MANOLOGY
BY ADAM BAILEY
AMAZING house guest
how to be an
1. Let Them Know When You Plan to Arrive and Leave. Let your host know what time you will arrive and what time you plan to leave. This gives them time on both ends to prepare for your coming and know when their hosting duties are finished! It’s respectful and allows your host to make plans for the rest of their day. 2. Bring a Gift. A grateful guest always brings their host a gift—at least a little something to show their gratitude. No need to haul something huge and extravagant to their place. A local treat from your hometown bakery, a coffee table book, flowers, or bottle of wine are all classic wins, but you can be creative if you know their personality well!
Whether you’re crashing with a friend for convenience, invited for a leisurely stay at a cousin’s lake house, or headed to your future in-laws’ place for the first visit— house guest etiquette matters. If you have ever hosted family or friends, you know just how refreshing a well-behaved and respectful house guest is, and how exhausting a not-so-awesome house guest can be.
68
DECEMBER 2021
| SBMAG.NET
3. Be Respectful of Their Schedules. During your time there, daily life may still happen for your host. Kids still need to go to school, parents to work, among other things! Be wary of when you are in the way and give them space to do their usual routines! 4. Follow the House Rules. Each home is different! When you arrive, gently inquire about how things are done to avoid any misunderstandings. What time does everyone usually wake up and go to bed? Anything you should know about
