Introduction

Hello!
My name is Rachael and my husband and I are aspiring innkeepers. We have spent several years actively researching and acquiring skills and education to help us solidify our dream and make it reality. We have a clear vision, location (town), prospective property as well as business goals.
We know you cannot learn this by pure book knowledge and (I) have worked as innkeeper assistant. We have both been graciously been mentored in livestock and homesteading and always seeking to learn more and gain more hands on experience.
I am here to learn the stuff that "they" don't tell you as well as to give insights in any way that I might be able to help. I also want to build a camaraderie with people who have the same interests as I do.

:welcome:
Have you taken an aspiring innkeerper course?
Have you read Running a Bed And Breakfast for Dummies or similar?
You can learn a lot before you buy. I did. I did my homework for a couple of (actually three) years, and spend those years here, learning, and it has saved me a world of grief!

Thank you Arkansawyer. Yes to both.

Well you're set then! Study this forum and accumulate baskets of money and you'll be on easy street...well that plus

• cleaning the toilets
• cooking the food
• enduring the PITAs
• dealing with people who can't make an online reservation or find your place
• and absolutely loving every minute of it!

Again, :welcome:

Welcome Rachael!
Hang on to your seat, sometimes it can be a bumpy ride around here, but always know we'll give you our honest opinions!

Welcome aboard. Glad to have someone who has done some homework first rather than bombarding us with questions right off the bat Read through our past threads, you will get an education and then ask away.

Welcome to the forum!

Hi Rachael, Welcome to the forum

Sounds like you have done your homework and are made of the right stuff! Welcome aboard. We look forward to hearing more from you and helping any way we can. Some of us have large properties...others are small. Some of us are newbies, others are veterans. All of us have knowledge to share and a wealth of experiences to draw on. Strap yourself in....being an innkeeper can be a bumpy ride!

:welcome:
Yes, we definitely tell it from the trenches here.
Keep in mind that 99% of the guests are great. 95% of the job is great. We use this space to gripe about the parts that aren't great and get perspective.
Too many aspirings read the comments here and think we're all losers and have no idea how to 'properly' run a business. If we did, they opine, we wouldn't have any of these complaints, all guests would be perfect and we'd all have amazing staff to look after the property and guests while we go out for lunch everyday and vacation on the beach for several weeks at a time. (YES! You can run that business, but it's hella work!)

Welcome. Good luck with everything - especially raising the funds. You said on another thread you are currently a fundraiser - I assume for charities and "good causes". I hope you find others who put you in the "good causes" category and that you will be successful.

Welcome! I agree with everything everyone above said. This forum has been a lifesaver in so many ways for me. Innkeeping can be the hardest job you'll ever love.

BTW, meant to mention that you and your husband should separately draw up your vision for what your inn will look like, how it will operate, what your goal is, what the place will look like.
I say this is DH is vacuuming the inn entryway 20 minutes before guests are due to arrive using a vacuum that stinks to high heaven. I offered to dry dust the floor and mop but he insists the vacuum doesn't smell bad. I will be opening windows in 5 minutes.
Our GOAL is the same - clean, comfortable accommodations - but the execution is so far different it causes major stress.

Thank you so much for the warm welcome. I have been reading and am enjoying getting to know you all (a little) via the posts.

Madeleine said:

BTW, meant to mention that you and your husband should separately draw up your vision for what your inn will look like, how it will operate, what your goal is, what the place will look like.
I say this is DH is vacuuming the inn entryway 20 minutes before guests are due to arrive using a vacuum that stinks to high heaven. I offered to dry dust the floor and mop but he insists the vacuum doesn't smell bad. I will be opening windows in 5 minutes.
Our GOAL is the same - clean, comfortable accommodations - but the execution is so far different it causes major stress..

Click to expand...

I think that's good advice - DH and I met working together so are used to it after all these years - however doesn't mean we agree on lots of things or both do all the same things ie when I drag him out of the kitchen to speak to guests he is lovely and a really nice host but he will do anything not to come out!

Madeleine said:

BTW, meant to mention that you and your husband should separately draw up your vision for what your inn will look like, how it will operate, what your goal is, what the place will look like.
I say this is DH is vacuuming the inn entryway 20 minutes before guests are due to arrive using a vacuum that stinks to high heaven. I offered to dry dust the floor and mop but he insists the vacuum doesn't smell bad. I will be opening windows in 5 minutes.
Our GOAL is the same - clean, comfortable accommodations - but the execution is so far different it causes major stress..

Click to expand...

Madeleine...........if you cant empty the bag right away, I tear a 2" square of paper towel off and soak it in perfume or liquid room spray, throw it on the floor & vacuum it up. Vacuum then smells a lot better : )

Mary at Bridgewater Inn and Cottage said:

Madeleine said:

BTW, meant to mention that you and your husband should separately draw up your vision for what your inn will look like, how it will operate, what your goal is, what the place will look like.
I say this is DH is vacuuming the inn entryway 20 minutes before guests are due to arrive using a vacuum that stinks to high heaven. I offered to dry dust the floor and mop but he insists the vacuum doesn't smell bad. I will be opening windows in 5 minutes.
Our GOAL is the same - clean, comfortable accommodations - but the execution is so far different it causes major stress..

Click to expand...

Madeleine...........if you cant empty the bag right away, I tear a 2" square of paper towel off and soak it in perfume or liquid room spray, throw it on the floor & vacuum it up. Vacuum then smells a lot better : )
.

Click to expand...

Mary at Bridgewater Inn and Cottage said:

Madeleine...........if you cant empty the bag right away, I tear a 2" square of paper towel off and soak it in perfume or liquid room spray, throw it on the floor & vacuum it up. Vacuum then smells a lot better : )

Click to expand...

Brand new bag. The VACUUM itself stinks.

Mary at Bridgewater Inn and Cottage said:

Madeleine said:

BTW, meant to mention that you and your husband should separately draw up your vision for what your inn will look like, how it will operate, what your goal is, what the place will look like.
I say this is DH is vacuuming the inn entryway 20 minutes before guests are due to arrive using a vacuum that stinks to high heaven. I offered to dry dust the floor and mop but he insists the vacuum doesn't smell bad. I will be opening windows in 5 minutes.
Our GOAL is the same - clean, comfortable accommodations - but the execution is so far different it causes major stress..

Click to expand...

Madeleine...........if you cant empty the bag right away, I tear a 2" square of paper towel off and soak it in perfume or liquid room spray, throw it on the floor & vacuum it up. Vacuum then smells a lot better : )
.

Click to expand...

Mary at Bridgewater Inn and Cottage said:

...soak it in perfume or liquid room spray, throw it on the floor & vacuum it up. Vacuum then smells a lot better : )

Click to expand...

We men would like the perfume, or at least not care about it. But other women? I can just see them grabbing their throats and coughing like they're about to die!
Get the deodorizer JB recommends. I got some and so far, so good!

A big welcome!