Chapter 7 - Do You Have What It Takes?

By Karla Jones Seidita, Home Economist

B&B Owner/Operator, Retired

"Invite the World to Your Door & It Will Show Up"

The idea of opening a B&B appeals to a lot of people.

Is your B&B guest friendly?

A house filled with weekend guests who pay for the entertaining you'd be doing anyway with friends and family for free seems likes the ideal occupation.

But, before you open your doors, take stock of your life style and personality.



Are you flexible?
Guests come in all shapes and sizes with a myriad of needs and requests.
They arrive at all hours of the day (and night) even though you make them aware of your check in times.

How will you handle food
preferences?

Guests have food preferences that may be totally different from yours.  Some love gourmet.  Some health food.  Others thrive on junk and caffeine. 

There will be guests with allergies and health problems, vegetarians (and vegans!) those with religious restrictions or ethical concerns - you name it.

You'll have guests who want to be left alone and guests who want to chat with you all day long - probably both types staying at the same time.

And let's not forget guests with strong (and very vocal!) political opinions.



Will you accept children and/or pets?
Children are not always raised as you would like to see them raised.  They can be loud, cranky and fussy.  They'll need kid-friendly food and toys to keep them occupied.  They'll touch everything with sticky fingers and break family heirlooms.  Pets are exactly the same - but often better behaved.

Will your guests be comfortable? 

Can you accept other people's life styles?
Couples may not always be married.  Some may be gay.  Your guests may be foreign nationals or interracial couples. 

Guests may have different religious or political views than you.  They may be older, younger, handicapped or have special needs.  

Guests may return from dinner drunk. They may have insomnia and watch TV in the living room all night long.  They may knock on your door in the middle of the night looking for an aspirin or to ask that you give them an early wake up call.  Guests can be neat and tidy or messy and thoughtless. 

Can you accept (and enjoy) your guests without being critical, judgmental or offended? 

When you invite the world to your door, it will show up.  There are some things you can control (like whether or not pets and children are welcome) but many things you can't so it's important to do a bit of soul searching before you book your first guest.

If you love being around other people and enjoy their differences, you'll have great fun with your B&B.

Updated 11-12-22

Chapter 8 - Strangers in Your House

When I was growing up, my mother rented our spare bedrooms.   It was the 1950's and life was different.  Our big Victorian house had 5 bedrooms so there were always lots of strangers around. 

Cheesecake Farms
The Mane House

We lived near an army base and families regularly came to say good bye to soldiers being shipped overseas so our "Guest House" (as we were called) provided some of the very much needed lodgings. 

Usually our guests came as referrals from the chaplain's office on the base.  The people stayed a couple of nights, sharing the one (and only one!) bathroom in the hall.  The rooms were small, had no amenities and there was no breakfast.

When there were more guests than we had rooms, my mother even rented our rooms (with our clothes still in the closets and in the drawers) temporarily housing us on the couch and day bed in the den. There was also the "alcove" - a twin bed in a hall way nook hidden by a drape.

The locks for all the rooms used skeleton keys.  That means that any one could have opened any door with their key.  The alcove didn't even have a door to lock.  Somehow it all worked out.  Nothing ever got stolen from the rooms and no one was ever surprised by strangers entering their rooms unexpectedly.

Comfy Accommodations
The Hay Loft Suite @ the Barn

The Tack Room Suite @
The Barn

Things are different today.  Although each of your B&B rooms will have their own key, can you live with the idea of strangers in your house?  

Strangers will look at your stuff - maybe even open your cabinets and closets.  

Strangers who may take some of your things.  

Strangers who are up at night after you've gone to sleep. 

It's important to think about strangers in your house.... nice people, of course, but strangers none-the-less.

Take stock of your home for safety and security.  Something as easy as moving valuables and heirlooms to protected areas of the house where guests have no access may be enough.  Adding secure locks and privacy drapes to the inn keepers quarters will provide peace of mind.

Yes, times may have changed but, just like you, most people are honest and decent.  Even so, do a safety and security check of your B&B for the peace of mind it will provide.