You won't be able to do it alone. Not unless you really want to burn out. You are going to have to give up doing some parts of it.YIPE, we just bought an 11 room Inn and it's just my wife and IWe think we can do it since it's cottages not in our house and we have 3 sets of everything. Here's hoping!
We are zoned C-1 commercial too..
YIPE, we just bought an 11 room Inn and it's just my wife and I
We are zoned C-1 commercial too..
We could easily flip 7 rooms everyday when we first bought this place. Did we want to do that? No. Could we do it now, 15 years later? Not a chance.flyingace71 said:YIPE, we just bought an 11 room Inn and it's just my wife and I
We are zoned C-1 commercial too.
Impossible without the burnout mentioned above (I predict burnout in 2 weeks if it's busy season), unless you...flyingace71 said:
YIPE, we just bought an 11 room Inn and it's just my wife and I
We are zoned C-1 commercial too..
Three sets of everything is a must. We have done six rooms alone for the past 13 years, we are now both 65. Couldn't handle any more alone... 11 is impossible.flyingace71 said:YIPE, we just bought an 11 room Inn and it's just my wife and I
We are zoned C-1 commercial too.
YIPE, we just bought an 11 room Inn and it's just my wife and I
We are zoned C-1 commercial too..
I worked as a housekeeper many years ago. We would not have been assigned more than 5 or 6 rooms a day. I suggest you will need help.flyingace71 said:YIPE, we just bought an 11 room Inn and it's just my wife and I
We are zoned C-1 commercial too.
YIPE, we just bought an 11 room Inn and it's just my wife and I
We are zoned C-1 commercial too..
I have to echo what others have said, but much will depend on you, the inn/location, volume and timing of guests. We have 8 rooms, no food service, in my 40's I thought we needed more rooms, in my 70's, well at times it seems at times we never get done, but it will depend on the flow of your business. We tend to be busy weekends, holidays, and a few certain peak times, not so busy mid-week, works well for our needs, but if you need to be busy all 7 days, well I don't envy the work that will be needed.flyingace71 said:YIPE, we just bought an 11 room Inn and it's just my wife and I
YIPE, we just bought an 11 room Inn and it's just my wife and I
We are zoned C-1 commercial too..I have to echo what others have said, but much will depend on you, the inn/location, volume and timing of guests. We have 8 rooms, no food service, in my 40's I thought we needed more rooms, in my 70's, well at times it seems at times we never get done, but it will depend on the flow of your business. We tend to be busy weekends, holidays, and a few certain peak times, not so busy mid-week, works well for our needs, but if you need to be busy all 7 days, well I don't envy the work that will be needed.flyingace71 said:YIPE, we just bought an 11 room Inn and it's just my wife and I
Cottages strike me as a mixed blessing, nice not to have everyone in your home, but having looked at some similar arrangements and the idea of carrying laundry and supplies looked like a lot of work to me, still wish you every success.
.
We have a golf cart to cart everything around. Some of our cleaners will use their own car (especially if they have their own equipment, i.e. contractors).JimBoone said:
YIPE, we just bought an 11 room Inn and it's just my wife and I
We are zoned C-1 commercial too..I have to echo what others have said, but much will depend on you, the inn/location, volume and timing of guests. We have 8 rooms, no food service, in my 40's I thought we needed more rooms, in my 70's, well at times it seems at times we never get done, but it will depend on the flow of your business. We tend to be busy weekends, holidays, and a few certain peak times, not so busy mid-week, works well for our needs, but if you need to be busy all 7 days, well I don't envy the work that will be needed.flyingace71 said:YIPE, we just bought an 11 room Inn and it's just my wife and I
Cottages strike me as a mixed blessing, nice not to have everyone in your home, but having looked at some similar arrangements and the idea of carrying laundry and supplies looked like a lot of work to me, still wish you every success.
.We have a golf cart to cart everything around. Some of our cleaners will use their own car (especially if they have their own equipment, i.e. contractors).JimBoone said:
We have big plastic tote bins for each cottage, labelled on the outside with a permanent marker with an inventory of what's needed for each cottage. We pack these ahead of time with all the sheets, towels, paper goods, etc... that will be needed for that cottage, so when the cleaning crew come in they can just grab the bin for their assigned cottage and go.
.
Golf cart sounds like a good plan (cleaners sounds even better), but was thinking flyingace71 was speaking of being mom & pop like us. We once looked a beautiful B&B facing the river (smaller) thinking it a way to wind down and enjoy life more, but after looking and considering the stairs and the laundry being under a separate cottage up the hill, decided we were better off with what we knew. Would have needed an oxygen tank to make it up the hill.OnTheShore said:
Not true for all. It can be done
I will completely disagree with being able to care for 22 guest rooms with 2 people only when those 2 people are also parents and the owners. You can be as efficient as you want, but something is suffering somewhere.Not true for all. It can be done
My husband and I own a 22 room winter/summer lodge, w/ a cocktail bar, and we do it ALL. We've owned for almost 5 years and we used to hire one part timer, around 12-15 hrs a week to help us with housekeeping. We didn't re-hire after our last one quit because it's very hard to find good quality help in our area (and frankly, I gave up on trying to find someone who would just show up for an interview). It does take some dedication, but after a while you find a routine, you find patterns in your renters and schedule, and learn how to be efficient as a team. We also have 2 young children factored in. I would kill to have only 11 rooms
.
I will completely disagree with being able to care for 22 guest rooms with 2 people only when those 2 people are also parents and the owners. You can be as efficient as you want, but something is suffering somewhere.Not true for all. It can be done
My husband and I own a 22 room winter/summer lodge, w/ a cocktail bar, and we do it ALL. We've owned for almost 5 years and we used to hire one part timer, around 12-15 hrs a week to help us with housekeeping. We didn't re-hire after our last one quit because it's very hard to find good quality help in our area (and frankly, I gave up on trying to find someone who would just show up for an interview). It does take some dedication, but after a while you find a routine, you find patterns in your renters and schedule, and learn how to be efficient as a team. We also have 2 young children factored in. I would kill to have only 11 rooms
.
.
Sounds familiar, a few years in the business at age 50 and one youngster at home I would have loved to have had 22 rooms and thought we could manage that number, today at age 76 and our daughter helping, some days are a struggle with our 8 rooms. We have changed, time takes it toll, we are older and tire faster. The guests and business have changed, looking back to our beginning we might have been one of the better "cheap" places in town, business was often the overflow when town was full. Today I feel we compete with the "nice" places in town, we have our following of really nice guests and put a lot of effort into details to ensure their return and most depart as friends.Morticia said:
I run 5 or 6 rooms and all year round I have a person who comes in to do a weekly deep clean and in the high season, I have someone who comes in for 3 to 4 hours a day. We even limit our hours and do self check-in. But at 7 days a week for months on end, with no help... I'd be burnt. Even this way, we find it tough around 3/4 of the season through. And we take LONG vacations.Not true for all. It can be done
My husband and I own a 22 room winter/summer lodge, w/ a cocktail bar, and we do it ALL. We've owned for almost 5 years and we used to hire one part timer, around 12-15 hrs a week to help us with housekeeping. We didn't re-hire after our last one quit because it's very hard to find good quality help in our area (and frankly, I gave up on trying to find someone who would just show up for an interview). It does take some dedication, but after a while you find a routine, you find patterns in your renters and schedule, and learn how to be efficient as a team. We also have 2 young children factored in. I would kill to have only 11 rooms
.
I can see how you would be skeptical. Definitely not saying it's easy or for everyone. And I probably should have added that we outsource what we need to and have a few other unique circumstances to our place. We keep up just fine though and look forward to our breaks. We get some decent downtime in the early spring (now) and late fall due to our geographic location. We know our high and low times and plan accordingly. I realize some of you have year round, fully occupied Inns & Bnb's, and in that case, your right, we would be dead on our feet at 22 rooms. I would love to have something around 10 rooms.I will completely disagree with being able to care for 22 guest rooms with 2 people only when those 2 people are also parents and the owners. You can be as efficient as you want, but something is suffering somewhere.Not true for all. It can be done
My husband and I own a 22 room winter/summer lodge, w/ a cocktail bar, and we do it ALL. We've owned for almost 5 years and we used to hire one part timer, around 12-15 hrs a week to help us with housekeeping. We didn't re-hire after our last one quit because it's very hard to find good quality help in our area (and frankly, I gave up on trying to find someone who would just show up for an interview). It does take some dedication, but after a while you find a routine, you find patterns in your renters and schedule, and learn how to be efficient as a team. We also have 2 young children factored in. I would kill to have only 11 rooms
.
.
I agree with you. Time does take its toll. Not for everyone and things definitely change. I was simply trying to say it IS possible for someone with the right drive and a clear plan.I will completely disagree with being able to care for 22 guest rooms with 2 people only when those 2 people are also parents and the owners. You can be as efficient as you want, but something is suffering somewhere.Not true for all. It can be done
My husband and I own a 22 room winter/summer lodge, w/ a cocktail bar, and we do it ALL. We've owned for almost 5 years and we used to hire one part timer, around 12-15 hrs a week to help us with housekeeping. We didn't re-hire after our last one quit because it's very hard to find good quality help in our area (and frankly, I gave up on trying to find someone who would just show up for an interview). It does take some dedication, but after a while you find a routine, you find patterns in your renters and schedule, and learn how to be efficient as a team. We also have 2 young children factored in. I would kill to have only 11 rooms
.
.Sounds familiar, a few years in the business at age 50 and one youngster at home I would have loved to have had 22 rooms and thought we could manage that number, today at age 76 and our daughter helping, some days are a struggle with our 8 rooms. We have changed, time takes it toll, we are older and tire faster. The guests and business have changed, looking back to our beginning we might have been one of the better "cheap" places in town, business was often the overflow when town was full. Today I feel we compete with the "nice" places in town, we have our following of really nice guests and put a lot of effort into details to ensure their return and most depart as friends.Morticia said:
.
I hear ya. We also have unique circumstances like the occasional self check in and specific check in hours, etc.. actually I've learned alot from this forum in regards to policy and operation. (Thanks all!) We do outsource what we need to, which helps.I run 5 or 6 rooms and all year round I have a person who comes in to do a weekly deep clean and in the high season, I have someone who comes in for 3 to 4 hours a day. We even limit our hours and do self check-in. But at 7 days a week for months on end, with no help... I'd be burnt. Even this way, we find it tough around 3/4 of the season through. And we take LONG vacations.Not true for all. It can be done
My husband and I own a 22 room winter/summer lodge, w/ a cocktail bar, and we do it ALL. We've owned for almost 5 years and we used to hire one part timer, around 12-15 hrs a week to help us with housekeeping. We didn't re-hire after our last one quit because it's very hard to find good quality help in our area (and frankly, I gave up on trying to find someone who would just show up for an interview). It does take some dedication, but after a while you find a routine, you find patterns in your renters and schedule, and learn how to be efficient as a team. We also have 2 young children factored in. I would kill to have only 11 rooms
.
When I was younger, I did all the rooms,and had no high season help... but I can't do it all anymore. Even with the help, I make breakfast each day, I do the accounting, answer calls, do all the laundry, buy supplies, etc. But I ALWAYS had that person who comes in once a week who does the deep clean. And on the day the deep clean person comes in, I still make breakfast, do the beds and do all the laundry, including all their rags. They are here 7 or 8 hours making sure that everything is tip top... no dust on the artwork, no dust bunnies under the beds, mopping floors, etc. So even with help, there is plenty to do. And you don't want to be "worn out" when you answer the door for guests.
But we warn guests we only do check-in from 3PM to 5:59PM, before that, you pay, after that you check-in yourself. Best foot forward at arrival time... and those who arrive early... learn quickly, there is a price for showing up at 2:30PM and thinking it will be okay....
.
I agree with you. Time does take its toll. Not for everyone and things definitely change. I was simply trying to say it IS possible for someone with the right drive and a clear plan.I will completely disagree with being able to care for 22 guest rooms with 2 people only when those 2 people are also parents and the owners. You can be as efficient as you want, but something is suffering somewhere.Not true for all. It can be done
My husband and I own a 22 room winter/summer lodge, w/ a cocktail bar, and we do it ALL. We've owned for almost 5 years and we used to hire one part timer, around 12-15 hrs a week to help us with housekeeping. We didn't re-hire after our last one quit because it's very hard to find good quality help in our area (and frankly, I gave up on trying to find someone who would just show up for an interview). It does take some dedication, but after a while you find a routine, you find patterns in your renters and schedule, and learn how to be efficient as a team. We also have 2 young children factored in. I would kill to have only 11 rooms
.
.Sounds familiar, a few years in the business at age 50 and one youngster at home I would have loved to have had 22 rooms and thought we could manage that number, today at age 76 and our daughter helping, some days are a struggle with our 8 rooms. We have changed, time takes it toll, we are older and tire faster. The guests and business have changed, looking back to our beginning we might have been one of the better "cheap" places in town, business was often the overflow when town was full. Today I feel we compete with the "nice" places in town, we have our following of really nice guests and put a lot of effort into details to ensure their return and most depart as friends.Morticia said:
.
.
Morning BRLodge, I took a minute and looked at your website, envy for the days when we were the young couple, wish we could have started this business at your point in life, it is a time when many things are possible. I look forward to seeing you and your ideas here on the forum.BRLodge said:
I have to agree here. Although you might can be great with this out of the gate, your stamina in the long run will eventually wane pretty hard. There will come a time when you are sitting in your recliner thinking, "I just don't want to get up and clean rooms today." Instead of thinking of ways to expand and grow your business, you're thinking of ways to cut back, like closing part of the week.
![Bed & Breakfast Tracker Plus [Download]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51m1WPxMV7L._SL500_.jpg)
![Bed & Breakfast Tracker Plus for Mac [Download]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51iSnnH5vmL._SL500_.jpg)
