Ideas requested on umbrella loaning w/ 3 private rooms

1

I STR three private rooms in a small house. I have an umbrella holder outside for umbrellas that have been used and need a place to dry.

I used to put up a sign when it was raining, saying “please help yourself to one of the umbrellas in the holder” because at the time I didn’t think it through and assumed that nobody would be using their own umbrella and putting the wet umbrella in this container. Of course it was pointed out to me that somebody who owns their own umbrella would be hesitant to leave it outside to dry in a container that was also under a sign inviting people to use the umbrellas.

One idea was to put a container inside the back door with umbrellas, inviting people to take them to use and to put them outside to dry when they’re done. There is limited space for this and prefer an uncluttered entranceway.

Another idea was putting an umbrella in each private room with a note to please put the wet umbrella outside when you come back with it. Possibly a variety of different colors would allow people to reuse the umbrellas when they went out second time, etc…

The third idea was leave a note in the room or with the guests telling them if they would like to borrow an umbrella from us to message us. Of course, the problem with this is if the guest decides they want to leave the house at 2 AM messaging us to bring them an umbrella is a little impractical.

Thought everyone? I really want guests to have the option of using the umbrellas and I’m not adverse to buying a few to scatter about. What’s the best way to solve my dilemma?

2

I would just get a few cheap umbrellas that you won’t be upset to lose and leave them ready for guests to use in the stand. Most guests do not have their own necessarily so having one available to borrow is a good thing. They will disappear over time though. If you really wanted to store the dry ones safely, you could maybe hang them on a hook in the hallway but it is probably easier for guests to get outside, realise it’s raining and find the umbrellas are just there ready to go.

3

So true, but this does not address the problem of mixing the giveaway umbrellas with the ones people bring. It’s very possible, for example to have a guest, bring their good umbrella use it and put it outside and then another guest leaving and choosing the other guests, good umbrella to take out. That’s my dilemma –

4

Have you thought about personalizing your umbrellas with your brand? It could also bring the added benefit of publicity.

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5

Well, yes that might happen - I recall travelling in Japan and leaving my cheap convenience store umbrella outside a shop and when I came out (as the last customer with the doors shut behind me) found that someone had taken it, leaving me with only an expensive designer umbrella!

I’m guessing travellers generally have small folding umbrellas of their own, if they have them at all, so maybe you’ll find those guests will take them inside to dry in their own room whatever you do to deter them.

6

In all of my STR’s I never had umbrellas. In fact for almost 40 years I lived in the PNW and never owned an umbrella.
Seems you’re making things much too complicated.

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7

How about building or getting an umbrella holder which offers plenty of space for let’s say 4 or 6 umbrellas and then separating them into 2 halves like one side with a sign “For Guests” and the other side “Private” - or two separate holders entirely. Now, all you have to do is tell every guest to always put their own umbrella into the “Private” half which should prevent any other guest thoughtlessly grabbing one from said “Private” side and taking one from the “Guests” side.

Of course, it would get more tricky if you have 4 guests at the same time - all arriving with their own umbrellas :see_no_evil:

8

Buy a few umbrellas and put a band of pink paint (or your favorite color, and nail polish should work, too) around the handle. Then put them on your rack or in your umbrella stand with a sign next to it “A pink band means it’s a house umbrella. Feel free to use one but please bring it back so the next guests won’t get wet, either!”

Edited to add - we provide umbrellas but we’re a fly-to location. We lose maybe one umbrella a year but I think our staff loses them more often than our guests.

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9

Same here. Never even owned an umbrella myself despite living in the PNW for 30 years. (People tend to just have good raingear where it rains a lot- you don’t really see many people walking around with umbrellas)

But since I started hosting in Mexico, I now have 2 umbrellas that guests left behind.

10

I live (and host) in Parkersburg, West Virginia. Our average annual rainfall is 42 inches a year…which is an inch more than Tacoma, Washington (located in the Pacific Northwest and where I have also lived). The rainfall in WV is vastly different from the rainfall in the PNW. In the PNW, it tends to be tiny droplets–sort of a mist really–that comes down for hours. In West Virginia it comes down heavy, often huge raindrops but is over quickly usually.

In WV an umbrella is an absolute necessity at times. In the PNW, not so much.

Regarding the original poster’s quandary, how about making the “free use” umbrellas obvious? All one highly distinctive color, and labeled with your property name?

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