For the InnKEEPER, not the InnOWNER

[Ethbay]

Hi, longtime listener, first time caller here...

I have a question for those of you who RUN an Inn/B&B (etc.).
Background: My SO and I are about to accept a position as caretakers for a Fishing/Hunting club (more details as they occur). For our final interview, we would like to pose questions to the Board that would address our concerns with regard to living on the property and the day-to-day expectations. We know at this point that we will live on the grounds, maintain and clean all living areas, prepare all meals, perform general/routine maintenance of the grounds, and conduct preventative maintenance for the club overall. This is an all-male members-only club, so I'm pretty sure I will be the only female.
If you are currently living on the property where you work, what questions or expectations did you have? OR, if you had the chance to do it all over again, what questions do you wish you'd asked?
Hope that's clear. Ask for any clarifications!
Thanks,
~Beth

 

[rrh]

Will you be responsible for any marketing or advertising? How about taking reservations over the phone or setting up any other 3rd party reservations/appointments/guide services?
We have owned/operated/lived on site for 6 months now and the whole marketing and reservation thing takes MUCH more time than we anticipated. Also plan on never being able to complete a particular task. No matter what you are doing, plan to be flexible because there will be someone who needs something, something that needs your attention or repair, a phone call, many interruptions. People seem to be more needy when they get away from home or maybe they just want to, or think they deserve to be coddled. I can't think they could survive at home with everything they require at our place.....

 

[YellowSocks]

You need to find the thread When Enough is Enough... (maybe someone can post a link for you). It will be very, very illuminating for you.
=)
Kk.

 

[swirt]

You need to find the thread When Enough is Enough... (maybe someone can post a link for you). It will be very, very illuminating for you.
=)
Kk..

Here it is: Question: When is Enough
caution: it turned into a pretty heated discussion...don't let it scare you off

 

[Ethbay]

I started reading it, and did begin to get frightened...LOL! I need to read the rest, but there are so many other wonderful resources here that I keep getting sidetracked!

 

[EmptyNest]

Have you done anything similar to this before?
If not, consider carefully as you will read in When is Enough. Even though they seem to have had the skills, the experience and maturity level was not there to make the situation work.
Will you be comfortable being the only female??? Are you going to be in a remote location? OR close to some place you an get to for "peace of mind" and a break every so often?

 

[Ethbay]

The skill set needed for this particular position is along the lines of cooking breakfast and dinner (I had my own restaurant up 'til a month or so ago), keeping the place clean (ex-Navy here...LOL), maintaining the property (lawn-cutting, general maintenance, etc.), and just making sure the place runs smoothly. As far as being the only female, that's not a problem (I was an Engineman in the Navy so I'm used to being the only girl). The location is extremely remote but very safe. We will have Sunday after breakfast to Tuesday morning off, so I can get away for a break if I choose.
Being in my late 30s, I do feel this won't be a challenge to my patience (I'm a former schoolteacher as well...). I've been considering it deeply for about 3 weeks and have tried to find all of the challenging angles I may face. Outside of alligators, I think I can handle most anything that comes our way.
I will, however, continue to peruse "When is Enough". I wondered if I would start out with a bang and peeter out over time, and I'm sure it's bound to happen in some way at some time, but I think when you make a choice (and jobs are a choice), you need to abide by your decision unless it's detrimental to your health (or others LOL). At some point, I even harked back to those infamous scenes in "The Shining"...

 

[Don Draper]

The skill set needed for this particular position is along the lines of cooking breakfast and dinner (I had my own restaurant up 'til a month or so ago), keeping the place clean (ex-Navy here...LOL), maintaining the property (lawn-cutting, general maintenance, etc.), and just making sure the place runs smoothly. As far as being the only female, that's not a problem (I was an Engineman in the Navy so I'm used to being the only girl). The location is extremely remote but very safe. We will have Sunday after breakfast to Tuesday morning off, so I can get away for a break if I choose.
Being in my late 30s, I do feel this won't be a challenge to my patience (I'm a former schoolteacher as well...). I've been considering it deeply for about 3 weeks and have tried to find all of the challenging angles I may face. Outside of alligators, I think I can handle most anything that comes our way.
I will, however, continue to peruse "When is Enough". I wondered if I would start out with a bang and peeter out over time, and I'm sure it's bound to happen in some way at some time, but I think when you make a choice (and jobs are a choice), you need to abide by your decision unless it's detrimental to your health (or others LOL). At some point, I even harked back to those infamous scenes in "The Shining"...

.

Having Sunday afternoon to Tuesday morning off will be criticial..."When Is Enough" had few to any days off and that makes a huge difference. You sound like you have put a lot of thought into this decision which is a huge leg up for you. Your experience sounds perfect as well!

 

[EmptyNest]

The skill set needed for this particular position is along the lines of cooking breakfast and dinner (I had my own restaurant up 'til a month or so ago), keeping the place clean (ex-Navy here...LOL), maintaining the property (lawn-cutting, general maintenance, etc.), and just making sure the place runs smoothly. As far as being the only female, that's not a problem (I was an Engineman in the Navy so I'm used to being the only girl). The location is extremely remote but very safe. We will have Sunday after breakfast to Tuesday morning off, so I can get away for a break if I choose.
Being in my late 30s, I do feel this won't be a challenge to my patience (I'm a former schoolteacher as well...). I've been considering it deeply for about 3 weeks and have tried to find all of the challenging angles I may face. Outside of alligators, I think I can handle most anything that comes our way.
I will, however, continue to peruse "When is Enough". I wondered if I would start out with a bang and peeter out over time, and I'm sure it's bound to happen in some way at some time, but I think when you make a choice (and jobs are a choice), you need to abide by your decision unless it's detrimental to your health (or others LOL). At some point, I even harked back to those infamous scenes in "The Shining"...

.

The one thing I think about is this is not really your typical B & B. Most guys who are coming out for fishing/hunting/ whatever don't have the same needs as a guest staying at your "normal" destination B & B. So I bet they won't be clamoring at your door with PITA questions / issues.
Sounds like you have enough all round experience to handle it all Good luck

 

[Ethbay]

The skill set needed for this particular position is along the lines of cooking breakfast and dinner (I had my own restaurant up 'til a month or so ago), keeping the place clean (ex-Navy here...LOL), maintaining the property (lawn-cutting, general maintenance, etc.), and just making sure the place runs smoothly. As far as being the only female, that's not a problem (I was an Engineman in the Navy so I'm used to being the only girl). The location is extremely remote but very safe. We will have Sunday after breakfast to Tuesday morning off, so I can get away for a break if I choose.
Being in my late 30s, I do feel this won't be a challenge to my patience (I'm a former schoolteacher as well...). I've been considering it deeply for about 3 weeks and have tried to find all of the challenging angles I may face. Outside of alligators, I think I can handle most anything that comes our way.
I will, however, continue to peruse "When is Enough". I wondered if I would start out with a bang and peeter out over time, and I'm sure it's bound to happen in some way at some time, but I think when you make a choice (and jobs are a choice), you need to abide by your decision unless it's detrimental to your health (or others LOL). At some point, I even harked back to those infamous scenes in "The Shining"...

.

The one thing I think about is this is not really your typical B & B. Most guys who are coming out for fishing/hunting/ whatever don't have the same needs as a guest staying at your "normal" destination B & B. So I bet they won't be clamoring at your door with PITA questions / issues.
Sounds like you have enough all round experience to handle it all Good luck
.

That's exactly how I see it. I am more of a "denmother" in this situation, I think. This is why I initially thought I might not belong on this site, but there has been a lot of valuable information that I've picked up!

 

[JBloggs]

The skill set needed for this particular position is along the lines of cooking breakfast and dinner (I had my own restaurant up 'til a month or so ago), keeping the place clean (ex-Navy here...LOL), maintaining the property (lawn-cutting, general maintenance, etc.), and just making sure the place runs smoothly. As far as being the only female, that's not a problem (I was an Engineman in the Navy so I'm used to being the only girl). The location is extremely remote but very safe. We will have Sunday after breakfast to Tuesday morning off, so I can get away for a break if I choose.
Being in my late 30s, I do feel this won't be a challenge to my patience (I'm a former schoolteacher as well...). I've been considering it deeply for about 3 weeks and have tried to find all of the challenging angles I may face. Outside of alligators, I think I can handle most anything that comes our way.
I will, however, continue to peruse "When is Enough". I wondered if I would start out with a bang and peeter out over time, and I'm sure it's bound to happen in some way at some time, but I think when you make a choice (and jobs are a choice), you need to abide by your decision unless it's detrimental to your health (or others LOL). At some point, I even harked back to those infamous scenes in "The Shining"...

.

The one thing I think about is this is not really your typical B & B. Most guys who are coming out for fishing/hunting/ whatever don't have the same needs as a guest staying at your "normal" destination B & B. So I bet they won't be clamoring at your door with PITA questions / issues.
Sounds like you have enough all round experience to handle it all Good luck
.

That's exactly how I see it. I am more of a "denmother" in this situation, I think. This is why I initially thought I might not belong on this site, but there has been a lot of valuable information that I've picked up!
.

That's exactly how I see it. I am more of a "denmother" in this situation, I think. This is why I initially thought I might not belong on this site, but there has been a lot of valuable information that I've picked up!

What sort of hunting will it be? I saw a place in Arkansas for sale and they have the rice paddies there so have a huge guide service for all sorts of water fowl.
Yours sounds like a neat place to represent, I wish you all the best. You can chime in here any time and keep us posted on how you like it and what it turned out to be vs your first impressions. One thing I know having worked in a similar industry, with sportsmen on charter boats - those sort of places are big tippers! Tip the cook made me $100-200 a day. Some times there were famous people which I enjoyed having a brew with.

 

[Ethbay]

The skill set needed for this particular position is along the lines of cooking breakfast and dinner (I had my own restaurant up 'til a month or so ago), keeping the place clean (ex-Navy here...LOL), maintaining the property (lawn-cutting, general maintenance, etc.), and just making sure the place runs smoothly. As far as being the only female, that's not a problem (I was an Engineman in the Navy so I'm used to being the only girl). The location is extremely remote but very safe. We will have Sunday after breakfast to Tuesday morning off, so I can get away for a break if I choose.
Being in my late 30s, I do feel this won't be a challenge to my patience (I'm a former schoolteacher as well...). I've been considering it deeply for about 3 weeks and have tried to find all of the challenging angles I may face. Outside of alligators, I think I can handle most anything that comes our way.
I will, however, continue to peruse "When is Enough". I wondered if I would start out with a bang and peeter out over time, and I'm sure it's bound to happen in some way at some time, but I think when you make a choice (and jobs are a choice), you need to abide by your decision unless it's detrimental to your health (or others LOL). At some point, I even harked back to those infamous scenes in "The Shining"...

.

The one thing I think about is this is not really your typical B & B. Most guys who are coming out for fishing/hunting/ whatever don't have the same needs as a guest staying at your "normal" destination B & B. So I bet they won't be clamoring at your door with PITA questions / issues.
Sounds like you have enough all round experience to handle it all Good luck
.

That's exactly how I see it. I am more of a "denmother" in this situation, I think. This is why I initially thought I might not belong on this site, but there has been a lot of valuable information that I've picked up!
.

That's exactly how I see it. I am more of a "denmother" in this situation, I think. This is why I initially thought I might not belong on this site, but there has been a lot of valuable information that I've picked up!

What sort of hunting will it be? I saw a place in Arkansas for sale and they have the rice paddies there so have a huge guide service for all sorts of water fowl.
Yours sounds like a neat place to represent, I wish you all the best. You can chime in here any time and keep us posted on how you like it and what it turned out to be vs your first impressions. One thing I know having worked in a similar industry, with sportsmen on charter boats - those sort of places are big tippers! Tip the cook made me $100-200 a day. Some times there were famous people which I enjoyed having a brew with.
.

There are a lot of water fowl and rabbits. And I've been told the members are great tippers, running around 40%. Another opportunity for us to make $$$ is that we clean fish and boats.
Since there's fishing--and that's up the SO's alley (I fish, but for the catch...not for "fun" LOL), he can point people to the best places for x, y, and z.

 

[JBloggs]

The skill set needed for this particular position is along the lines of cooking breakfast and dinner (I had my own restaurant up 'til a month or so ago), keeping the place clean (ex-Navy here...LOL), maintaining the property (lawn-cutting, general maintenance, etc.), and just making sure the place runs smoothly. As far as being the only female, that's not a problem (I was an Engineman in the Navy so I'm used to being the only girl). The location is extremely remote but very safe. We will have Sunday after breakfast to Tuesday morning off, so I can get away for a break if I choose.
Being in my late 30s, I do feel this won't be a challenge to my patience (I'm a former schoolteacher as well...). I've been considering it deeply for about 3 weeks and have tried to find all of the challenging angles I may face. Outside of alligators, I think I can handle most anything that comes our way.
I will, however, continue to peruse "When is Enough". I wondered if I would start out with a bang and peeter out over time, and I'm sure it's bound to happen in some way at some time, but I think when you make a choice (and jobs are a choice), you need to abide by your decision unless it's detrimental to your health (or others LOL). At some point, I even harked back to those infamous scenes in "The Shining"...

.

The one thing I think about is this is not really your typical B & B. Most guys who are coming out for fishing/hunting/ whatever don't have the same needs as a guest staying at your "normal" destination B & B. So I bet they won't be clamoring at your door with PITA questions / issues.
Sounds like you have enough all round experience to handle it all Good luck
.

That's exactly how I see it. I am more of a "denmother" in this situation, I think. This is why I initially thought I might not belong on this site, but there has been a lot of valuable information that I've picked up!
.

That's exactly how I see it. I am more of a "denmother" in this situation, I think. This is why I initially thought I might not belong on this site, but there has been a lot of valuable information that I've picked up!

What sort of hunting will it be? I saw a place in Arkansas for sale and they have the rice paddies there so have a huge guide service for all sorts of water fowl.
Yours sounds like a neat place to represent, I wish you all the best. You can chime in here any time and keep us posted on how you like it and what it turned out to be vs your first impressions. One thing I know having worked in a similar industry, with sportsmen on charter boats - those sort of places are big tippers! Tip the cook made me $100-200 a day. Some times there were famous people which I enjoyed having a brew with.
.

There are a lot of water fowl and rabbits. And I've been told the members are great tippers, running around 40%. Another opportunity for us to make $$$ is that we clean fish and boats.
Since there's fishing--and that's up the SO's alley (I fish, but for the catch...not for "fun" LOL), he can point people to the best places for x, y, and z.
.

There are a lot of water fowl and rabbits. And I've been told the members are great tippers, running around 40%. Another opportunity for us to make $$$ is that we clean fish and boats.
Since there's fishing--and that's up the SO's alley (I fish, but for the catch...not for "fun" LOL), he can point people to the best places for x, y, and z.

Large fish? I ask, again, as I have worked with that, albacore, yellowfin etc. for large fish I can tell you to expect a good tip per fish. If it were me, I would make sure I could a lot my time to get in on that. Being the cook, the you kill it we grill it will make great tips. Sportsmen love being able to eat their fresh catch right there and word of mouth from that will go rampant. Good for you!