etiquette question for how to handle employer letting me use not usable vacation house

[Anonymous]

We came up for a vacation at my nanny families vacation home, when we got there every surface in the kitchen and living room was covered in ants and mouse dropping. We cleaned everything and then noticed there were dead mice in closets and bathrooms and what looks like bed bugs in the mattresses in every bedroom. The carpets had little round bugs too and it looked like something had been chewing at the walls


We booked it out of there fast and got a hotel last minute to salvage our trip. I don't know how to handle saying your house was too disgusting for us to stay at in a nice polite way. I don't want to embarrass them. But I also want to tell them the state of the house. We have stayed there many times and never had an issue.

[Anonymous]

I think you just have to be honest, but not graphic. They need to know so that they can act to save further damage. "Hey, just so you know, there was some pretty obvious vermin issues at the beach house. We ended up not staying there, so I don't know the exact extent, but you should probably talk to an exterminator so that the bugs and mice don't do too much damage."

[Anonymous]

You need to be honest but not rude. Since you've stated there before an never had issues, obviously there is a problem with the house they aren't aware of. (Food hidden somewhere, holes in the house, etc".

I would have told them right away but now your best bet is to sit down with them and just tell them the state the house was in and you ended up staying in a hotel.

But they need to know ASAP.

[Anonymous]

They definitely need to know. There's a chance they let someone else stay there who didn't take care of the house.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We came up for a vacation at my nanny families vacation home, when we got there every surface in the kitchen and living room was covered in ants and mouse dropping. We cleaned everything and then noticed there were dead mice in closets and bathrooms and what looks like bed bugs in the mattresses in every bedroom. The carpets had little round bugs too and it looked like something had been chewing at the walls


We booked it out of there fast and got a hotel last minute to salvage our trip. I don't know how to handle saying your house was too disgusting for us to stay at in a nice polite way. I don't want to embarrass them. But I also want to tell them the state of the house. We have stayed there many times and never had an issue.

How do you "clean everything" and then "notice dead mice in the bathroom"?

Go away, you sick troll.

[Anonymous]

If you have stayed there many times before, something doesn't sound right. Its free. You got what you paid for.

[Anonymous]

I think you should just tell them in a matter of fact manner.

You don't have to attack them personally...Just let them know that due to specific things (mention what you just told us), it wasn't a good idea for you + your guests to stay there.

Let them know what you saw. Did you take any photos to show them?

I am pretty sure they have no idea their place is in such bad condition and will apologize profusely for the shape the house was in.

[Anonymous]

Something sounds very off here op? How could it be that you stayed here before, and now it is an issue? If that is the case, it would mean that someone left food behind? Do they ever rent out the house or let other than family use it? Because that would be very unheard of, in my circles of friends who own beach houses.

Besides, mice only come inside in the winter, if at all. It is only October- even in the northern areas, mice would not be looking to forage indoors yet. And if your boss' family is from the north, they would already know how to keep all animals and insects out. Are you telling us that the house stayed abandoned, no caretakers, no family, since last winter?

This does not add up at all, op.

[Anonymous]

Just tell them someone left conditions that left mice and insects in. They will handle it. No big deal.

This is exactly why I don't let just anyone use my beach house.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Something sounds very off here op? How could it be that you stayed here before, and now it is an issue? If that is the case, it would mean that someone left food behind? Do they ever rent out the house or let other than family use it? Because that would be very unheard of, in my circles of friends who own beach houses.

Besides, mice only come inside in the winter, if at all. It is only October- even in the northern areas, mice would not be looking to forage indoors yet. And if your boss' family is from the north, they would already know how to keep all animals and insects out. Are you telling us that the house stayed abandoned, no caretakers, no family, since last winter?

This does not add up at all, op.

OP posted last May, PP...