Houseguests Home Hosts People Stay Important Bedroom Offer

Americans often invite other people to stay in their homes, especially friends or relatives who are visiting from far away. Although there aren't any written rules, it is important for those visitors to be aware of houseguest "etiquette" (expectations for how someone should behave; polite behavior).

First, it is important for houseguests to "avoid" (not do; not let something happen) creating additional work for their "hosts" (the people who live in the home). This means that "common areas" (areas of the home that are shared, such as the living room, kitchen, and bathroom) should be kept clean. The houseguests' "belongings" (things that one owns) should not be left anywhere outside of the bedroom were the houseguests are staying, and those belongings should be "stored" (put away) "neatly" (in a clean, organized way).

Houseguests should offer to help their hosts prepare and clean up meals. If they are staying for more than one night, they should offer to pay for "groceries" (food purchased in a store) or simply bring groceries into the home.

Houseguests also need to respect their hosts' "right to privacy" (ability to be alone). Houseguests should never enter the hosts' personal space, such as a bedroom or an office without asking or being invited. Houseguests also shouldn't "snoop" (read or look at things to learn about another person) by reading the hosts' mail, for example.

Finally, houseguests should be "grateful" (thankful) to their hosts. This might mean writing a nice thank you note and/or leaving a small gift. Many houseguests prefer to "take their hosts out for dinner" (invite the hosts to a restaurant and pay for their meal). It is also nice to "reciprocate" (do something for someone because he or she has done the same thing for you) by inviting the host to stay in the houseguest's home in the future.