How to Handle Guests Who Overstay Their Welcome
What to Do When It's Time to Tell Family and Friends Goodbye
Sep 17, 2009
Hosting house guests is fun. But if the guests overstay their welcome, then the situation can become very unpleasant. To paraphrase a famous quote it is said that house guests are most welcome, but will become a nuisance after about three days. So here are some practical tips on how to handle guests who overstay their welcome. Learn how to kick them out without being rude and avoid conflict.
Be Honest and Set Ground Rules for the Visit
The cliche "honesty is the best policy" has practical uses in order to avoid getting in a situation where guests will overstay their welcome. Be forthright with friends and family by telling them how long they can stay. If done correctly, they will more than understand, and may even be in agreement on the time set.
Before the guests get to the doorstep, make sure that the ground rules for their stay are clear. For example, you can tell guests that they are welcome for a day or two, but previous schedules dictate that they will not be able to stay any longer than that. This way, the guests will know that they are only welcome for this period of time.
By being honest with company, a person can avoid sticky situations, as well as inconveniences. The straightforward conversation should be done in a way that makes guests feel welcome, though, so they know they are definitely accepted and wanted for the visit.
- Example of a good conversation: "Shirley, we are so excited you can be here with us. How does it sound if you spend two days, and we can really catch up?"
- Example of a bad conversation: "Shirley, we only want you to stay for two days. You know we are very busy, so that is all the time we have for you."
Setting ground rules is applicable to friends, as well as extended family. It may be a bit harder to tell family this information, but after it is said and done, both parties will enjoy the visit much more.
Appreciate Your Guests
Appreciating guests who have already overstayed their welcome is a good entry point in kicking them out in a polite way. A person should tell them that she truly enjoyed their company. Appreciate them for coming over and spending a day or two. The person should then tell them that she looks forward to seeing them again in the future but for now, she has some things that cannot be put on hold, so they should go.
If you are hosting a party and feel that the guests have no intention of ending it, this situation can also benefit from the power of appreciation. A person should tell the guests that she really appreciates their effort in attending the party, but it is getting late and everyone needs some rest. The hostess can inform them that planning another party for the near future is a great idea, and she will call them with the details.
Joke Around and Don’t Lose Your Cool
A sense of humor can be very effective in kicking out guests who are overstaying their welcome. When a person jokes around, the conversation will be lighter, but make sure the message of leaving comes across.
Chances are the guests are friends and/or close relatives. Make them laugh and surely a person will have an easier time sending them home. The best thing about using a sense of humor is that no one's feelings should get hurt. At the same time a person is putting out a strong message that they should leave now.
Do take note that joking around is effective if the guests are close to the hostess. A person should not joke around with people who do not understand her sense of humor. The first and second tips above will be more effective for them.
It is not easy to learn how to handle guests who overstay their welcome. Use good communication techniques and people skills in order to politely and subtly tell guests that it is time for them to go home. Be forthright, set ground rules, and tell them in a nice manner that it is time to say goodbye for now.
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