Discover tips for the best house guest etiquette with this list of good manners so any host would be happy to have you.
Do you have close family or friends that live out-of-town or overseas? You’re bound to get an invitation to visit them at some point.
I’m sure you’ll want to repay your gracious host by being the perfect house guest. And, that means having good guest etiquette. Otherwise, you run the risk of never being invited again.
Let’s go through a list of good manners for any house guest so you know exactly what to do.
House Guest Etiquette: 15 Do’s and Don’ts
1. Confirm Travel Dates
It’s good manners to ensure your host knows exactly when you’ll be arriving and leaving so they can prepare their home for guests. Also, if your plane is delayed, they can easily track when you will arrive.
Send them your travel information ahead of your visit e.g. departure date and time, airline name and number and the airport where you’ll be arriving.
2. Bring A House Guest Gift
Giving the host a gift is a great way to say thank you. It doesn’t have to be elaborate or expensive. Here are a few awesome house guest gift ideas:
- Bottle of wine
- Flowers
- A house plant
- Gourmet foods
- Kitchen utensils
Of course, there are other ways you can show your appreciation like:
- Offering to take the host out to dinner
- Giving them money to contribute to the household bills during your visit
- Buying groceries
Whatever you can afford, make sure to do something, no matter how small.
Discover more house guest gifts here.
3. Clean Up After Yourself
In my opinion, this is one of the most important things on the list of good manners for any house guest. Your chances of being invited back to someone’s house are slim if you behave like a slob the first time.
Pick up after yourself and tidy the rooms you use. Leave the bathroom clean—wipe off the counter, remove hair from the sink, hang your towel to dry and put away dirty laundry. In the kitchen, wash your dishes immediately after eating or, at the very least offer to wash them. Some hosts may refuse your offer.
Accidents will happen. You may spill some wine or break something. Clean up the mess and ‘fess up right away. Don’t try to hide what has happened from the host.
4. Be Considerate
Be observant during your stay and be considerate. Only eat in places designated for doing so e.g kitchen and dining room. Don’t eat the last of the food or snacks.
Don’t hog the bathroom, especially if it’s the only one in the house.
Be mindful of others and respect their space.
5. Be Quiet
Just because you’re on vacation doesn’t mean everyone else is. Your host may still need to go to work or they may just like to go to bed early. Either way, be quiet when other people in the house have retired to bed and in the morning before they have woken up.
Don’t play excessively loud music and don’t talk loudly on your phone. No matter what time of the day, that’s just rude.
6. Follow the House Rules for Guests
If the host mentions specific house rules, be sure to observe what they are and abide by them.
But, if they don’t say anything, here’s a list of house rules for guests that will be sure to please any host:
- Avoid wearing outdoor shoes inside the house
- Don’t bring strangers into your host’s home
- Don’t bring your pets. Arrange for their care while you travel.
- No smoking indoors
7. Don’t Pry
It should go without saying, but don’t snoop around your host’s home. Don’t venture into rooms where you don’t need to go or look inside cupboards, closets or drawers that you have no business looking inside.
When you’re the house guest in someone else’s home, you won’t know where to find everything you need. And sometimes, it can be awkward to ask for items. But, it’s better to ask the host instead of searching for it yourself.
It’s invasive enough to have house guests and, it will be even more awkward if you’re caught digging around and hunting for something. So, save everyone the embarrassment and simply ask for what you need.
8. Offer to Contribute to Bills
While you’re staying in your host’s home, you’ll be using utilities like water and electricity. So, offer to contribute money for the bills especially if you’ll be there for an extended stay.
If you do any activities with the host, pay your share, at the very least. This can be tickets, entrance fees or taking care of the bill after dinner.
You don’t need to pay for everything but do contribute something so the host doesn’t walk away feeling like you’re a big sponge.
9. Buy Your Own Food
It’s bad house guest manners to assume your host will provide all the food you need during your stay.
Don’t ask about food and snacks when you get to the house. Instead, offer to purchase your own, especially if you have specific dietary needs.
10. Connect with Your Host
It’s the technology age and people are often engrossed in the tiny screens on their cell phones.
During your visit, remember to put your phone down and actually engage with your host. Don’t spend all your time texting or surfing the internet.
12. Don’t Be High Maintenance
During your visit, it’s never good guest etiquette to be high maintenance. Demanding this thing and the next is a sure-fire way to annoy the person you’re staying with and ensure you won’t be invited back.
13. Don’t Be Clingy
Give the host some breathing room. Don’t make them feel like they have to spend every waking moment with you. Ask them for suggestions about activities in the area that you can enjoy alone.
14. Respect Your Host’s Wishes
Some hosts don’t want you to lift a finger while you’re staying in their house and sometimes, guests are uncomfortable with that. It may be that the host wants your experience to truly be relaxing or it could be that they like things done in a very specific way.
Whatever the reason, respect what the host has asked. If they don’t want you making the bed, don’t. If they don’t want you helping out in the kitchen, stay out of there. It’s their house.
15. Don’t Overstay Your Welcome
Let your host know when you’ll be leaving and then actually go.
Unwanted house guests or people who overstay their welcome can put a strain on a good relationship. Make sure you don’t do this and leave when you say you will.
How long should guests stay?
The length of stay really depends on how far the house guests have to travel and what the relationship is with the host. Most people will prefer no more than two weeks and for some, that may be too long. Make sure to communicate clearly with your host so everyone is happy with the arrangements.
Everyone’s household is different so figuring out good etiquette when visiting someone’s home can be tricky. But, if you follow this list of good manners, you’ll be sure to leave a good impression with any host. And, you just may be invited to come back.
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