is in the study cancelling his work commitments for the day... or is he? I fear he may have been lured into work tasks when he really should be in bed. I shall go and see.

Stay safe in the storm all

Fortune x