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  1. Tom

    B&B

    It has a lot to do with geography. There isn't a lot of money in innkeeping or in innsitting, so travel -- to get acquainted, or for the job itself -- can be an excessive time and dollar cost. Define your service area.
  2. Tom

    Merry Christmas To All and to ALL a Good Night

    Merry Christmas!
  3. Tom

    Water

    You would thus enjoy Argentina. I was hoping to yank your chauvinistic chain with my crack about "bunch of Canadian health laws". At least you could have mentioned Flint MI. And, Canada guideline for lead is 10 ppb, proposed last year to be cut to 5. In US, EPA action level for Lead in...
  4. Tom

    Eeeek! We want to become innkeepers

    And, in many markets, Air, HomeAway, Google SEO, are changing the traditional B&B customer base. Look at an inn's financials, but now more than ever "past performance is no guarantee ..."
  5. Tom

    Ideal number of rooms

    In most US jurisdictions, 5 rooms or fewer is "residential B&B" and 6 and above is typically "commercial". Federal ADA law, Uniform Building Code apply to 6 and above. We're 5 for that reason. Operates like a 2 in the slow season, a 5 in the high season. Make it's style match your own, don't...
  6. Tom

    Water

    Doesn't "plumbing" come from "plumbum", Latin for lead, so "aqua plumbi" may violate a bunch of Canadian health laws.
  7. Tom

    Another Competitor Up For Sale

    Amen, brother!
  8. Tom

    revenues 25% down

    The past few years our revenues have held steady: holding our own despite a lot of high end hotel construction and the arrival of Airbnb in the area. This year Air hit hard, and our revenues are down 25% ;-( Personally, I don't mind a little slowdown, but this is a bit too much. For the most...
  9. Tom

    Disappearing Guests

    Bride rented the room just to use for the day. Didn't use bed or tub. At the end of the event, I looked in and was pleased to see she had tidied up. I was actually thinking of not charging a full rate - and no room tax since it wasn't used for overnight. But somebody did use the room that...
  10. Tom

    Tesla Destination Charging

    Tesla or other? And, traveling how far from home? We can charge non-tesla too (6 kW), but so far, none have ventured on the long range drive that includes a stay here. Probably lack of ability or places to speed charge so it would have to be a single charge per day itinerary.
  11. Tom

    Septic

    We had a septic blockage disaster last winter. Mainly due to gradual settling that left inlet pipe about 3 inches offset too low so the rubber connector (Fernco) caught clogs. We caught it before it was really bad, but we still flooded a room. I dug out tank (rented a little back hoe), re-did...
  12. Tom

    Time to drop "Bed and Breakfast" from our name?

    We're B&B Inn, as well. I figure the more key words the better. The brand is the Phineas Swann part of the name anyway. So, I wouldn't worry about it. And you are right: rise of Airbnb has had the impact of a brand name (Kleenex:facial tissue) taking over a generic. But B&B is still a valid...
  13. Tom

    Disappearing Guests

    Yesterday, finishing a wedding weekend: 55 people including 10 residents. Event Day bride rented a room for dressing and left it immaculate. I am wrapping breakfast for 10, the number I had counted as resident guests associated with the wedding ... and ... a couple I have never seen appears...
  14. Tom

    How fire sprinkler systems work?

    Hmm ... not strictly accurate. In the Universal Building Code, as used in the US, the use of sprinklers in a residential setting like a B&B is intended to prolong the time between the onset of a fire and the point when escape becomes impossible -- the purpose is to reduce fire deaths, not to...
  15. Tom

    So we made our first offer...

    As always. Mort's advice is dead on. There can be a significant liability in all of the above, particularly the gift certificates (which never expire) and the freebies, which you should be able to cut off, soon. In principle, any liabilities should be in their books as monies received. They...
  16. Tom

    I Forgot...

    We only call if it is clearly their phone (they were texting us) and it's only an hour so they may be around. If they call, they can pay, but it will have to wait for a trip to town. Otherwise, the privacy issue is important. You wouldn't think so, guests seem so ordinary, but after a few very...
  17. Tom

    Requirements as far as code

    Sifting comments already posted: Key question is whether you will be residential B&B (5 or fewer rooms, owner occupied) or commercial? That really determines which universal codes will apply. Then it is up to the local authority having jurisdiction ("AHJ") to decide on when original install is...
  18. Tom

    People coming back after checkout - discuss

    If it doesn't impact operations, I don't care: hang out as long as I can start cleaning rooms. We have noon checkout, but we always count on some earlier departures to get going. We have no shortage of parking space and often people will go for a bicycle tour.
  19. Tom

    Which is more valuable?

    We have such a room (but larger and with a king bed). Pain to make up extra bed, but easier than bringing in a roll-away to one of the other rooms. I think you always need options for the extra child or for adults who do not want to share, particularly in a queen.
  20. Tom

    Tesla Destination Charging

    Tesla gave us charger in 2015 and $200 for install (really easy, right through wall of shed with electrical panel 6 feet away). We and Hilton Garden are still only two destination chargers in the whole Eugene urban area. There is a big super charger station nearby. I don't charge for charging...
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