Basic Etiquette Rules to Follow When Visiting Someone's Home

    Whether you're crashing with a friend for convenience, invited for a leisurely stay at a cousin's summer home, or headed to your future in-laws' place for the first overnight visit, house guest etiquette matters. And if you've ever hosted family or friends for an extended stay, you know just how refreshing a well-behaved, respectful, game, and grateful house guest is—and how exhausting a not-so-awesome one can be. Here are 5 house guest etiquette rules to follow

1. Understand House Rules

When you arrive, gently inquire about how things are done to avoid any misunderstandings. What time does everyone usually wake up and go to bed? Anything you should know about the kids or pets? Should you leave the thermostat alone? Pick up on other house rules by being in tune with your hosts. This could mean observing whether or not you should take your shoes off indoors or if you should keep your phone away from the dinner table. Also, refrain from finishing the coffee or milk (but if you do, replace it).

2. Limit Your Phone Use

Spending too much time with your face in a screen will make your hosts feel like they're boring you (and, honestly, you might be boring them). It makes your company feel like there's somewhere else you'd rather be, or someone else you'd rather be spending time with. Try to limit screen time and only check emails, texts, and social media in the privacy of your own room.

3. Be Extremely Helpful

Unhelpful guests are rarely invited back. Things you should offer to do: Help prep or cook meals; set the table and do the dishes; offer to drive; occupy the kids while their parents take a well-deserved nap; fix a little something around the house if you have the skills; or take the dog for a walk. Even if you're turned down, the hosts will appreciate the gesture. Things you should do without asking for a thumbs up: Clear your dishes when you're done eating; buy some groceries and maybe the fixings for cocktails; get your own kids out of the house for an hour or two; fill up the tank if you borrow the car; strip your sheets at the end of your stay (unless you're told otherwise).

4. Leave Things Cleaner Than You Found Them

If there's one thing to take away from these etiquette tips, it should be this: Leave the place as clean as possible. The last thing you want is for your host to have to hire a cleaner after your stay. On your last day, triple-check the bedroom and bathroom for your belongings. Strip the sheets and put them in a pillowcase at the foot of the bed. Do a quick wipe-down of the counters in the bathroom for toothpaste, extra cups, or loose hair. And, of course, return any items to their place, like a book you borrowed from the bookshelf.

5. Say Thank You

Thank your host three times: when you arrive, when you're about to leave, and once more after you've gone with a handwritten thank-you note. Here, an email won't cut it. Throw in a specific detail about how much fun you had doing a certain activity, how hard you laughed at a particular story, or how delicious a specific meal was. Finish with an offer to open up your own next time. For an optional but memorable thank you, pick up a fresh bouquet of flowers and leave them in a vase on the kitchen counter with your note before you leave. Otherwise, mail your card within two or three days of your visit.

Source: https://www.realsimple.com/work-life/work-life-etiquette/manners/houseguest