From someone who has been both a frequent host and guest on Airbnb over the past year and a bit, here are ten things every Airbnb guest should know (or ten things your host wishes you knew):

Read the listing description

We know our place isn’t perfect for everyone. That’s why we have a very detailed listing description, including pictures, so you can decide before you book if it’s a suitable living arrangement for you. It says it’s a single bed. It says it’s a small room. So don’t come and stay and then leave a negative review saying it was only a single bed and the room was too small. If the listing description is accurate, it’s not fair to leave a bad review.

Tell us a bit about you

When you send a reservation request, it’s important to introduce yourself and tell us a bit about you. You know about us from the listing, but we also want to know about you, the reason for your travel, etc. This will help us to make an informed decision about whether our place will be a good fit for your stay or not. And you’re much more likely to be accepted if you take the time to introduce yourself then if you just send a booking request with no information at all.

Follow your host’s instructions

When your host accepts your reservation, you receive an email with instructions detailing how to get to their place, what to do when you arrive, check-in time time, contact numbers, etc. Read it. It’s pretty annoying when you have to keep answering the same questions because the guest obviously hasn’t read your instructions. For example, our intercom doesn’t work and when pressed, it screws up our internet connection. Pretty important to note if you want wifi!

Don’t bring people over without permission

This is never explicitly stated in the instructions, it’s just assumed that guests know not to invite people into your home without permission. It’s pretty shocking to come home to a complete stranger in your house. One guest had the nerve to bring over a group of five of his friends without checking if it would be ok (it wouldn’t have been). When he saw that I was home, he casually asked if it was ok for them to come in — while they were all already making their way in — to which I said, “No, it’s actually not ok. This is my home.” Needless to say, he got a bad review (remember that guests get reviewed too!).

When you wash dishes that aren’t yours, you’re not helping

As hosts, we know the importance of keeping a clean house when we have guests staying. We do our very best to make sure the bin gets emptied regularly, the bathroom stays clean, and the dishes get done after every meal. But we are also busy people, and sometimes we are too rushed in the morning trying to get to work on time that we leave a dish rinsed off by the sink. Don’t wash up after us. Please. It’s not helping. A guest once took it upon herself to wash the frying pan I had just used to cook my breakfast, as I was sitting down to eat my breakfast. So instead of enjoying my breakfast, I had to listen to her slave away in the kitchen scrubbing the damn thing for a good ten minutes!

Don’t hog the bathroom

This is a big one, especially if you’re someone that takes a long time to get ready in the mornings. Be mindful of not hogging the bathroom. Your host probably needs it in the morning to get ready for work or maybe they just really need to use the bathroom. There is nothing worse than waiting for 30+ minutes to use the bathroom in your own house while someone stands in front of the mirror applying make-up, oblivious of the discomfort they are causing. There is a mirror in the bedroom. Use it.

Don’t overstay your welcome

Your host wants you to have a good stay, but they are also excited for you to leave. That may sound harsh but it’s the truth! We all need our own space from time to time and your host is no different. You leaving means I get to take off my pants and bra and sit around in my underwear instead of having to wear clothes all the time. It means we get to watch shows in bed with the volume turned up and not worry about disturbing anyone. We also often have new guests checking in on the same day you leave, and we need time to clean. So please, check out at a reasonable time. We understand if your flight is at night and you need somewhere to leave your bags, and we try to accommodate, but don’t just assume it’s fine to check out late without checking with us first. This applies to check in time as well. It is possible to overstay your welcome before you’ve even arrived — if you arrive at 6am and assume it’s fine to check in.

Communicate with your host

A lot of these points have to do with communication. Use your words, we can’t read your mind. If you’re cold, ask for extra blankets. If you want good pub food, ask for recommendations. If the wifi isn’t working, let us know. We want you to have a comfortable stay, but if you don’t communicate with us it’s very hard for us to know what you need.

If your host does you a favor, don’t make them regret it

If your host goes out of their way to accommodate you and do you a favor, don’t make them regret it. If we leave work early and rush home to let you in, don’t show up an hour late. If we forfeit going out because you said you would be here at a certain time, get there on time. If we allow you to cancel the last night of your stay free of charge because your plans changed, don’t wait until 6pm to check out. Common courtesy goes a long way.

Your host has a life outside of being your host

We have lives outside of being your host. We enjoy meeting interesting people and we’re always up for a chat, but mostly we are in it for the extra money it brings in each month. Airbnb is a win-win situation — guests get to save money on accommodation and hosts get to save money on rent. Don’t overcomplicate things by agonizing over how much interaction you should have with us or feeling like you have to be sociable. But if you do want to talk — then talk! There’s nothing more awkward then having a guest that is always hanging around, when you’re working on the computer or watching TV or cooking, but never says anything.

So there you have it — my top ten tips for Airbnb guests (including myself)! Happy Travels!