Ok to ask friends to pay for cleaning when they use our beach house?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Op here.
We don't rent it out.
I'm not comfortable with strangers staying there, liability, damage, managing the rentals etc. The house is paid off, I just don't want to/can't really afford to pay $300-400 extra monthly for cleaning on top of utilities for people I let stay there.
(I got those numbers assuming it's twice a month, 150-200 each time)
We are paying upwards of $600/month for utilities alone

I think it is fine to ask them to pay the cleaning fee, but am not sure why the amount you are paying for utilities is relevant. You would still have to pay to keep the utilities on even if no one was staying there - how much additional electricity etc. are they really using? It sounds like you are having some general anxiety about the cost of this house.

Not PP but the utilities in our house are MUCH higher when it is occupied than when it isn't. Our electric bill over the summer with a minimum of 5 people in the house, but usually 6-8, and only sporadic AC usage depending on weather (we are in a cooler place) was $500/month minimum. When the house is empty it might be $50-60. Water usage spikes in the summer with multiple showers per day per person, and tons of laundry. So utilities aren't a negligible factor.

[Anonymous]

OP, how are you affording such costs on a 200K HHI. I would ask your friends to pay up ASAP. How many times do friends use your beach house?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, how are you affording such costs on a 200K HHI. I would ask your friends to pay up ASAP. How many times do friends use your beach house?

+1

I would put an end to this. I know first hand that 'friends using the beach house' results in extra unplanned expenses. Some people are clueless and think that your budget should include them. It does not.

[Anonymous]

Friends paid 5,000 for a 4 bd OBX rental on the beach. The whopping $5,000 was for 7 days. We brought in a sand, its inevitable. Of course OP can ask for cleaning fee of 150-200.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Tacky.

Agree. The cost of cleaning should be included in rent if they rent from you. If they are your guests, under no circumstances would it be appropriate to ask for money for cleaning. What is wrong with you?!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, how are you affording such costs on a 200K HHI. I would ask your friends to pay up ASAP. How many times do friends use your beach house?

Op here.
It's complicated but we did receive some financial assistance with the downpayment of our original home (prior to the beach house inheritance) and had no childcare costs, so we have a low mortgage (around $2k) on $200k HHI and few other expenses. We did receive some liquid cash as part of the inheritance in addition to the beach house so we are in a very good place with a low primary mortgage, no beach house mortgage, no childcare expense anymore (and ever) and college fund in vested account for my child.

I guess some of these responses from people who don't know versus those who do are the most helpful. And trust me, no judgment for those who ask "are the utilities really that much higher?" because until a year ago I would have had no idea either how much 4-5 additional people showering twice a month costs, or how much the outdoor showe is used and costs, how much cleaning there is, and how much the AC skyrockets with the French doors and sliding doors on 2 levels open/ close open/close with multiple people in and out versus just our family versus no one.

I understand the question "how can you even afford this if you are worried about AC and water and cleaning" since that is the general question and concern I had that other people may think or be offended if I asked for professional cleaning costs when they stayed.

And again, this is our first "full" summer (last summer was moving in and logistics) so I am happy for all the different views here to help me figure out what I want to do and potential foibles.

[Anonymous]

We have a beach house. The policy is any family member can use it, but you pay the cleaning fee. A lot has to be done and most people leave early in the morning. It's not just changing sheets. It's bathroom needs to be clean( toilets, mirrors, showers, tubs, etc). Kitchen- everything washed and put away, dishwasher emptied, all food removed, countertops kitchen table cleaned. Also all trash out, house vacuumed, thermostat set, etc. People have been there all week. I needs to be cleaned.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tacky.

Agree. The cost of cleaning should be included in rent if they rent from you. If they are your guests, under no circumstances would it be appropriate to ask for money for cleaning. What is wrong with you?!

There are no renters.
No rent is paid.
It has been said multiple times that the cleaning cost would ONLY be for people staying there when OP is not there.
As in, they stay for free at the beach house and just are asked to cover cleaning costs when they leave

[Anonymous]

To me this seems no different than borrowing a friend's truck to move something & then filling up the gas tank before returning it.

Those of you that think the cleaning fee is tacky, would you return the truck with an empty tank?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tacky.

Agree. The cost of cleaning should be included in rent if they rent from you. If they are your guests, under no circumstances would it be appropriate to ask for money for cleaning. What is wrong with you?!

There are no renters.
No rent is paid.
It has been said multiple times that the cleaning cost would ONLY be for people staying there when OP is not there.
As in, they stay for free at the beach house and just are asked to cover cleaning costs when they leave

In this scenario, OP, you tell them that there will be a cleaning fee. How much, and collect up front. Considering the cost of beach rentals, there should be no problem. Frankly, I think you should also ask for money for utilities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To me this seems no different than borrowing a friend's truck to move something & then filling up the gas tank before returning it.

Those of you that think the cleaning fee is tacky, would you return the truck with an empty tank?

Yes, they would. Takers are takers.

[Anonymous]

Not at all tacky. I'd be happy to pay. Grateful to be invited. If they're friends explain it to them. If not Don't invite them. I've not read other replies!

[Anonymous]

Cleaning fee + utilities - do not be a push over

[Anonymous]

We have a cabin on oceanfront land. We do not ask people to pay cleaners ever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To me this seems no different than borrowing a friend's truck to move something & then filling up the gas tank before returning it.

Those of you that think the cleaning fee is tacky, would you return the truck with an empty tank?

Yes, they would. Takers are takers.

Yeah, and they'd toss their fast food wrappers on the floor.