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

[Anonymous]

Let people know that even though you're inheriting the beach house, the maintainance costs is something you can't afford, that's why you renting in out during summer. Cleaning cost comes standard with each rental/ usage.

People would understand it if you says it upfront nonchalantly.

Free loaders shouldn't get the benefits of the beach house.

[Anonymous]

I do feel that it's tacky. It may be reasonable, but it's still tacky.

[Anonymous]

Op, people may balk at the cost if you call it 'a cleaning cost'. They are thinking 'we are not messy', ' why shd we pay for deep- cleaning' etc.

I'd make it a transaction and say ' we are happy to let friends use it at a discounted rate of $ x '

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op, people may balk at the cost if you call it 'a cleaning cost'. They are thinking 'we are not messy', ' why shd we pay for deep- cleaning' etc.

I'd make it a transaction and say ' we are happy to let friends use it at a discounted rate of $ x '

Any friend who balks at a cleaning cost and doesn't understand how difficult a beach house is to clean even if they are not messy is not someone I would want to be friends with. Do you know how much a week (or even weekend rental) at a beach house costs? If you can't handle $200, feel free to spend a couple if thousand to rent your own place.

[Anonymous]

I think it is fine to ask that they pay a cleaning fee - I would not ask them to pay more than whatever the actual cost is, though.

[Anonymous]

I think it is totally reasonable. My uncle owns a condo in Florida and lets family stay there for free but they are asked to pay a cleaning fee.
I would not even think twice if a friend asked me to do this for a becah house they were letting me stay at for free.

i also agree that it is more tacky to stay, leave a mess and not even offer to pay a cleaning fee. "Friends" like this would not be allowed to stay again.

[Anonymous]

This is a no-brainer. Of course it's okay to make this a condition. Your friends are free to decline and not stay there. No hard feelings if I were on either end.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I do feel that it's tacky. It may be reasonable, but it's still tacky.

No. Why would I let you use my beach house if I have to paid $250 every time you use it? Tell you what will happen, you will not have a free beach house any more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Let people know that even though you're inheriting the beach house, the maintainance costs is something you can't afford, that's why you renting in out during summer. Cleaning cost comes standard with each rental/ usage.

People would understand it if you says it upfront nonchalantly.

Free loaders shouldn't get the benefits of the beach house.

+1

Exactly. I feel strongly about this. Whether you paid ten cents or ten million dollars for the beach house; and weather it is beach front or less to the beach - it is no one's business, really. No one "lays claim" to what is rightfully yours. If anyone gives you an impression otherwise, feel free to tell them it is rented.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I do feel that it's tacky. It may be reasonable, but it's still tacky.

No. Why would I let you use my beach house if I have to paid $250 every time you use it? Tell you what will happen, you will not have a free beach house any more.

+1

Bam. Done.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op, people may balk at the cost if you call it 'a cleaning cost'. They are thinking 'we are not messy', ' why shd we pay for deep- cleaning' etc.

I'd make it a transaction and say ' we are happy to let friends use it at a discounted rate of $ x '

Any friend who balks at a cleaning cost and doesn't understand how difficult a beach house is to clean even if they are not messy is not someone I would want to be friends with. Do you know how much a week (or even weekend rental) at a beach house costs? If you can't handle $200, feel free to spend a couple if thousand to rent your own place.

+1

ITA. You would be surprised at the freeloaders that come out of the woodwork when you own a beach house, OP! If not, then you are in the right company.

[Anonymous]

I think the problem is, as this thread shows, that the average person has NO IDEA how much work it is to clean a beach house. Or how many times it may have to be cleaned for each guest.
I think perhaps people who just think "well I wiped down the counter and put clean sheets back on the bed" may balk at the cost without realizing it's the sand on the floors, the extra bathroom and shower use, the old food in the fridge, the dirt and streaks on the floor, the fingerprints on the walls and rail, multipled by, let's say, 5 extra people, twice a month for 3 months.
And it's much different than having some friends over for a party and vacuuming and cleaning up when they're done.
The poster that said she only asks people to change the sheets and take out the trash must have a 2 bedroom condo or something

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Let people know that even though you're inheriting the beach house, the maintainance costs is something you can't afford, that's why you renting in out during summer. Cleaning cost comes standard with each rental/ usage.

People would understand it if you says it upfront nonchalantly.

Free loaders shouldn't get the benefits of the beach house.

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

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

No, utilities would be a lot more. A/c vs no a/c, I would guess.