How to be a good house guest

House guest etiquette is important whether you're staying with a friend out of convenience, being welcomed for a leisurely stay at a cousin's summer home, or making your first overnight visit to your future in-laws house! If you have ever had some family or friends stay with you for an extended period of time, you know how refreshing a wonderful house visitor can be compared to someone who doesn’t treat your home as a home. Here are some of the best ways that you can become a better house guest, to make a good impression when staying over at someone’s home. 

What do you need to do to make sure you're a nice house guest? 

Make sure you take a gift for your host 

A considerate guest always offers their host a gift—as a small token of appreciation for having them stay. Don’t worry - there's no need to transport anything bulky or expensive all the way there! Flowers, a book that they have been wanting to read, a homemade dish or cake that you have made, or even a box of delicious chocolates. Try to cater for the situation, if you are visiting a friends holiday home? Get them a themed present, like some beach towels or something with a cocktail theme!

Make sure you tidy up after yourself 

This should be the main lesson learned from these etiquette suggestions is to clean up as much as you can before you go and whilst you are there! You definitely don't want to leave your host having to clean up after you. Make sure all of your items are in the bathroom and bedroom before you leave, that you may have left. The sheets should be removed and placed at the foot of the bed, and make sure you put anything back that you have used.  

Offer to help out around the house

Guests that are unhelpful are rarely welcomed back. Help with meal preparation or cooking, setting the table and doing the dishes, offering to drive, keeping the kids occupied while their parents take a well-earned nap, fixing a little item around the house if you have the expertise, or walking the dog are all things you could offer to do whilst staying. It doesn’t always have to be this complicated – simple things such as washing the dishes when you have finished eating, pick up some groceries if you are at the shop, or if you borrow a car you could always fill the tank up.