Saw the previous owner last night

[TheBeachHouse]

Last night we attended the innkeepers' association holiday dinner. And the PO was there as guest of another innkeeper. We talked the whole night. She was very interested and supportive of the changes we'd made. Kept saying how she had wanted to do similar upgrades, but never could get it done.
We invited her to come see the changes. Wonder if she will drop by? (She lives less than a mile from us.)

 

[Morticia]

All of the PO's live in town. The original innkeeper loves the changes and says much the same thing you heard. The next owners have never even mentioned the inn when we've seen them in town.

 

[TheBeachHouse]

It's funny. We have a weird bond. She used to talk about the spirit of the house. I told her last night how DH often uses the phrase, "The house wants this, the house wants us to do this." As though the house has it's own wants and likes.
We understand that.

 

[Morticia]

It's funny. We have a weird bond. She used to talk about the spirit of the house. I told her last night how DH often uses the phrase, "The house wants this, the house wants us to do this." As though the house has it's own wants and likes.
We understand that..

It's true, tho. And if you do it wrong, watch out!
When we painted a couple of rooms I moved the furniture around. Whole different atmosphere. We no longer get comments about the haunted room always being cold and noisy and with lights no one can figure out how to turn off. There's a whole different vibe.
He either got fed up and left or he's happy now.

 

[TheBeachHouse]

It's funny. We have a weird bond. She used to talk about the spirit of the house. I told her last night how DH often uses the phrase, "The house wants this, the house wants us to do this." As though the house has it's own wants and likes.
We understand that..

It's true, tho. And if you do it wrong, watch out!
When we painted a couple of rooms I moved the furniture around. Whole different atmosphere. We no longer get comments about the haunted room always being cold and noisy and with lights no one can figure out how to turn off. There's a whole different vibe.
He either got fed up and left or he's happy now.
.

LOL. Hope you just made him happy.
(I probably have told this a hundred times but I'm old, so deal with it.)
The PO nursed her husband (Stephen) through death in the house.
When we moved in, the doorbell used to ring at all hours. Just once in awhile, but it happened numerous times. One time, my nephew said he saw an old man walking away, called out and he didn't turn around. We started saying hello to Stephen every time it happened.
Anyway, one time, the doorbell rings, no one there, I shouted, "Stephen, we are taking good care of the place, I promise. You can go!"
Not kidding, it never happened again.

 

[EmptyNest]

we were best friends with our PO. They lived just down the street and came to dinner and visit with us all the time. We loved them and miss them. They finally sold their house and moved away. We still keep in touch.

 

[Morticia]

It's funny. We have a weird bond. She used to talk about the spirit of the house. I told her last night how DH often uses the phrase, "The house wants this, the house wants us to do this." As though the house has it's own wants and likes.
We understand that..

It's true, tho. And if you do it wrong, watch out!
When we painted a couple of rooms I moved the furniture around. Whole different atmosphere. We no longer get comments about the haunted room always being cold and noisy and with lights no one can figure out how to turn off. There's a whole different vibe.
He either got fed up and left or he's happy now.
.

LOL. Hope you just made him happy.
(I probably have told this a hundred times but I'm old, so deal with it.)
The PO nursed her husband (Stephen) through death in the house.
When we moved in, the doorbell used to ring at all hours. Just once in awhile, but it happened numerous times. One time, my nephew said he saw an old man walking away, called out and he didn't turn around. We started saying hello to Stephen every time it happened.
Anyway, one time, the doorbell rings, no one there, I shouted, "Stephen, we are taking good care of the place, I promise. You can go!"
Not kidding, it never happened again.
.

We had a guest who told the ghost to buzz off. She had no problems with him after that.

 

[OnTheShore]

Any POs of our place are long gone, since the property has been in our family for many generations, but we do have previous managers. One half of the most recent couple who managed the business before us is returning to town as the new executive director of the Chamber after four years away.

 

[gillumhouse]

MY PO was the son of the second owners - the Gillum family. He was actually born in Rosi's Room and luck of the draw stayed in Rosi's. He came in 1996, shortly after we opened. He told us he liked what we had done with the house. (The Harris Family came for the first open house - the sons we bought from - but I do not remember if they said anything.) I was so glad to get Paul's approval. His son has been back several times since.

 

[Breakfast Diva]

I'm so happy that after about 4 years our POs moved away. So many problems and they just couldn't cut the cord.

 

[Camge]

Our PO's husband died in the house, and his, his Moms and his first wifes ashes were scattered or buried in our back yard. We also border on a very old historic cemetary where the original owners are buried. The house is 110 years old. Not a spirit or a ghost in the house.( The house we moved from had an unhappy spirit that annoyed our kids.) the PO moved to Florida and last year came back to visit. We put her in her old bedroom and she stayed with us for a few nights. She loved the rennovations and said it was just what her husband always wanted to do.

 

[Momma Smurf]

we were best friends with our PO. They lived just down the street and came to dinner and visit with us all the time. We loved them and miss them. They finally sold their house and moved away. We still keep in touch..

Our POs were our best friends also, even after they opened up a competing inn down the road! They sold two years ago and we miss them too. Our therapy sessions were priceless. The new innkeepers suck. No interaction 'cept the time they overbooked. Sad.

 

[Morticia]

we were best friends with our PO. They lived just down the street and came to dinner and visit with us all the time. We loved them and miss them. They finally sold their house and moved away. We still keep in touch..

Our POs were our best friends also, even after they opened up a competing inn down the road! They sold two years ago and we miss them too. Our therapy sessions were priceless. The new innkeepers suck. No interaction 'cept the time they overbooked. Sad.
.

I've liked that part about here - getting together and helping each other. We've 'trained' all the new innkeepers in town. ;-)
Every time there is a change over the outgoing innkeeper (or the incoming innkeeper) has hosted a meet and greet. Works well.
Other than the couple of 'old hands' in town we're the longest lasting incomers.

 

[Momma Smurf]

we were best friends with our PO. They lived just down the street and came to dinner and visit with us all the time. We loved them and miss them. They finally sold their house and moved away. We still keep in touch..

Our POs were our best friends also, even after they opened up a competing inn down the road! They sold two years ago and we miss them too. Our therapy sessions were priceless. The new innkeepers suck. No interaction 'cept the time they overbooked. Sad.
.

I've liked that part about here - getting together and helping each other. We've 'trained' all the new innkeepers in town. ;-)
Every time there is a change over the outgoing innkeeper (or the incoming innkeeper) has hosted a meet and greet. Works well.
Other than the couple of 'old hands' in town we're the longest lasting incomers.
.

We are the longest independent survivors in town too.

 

[gillumhouse]

we were best friends with our PO. They lived just down the street and came to dinner and visit with us all the time. We loved them and miss them. They finally sold their house and moved away. We still keep in touch..

Our POs were our best friends also, even after they opened up a competing inn down the road! They sold two years ago and we miss them too. Our therapy sessions were priceless. The new innkeepers suck. No interaction 'cept the time they overbooked. Sad.
.

I've liked that part about here - getting together and helping each other. We've 'trained' all the new innkeepers in town. ;-)
Every time there is a change over the outgoing innkeeper (or the incoming innkeeper) has hosted a meet and greet. Works well.
Other than the couple of 'old hands' in town we're the longest lasting incomers.
.

We are the longest independent survivors in town too.
.

I am the survivor in my COUNTY.

 

[Jcam]

our po's live in town - ive not seen them lately but my mum (also lives in town) sees them now and again and says how we are getting on - don't think they would be really bothered as got the impression they wern't to attached to the place anyway.

 

[muirford]

I am the PO, and live right next to the Inn we owned. I deliberately stepped out of many of the organizations I volunteered for, including the town visitors center, to give the new owners space and distance. We have a not-close but good relationship and share 'ownership' of our last two feral outside cats. I innsit for them when they go to conferences or on trips if I can. I think it helps that we didn't move into our house next door until 18 months after they bought the Inn.
I have personally been in too many situations (not with our PO, whom we have no relationship with) where the previous 'jobholder' won't let go, to the point of undermining me to business partners via emails. I vowed not to be that person when we sold our Inn. We have guests we still see as friends, but we are very clear as to our boundaries.

 

[Morticia]

I am the PO, and live right next to the Inn we owned. I deliberately stepped out of many of the organizations I volunteered for, including the town visitors center, to give the new owners space and distance. We have a not-close but good relationship and share 'ownership' of our last two feral outside cats. I innsit for them when they go to conferences or on trips if I can. I think it helps that we didn't move into our house next door until 18 months after they bought the Inn.
I have personally been in too many situations (not with our PO, whom we have no relationship with) where the previous 'jobholder' won't let go, to the point of undermining me to business partners via emails. I vowed not to be that person when we sold our Inn. We have guests we still see as friends, but we are very clear as to our boundaries..

I can see us meeting up with guests for lunch after were done here. But it used to irk me no end when it happened to us. I understand better now but 10 years ago I thought it was all kinds of wrong for the PO's to show up here to meet the guests. Probably more because we didn't get on with the PO's and they never so much as said hi when they pulled in.
I have no idea if guests are still meeting up with them but they don't come by to pick them up.

 

[Jcam]

I am the PO, and live right next to the Inn we owned. I deliberately stepped out of many of the organizations I volunteered for, including the town visitors center, to give the new owners space and distance. We have a not-close but good relationship and share 'ownership' of our last two feral outside cats. I innsit for them when they go to conferences or on trips if I can. I think it helps that we didn't move into our house next door until 18 months after they bought the Inn.
I have personally been in too many situations (not with our PO, whom we have no relationship with) where the previous 'jobholder' won't let go, to the point of undermining me to business partners via emails. I vowed not to be that person when we sold our Inn. We have guests we still see as friends, but we are very clear as to our boundaries..

See this is a situation I have come across today with my chum - did have 1 B&B which she sold to her brother and bought a smaller one up the road - people before her basically gave away the farm to guests free drinks and all sorts to regulars and if anyone did a bad review they rang and did the pitty us dance and gave them a free stay to remove it - guests came who were previous guests of theirs last weekend and were just about horrified to find my friend in charge and their "friends" no longer there and were shocked as "they had never been told they were selling" and so on and so on. I find this ironic as as soon as the sale was agreed with my friend they told anyone that rang for forward bookings that they couldn't take them as it would be up to the new owner so feel these people were virtually the only ones who didn't know! Did her a bad review for being not their friend!
On the other side of this another property sold to a very nice couple and the previous owner also our friend did ring all his regulars and told them who then all cancelled! and left the new people in a mess! felt he did not handle it very well. I would have said if they were regulars of long standing "We have had to sell for health reasons but we are lucky enough that we have found a really nice couple to take over who will look after you like we would have done and your reservation is secure but we didn't want you to be surprised when you came" or something similar.

 

[Morticia]

I am the PO, and live right next to the Inn we owned. I deliberately stepped out of many of the organizations I volunteered for, including the town visitors center, to give the new owners space and distance. We have a not-close but good relationship and share 'ownership' of our last two feral outside cats. I innsit for them when they go to conferences or on trips if I can. I think it helps that we didn't move into our house next door until 18 months after they bought the Inn.
I have personally been in too many situations (not with our PO, whom we have no relationship with) where the previous 'jobholder' won't let go, to the point of undermining me to business partners via emails. I vowed not to be that person when we sold our Inn. We have guests we still see as friends, but we are very clear as to our boundaries..

See this is a situation I have come across today with my chum - did have 1 B&B which she sold to her brother and bought a smaller one up the road - people before her basically gave away the farm to guests free drinks and all sorts to regulars and if anyone did a bad review they rang and did the pitty us dance and gave them a free stay to remove it - guests came who were previous guests of theirs last weekend and were just about horrified to find my friend in charge and their "friends" no longer there and were shocked as "they had never been told they were selling" and so on and so on. I find this ironic as as soon as the sale was agreed with my friend they told anyone that rang for forward bookings that they couldn't take them as it would be up to the new owner so feel these people were virtually the only ones who didn't know! Did her a bad review for being not their friend!
On the other side of this another property sold to a very nice couple and the previous owner also our friend did ring all his regulars and told them who then all cancelled! and left the new people in a mess! felt he did not handle it very well. I would have said if they were regulars of long standing "We have had to sell for health reasons but we are lucky enough that we have found a really nice couple to take over who will look after you like we would have done and your reservation is secure but we didn't want you to be surprised when you came" or something similar.
.

We got the same thing here. The PO's told a few of the regulars that the inn had sold. The others were insulted when they arrived and found out they hadn't a clue.
There were a lot of hurt feelings. Guests who thought they were 'special' felt horrible.
Others demanded to know 'who the hell are you? Where's the innkeeper?'
Our plan is to send an email announcement and put it on Facebook once the sale is final. Introduce the new folks and bow out gracefully.
We saw a big drop in repeat biz the first year. Lots of callers asked on the phone where the old innkeepers were then wouldn't book. Then, after a year or two, we started hearing a different story. How the PO's used to hide after 7 pm, leaving the keys on the desk and letting guests find their own rooms, how he was always sniping at her, how nothing was being fixed because they wouldn't hire anyone and they didn't know how to do it themselves.
So, we got some of the old guests back and got a whole new set of our own.