Comments on: To greet or not to greet – that is the question

By: CottageGuru

CottageGuru — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 17:46:34 +0000

@catherine
We do just the same – a quick rundown on how the hot tub opening mechanism works since we had a lot of damage in the past due to guests not being able to work it. Then we disappear. They can explore the inside on their own. Occasionally when we can’t get there, a quick phone call works just as well. Either way we have been pleased by the results of that little bit of human contact – it makes us real to our guests and I think that has an impact on how they treat the place.

By: Catherine

Catherine — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 17:40:02 +0000

We’re only new to renting and prior to getting started I had thought I would NOT be there to greet guests. However, I now get emails saying ‘looking forward to meeting you’. So what I do is be there when they arrive, have a quick ‘hello’, few minutes chat, and leave. I wouldn’t dream of showing them round. It’s a five bedroomed house with one living room and one kitchen/diner for goodness sake – what’s to show?

I’m quite happy to spend a minute or two saying hello and then buzzing off to leave them to enjoy their holiday (with my telephone numbers should they need me). For me, I think it makes the guest feel welcome without intruding on their holiday.

And of course I hope that having spent a few minutes with them, they might come back again.

By: Brian

Brian — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 19:17:05 +0000

As someone who rented a lot of cottages before finally buying one, I’ve always preferred to not see the owner. I remember one rental where the owners showed up in the middle of the week on the pretence of delivering drinking water (there was lots already there) and snooped around on the pretence of having to use the bathroom. Of course that was the day when the place was at its untidiest. We found it quite an intrusion. A landlord can’t just walk into your apartment, and the same goes for the cottage owner! Mind you, this was the same owner who deducted $0.95 off our damage deposit for a piece of tupperware supposedly going missing!

By: Scott

Scott — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 17:55:42 +0000

I have been on both sides (i.e. I have both rented a cottage and rented out our cottage). I agree that it is a personal choice, but my preference is “not to greet”.
I have started to offer the option of greet or no greet and I have found that the vast majority select no greet. I think renters find it too intrusive and that they would rather “explore” the cottage themselves.

By: Lisa Pecunia

Lisa Pecunia — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 13:55:15 +0000

We used to live six hours away from our VR so the thought of greeting our guests never came up. Now we live an hour away, and I still don’t go down to meet them. I’ve only had one renter ever ask me “Will you be there to check us in?” We provide a lock box with a key, so the house is pretty much “self-service” so to speak.

I actually kind of prefer this, and I think many of my renters do too. It gives them a feeling of freedom and ability to relax without “the landlord” hanging around. On the other hand, I have met many of my renters just by chance, bumping into them while we were in the neighborhood. Some of them have even sent me pictures of themselves while at my properties on vacation, and it’s very nice to connect the faces to the names.

I don’t think personally checking them in would make any difference in their respect for me or my property (or, in some cases, lack thereof).

Great topic!

By: Glenn

Glenn — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 14:37:46 +0000

I tend to use whatever time I have between rental groups to clean and maintain the cottage and surrounding property. There is always something to do and as a result, I am often there working away when they drive up. Rather than slinking away, I introduce myself and greet them using all their names including their children’s names as well. As a result, I have helped to establish a more personal rapport with them and hopefully it results in a more satisfied cottage renter.

I think most people appreciate having someone give them a quick tour of the cottage.

At the same time it allows me an opportunity to check out my renters. In the past I have been able to see when renters were trying to sneak in a cat or extra people not listed on the rental agreement.

Only once did I feel that my presence wasn’t welcomed and those guests later on proved to be the type that I wouldn’t want back at my cottage anyway.

One think I do maintain is that even after greeting your renters at the cottage door, it is still almost impossible to determine which group will respect your cottage and belongings and which ones won’t.

In the end, I think it’s a personal decision whether you greet your guests or not.

By: Thomas

Thomas — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 14:25:22 +0000

As always, a great post Heather, with some good points well made.

For fours years I had not given this issue a moment’s thought. As I live on site, I meet my guests personally and then take the time (as opposed to take my time) to show them round the property, highlighting its quirks and pointing out where things are. I think this is necessary.

And an amusing, albeit delicate, tale illustrates my point. I include toilet paper in the price people pay. I had some guests arrive from Canada, and all too aware they had just had a long flight and did not want me doing what you experienced, I tried to be quick with my ‘greet talk’.

The next day, one of them came to my house, and very sheepishly asked for more toilet paper. I was surprised and without thinking asked “have you finished what is there already?” Well, I do leave a lot, and I was surprised. “Yes,” was the response, “you know what women are like.” I laughed and gave him a bag of about 6 rolls.

It transpired, in my haste to leave them be, I had not shown them the ‘stock’ cupboard, and they had not found it. After they did find the stash of loo rolls they were drawing straws to determine who was going to tell me. We all had a very good laugh (except the women perhaps) when I was filled in.

Only once have I been accused of ‘giving a lecture’ (but they did turn out to be the guests from hell on all fronts). Now, I ask if my guests would prefer to settle in and have me come back later.

Thomas’s last blog post..Impressionism and the Seine Maritime Coast: Varengeville-sur-Mer

By: John

John — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 13:43:25 +0000

We don’t greet . We do send a comprehensive email with LOADS of information in it and we have a file full of instructions and local information.

I actually think that our guests appreciate the flexibility that this allows them in when they arrive.

I do make a point of knocking on the door to say hello (once) when I am around, but I am careful not to intrude – it is their place for the duration of their stay after all.