My house is not your vacation home

[VillageMama]

Yikes, I am reading all these posts and no one wants to share their homes.

Some people feel strongly about their privacy or don't want the extra wear and tear on their homes or don't want any liability issues. I don't see what's so hard to understand about that.

 

[terri01p]

 

[kaytieeldr]

Can I borrow your house?

And can I come visit?

Seriously, I have two responses for you. Practice them, and ONLY them, and use as appropriate. Repeatedly.

For people like Birmingham, who apparently think what's yours is theirs (NO reflection on Birmingham), you simply reply, "Thank you for asking, but I can't".

When 'guests' invite themselves :, your response is, "We'll let you know when we're able to have guests". And then, of course, you're never ready

Oh - and if you're not comfortable with these responses, you need a (completely volunteer) "agent" to decline on your behalf. Yes, I mean me and no, no compensation in any form is expected and will be declined. I just like saying "no"

 

[Tink888]

IMHO opinion that's rude of people to do that. Personally I could never ask someone to use their house. I'd wait until I was invited or they extended the offer that it was available. I don't know, I'd just feel strange asking. Just me though.

 

[LJC1861]

My brother and sister in law own a beautiful old mansion in Mt. Dora FL, about an hour from Disney. It has tons of bedrooms and space and everyone in the family knows that they are very welcoming. They have one hard and fast rule however. If you come to stay, you come to visit THEM, not the theme parks and attractions in the Disney area. They have made it quite clear that their home is not a base camp for park hopping. I love visiting, as it is a beautiful area and there is so much to do. I get my family time and then do not feel at all guilty when I say goodbye and head off to WDW.

Linda

 

[Katieinwonderland]

My brother and sister in law own a beautiful old mansion in Mt. Dora FL, about an hour from Disney. It has tons of bedrooms and space and everyone in the family knows that they are very welcoming. They have one hard and fast rule however. If you come to stay, you come to visit THEM, not the theme parks and attractions in the Disney area. They have made it quite clear that their home is not a base camp for park hopping. I love visiting, as it is a beautiful area and there is so much to do. I get my family time and then do not feel at all guilty when I say goodbye and head off to WDW.

Linda

This is my biggest issue! Random cousins I haven't seen since I was a teenager aren't coming to visit DH and I - they want somewhere to stay for free close to Disney! The people we are more than happy to come stay with us are people we know want to actually see us!

 

[Feralpeg]

I thought I'd have a problem with people wanting to visit after I moved close to WDW. Nope! I've lived here almost six years and have only once had visitors. They were very close friends who waited too long to try to book DVC for Christmas. They only stayed with me two nights until their room at Disney opened up. Maybe, I should take this personally!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I can't relate. I'd be inclined to say--sure, visit my home as long as you tackle a fixer upper project in return.

A funny--OPPOSITE problem...

My DB has decided to quit his job at Disney and he and his partner due to preferred career changes and not being able to adequately handle two mortgages have opted to leave Orlando all together and return to a family home in SC. It was handed down in DP's family and sadly, he is all that remains.


Well--my sister had a hissy. Not only is her free Disney accomodations gone, but she's not happy that her free entry is gone.

I remember commenting about our passes and them expiring and she would always tell me to just use my brother. Umm...no...I can afford it, I am not going to mooch entry out of being cheap (as is the case with...her husband anyway).

Plus, no more direct flights. So their move out of freeing them from an undesirable employment and financial situation--is a huge inconvenience to her.

I don't know if she is truly upset--but my jaw dropped when DB told me and he wasn't using his standard sense of humor when telling it.

And in a very bad real estate market--they were fortunate that a neighbhor wanted to buy the house (for a child of theirs--all grown, married, with their own kids)....and they were able to escape the home unscathed by any market decline or having to deal with listing issues.

But dang it--no more free Disney for DSis.

 

[BLTLDZ]

People can be so nervy. I would NEVER ask somebody if I could "borrow" thier house...not even my own siblings!!!

 

[kaytieeldr]

I thought I'd have a problem with people wanting to visit after I moved close to WDW. Nope! I've lived here almost six years and have only once had visitors. They were very close friends who waited too long to try to book DVC for Christmas. They only stayed with me two nights until their room at Disney opened up. Maybe, I should take this personally!

When can I come visit?

 

[okeydokey]

If they ask if they can stay at your place, you could respond, "Oh sorry, we're not renting it out." Maybe they'll realize how they sound. If they continue you can feign surprise and say, "Oh, you mean you want to stay for free. We really can't accommodate everyone"

 

[marcyinPA]

Would you feel differently if people asked if you rented your house out? Since it's your "vacation" or second home, maybe they think you will rent a week.

We (as in my Dad's side of the family) have a cottage on Lake Ossipee in NH that we actually NEED to rent out in the summer....we can't afford to keep it running without the rentals. NH taxes are really high, especially lake front property!

 

[MM27]

Would you feel differently if people asked if you rented your house out? Since it's your "vacation" or second home, maybe they think you will rent a week.

We (as in my Dad's side of the family) have a cottage on Lake Ossipee in NH that we actually NEED to rent out in the summer....we can't afford to keep it running without the rentals. NH taxes are really high, especially lake front property!

I wouldn't mind if someone asked, someone actually did already, but the answer would be no. This house is brand new, new construction. I don't want it wrecked before I am in for good. You know people don't treat places that are not theirs the same way they would treat their own house. My plan is to eventually move up there and make it home and as a very anal person, I would like everything to look as it did when I bought it.

Coming from NJ, NH taxes are nothing.

 

[momrek06]

Some people feel strongly about their privacy or don't want the extra wear and tear on their homes or don't want any liability issues. I don't see what's so hard to understand about that.

Okkkkkkkkkkkkk.......

 

[dis-happy]

It happens in Hilton Head too. I finally starting saying no more forcefully after the summer with 27 houseguests . Nothing like spending your days washing sheets and buying groceries, not to mention the extra expenses for utilities, plus wear and tear. Then there are the ones that love being there so much they decide to stay on for a couple of extra days. Ack. "Renting it out" is a bad suggestion as it changes the whole tax thing, not to mention insurance.

Just say no and only invite the very few people you really, really like. Another thing: once someone has been invited they will assume they have an open invitation for life. Choose carefully....

 

[FireDancer]

A close friend of mine has a cabin that everyone stays at, but we are all close. I couldn't image asking someone whom I just new at work if I could stay in their home unless I had reason to think they rented it out for such purposes. Of course I would ask that as opposed to "can I borrow it".

While renting it out to make a little extra money sounds like a good idea, not wanting it wrecked aside, there are liability issues I'm sure if you are going to rent the house out. I would talk to someone in the know before trying it if anyone was thinking about it before an insurance company decides not to cover something because renting the place out violates the terms of the contract. Insurance companies love denying claims.

On a side note, NH and VT are states I want to visit one fall. We get a lot of beautiful fall color around here but the pictures I have seen of that area in the fall are stunning.

 

[PixieDust32]

Ask them "are the hotels full'? I hate when people ask you "Can I borrow your car"? Or your very nice expensive video or digital camera,let alone a house, are you kidding me?

 

[tomthebarncat]

I would simply say that is not an option. I would not feel the need to provide anymore of an explanation than that. People are so nervy these days!

 

[MandM3]

My aunt and uncle had a vacation property they let their friends use for free. One time they were there, another family arrived and tried to throw my aunt and uncle out. One of the `friends´ had had copies of the keys made and was renting it out to people

 

[Uuaww]

Check my location.


/thread.