House Tours 101 for newbies

Hi

I thought some of you, (who have never been on a house tour before), might be interested in what to expect. Here are some of my thoughts....

* best to purchase your tickets in advance, many tours sell out, so get in early

* some tour organizers email tour details, others post them, and still others have you go to a central location to pick up your tickets, tour guide and any free swag (yay, always a bonus!!)

* if your tour does not involve a shuttle bus taking you from house-to-house, you will be in charge of driving or walking to each location. I highly recommend walking between those houses that are close by each other as parking can sometimes be tricky

* check out my House Tour Etiquette post for tips on appropriate behavior while on a tour

* houses on the tour are usually 'highlighted' with balloons, signs, lines of guests or docents helping guide traffic etc

* once you have parked in a safe, and respectable place, make your way to the entrance. On popular tours there will be occasions when there is a line of guests waiting to get in to see a house. This can add to the buzz and anticipation of seeing the house and can allow you a few minutes to take in the exterior and landscaping

* before going into the house, I do recommend reading about the house in your tour guide (if one was provided), as you will frequently get little tidbits of information that might highlight a specific area of the house, piece of art or unique furniture. I can't tell you the number of times I have rushed in, seen the house and read the tour guide later that night, only to discover something cool listed in the tour guide that I missed!

* have your ticket ready to show the docent at the door and be prepared to remove your shoes and put booties on

* a number of the tour organizers figure out a plan to create the best follow through the house, both in terms of 'foot traffic' and seeing the house in the best manner. It can alleviate jam-ups in hallways, on stairs, in small powder rooms etc

* take your time as you first enter the house, and linger as long as you wish in each room

* again respect all the House Tour Etiquette as laid out by your tour organizers

* ask the docent in each room if they have any unique points of interest to share with guests - they regularly have great tips about hidden doorways, famous sculptures, the interior designers, the wall colors and more

* if you love something in the room - like a floral arrangement - pick up the relevant business cards as you go. I have found all kinds of people that way, if you admire their work at this house, you'll likely love something they create for you

* if you loved something about the house, make a few notes either while you are in the house or just as you leave. You may believe you'll remember it later, but time and time again, by the time I get to the end of the tour, I end up thinking...where was that great landscaping? What was the name of that paint color on the living room walls of House 1...you get the idea!

* before you begin the tour, or at the end of the day, be sure and visit the boutique or marketplace, that many of the tour organizers put together. They can be great places to find hostess gifts, holiday gifts and darn yummy, free food!

Happy Touring,

Catherine

House Tour Etiquette

Hi

Today I thought I'd focus on House Tour Etiquette. Some tour organizers call them 'Guidelines' while others call them 'Rules & Regulations' - either way they really boil down to common sense and common courtesy. Here is a list that I have compiled from my years of going on House Tours:

* no photography or video taping - on rare, and I mean VERY RARE occasions guests are able to take photos within a house, so please check with the docent as you enter the door as to the etiquette for that particular house

* no food or drink

* do not touch anything - which includes not opening doors, drawers or anything else in the house, not sitting or leaning on any piece of furniture and respecting that roped off areas are to remain private

* no smoking

* bring your ticket to every house on the tour so that a docent can ensure you can enter the house

* park on the street, following suggested guidelines, and be respectful of neighbors who may not have their house on the tour but might like to pull in, or out of, their driveway

* in keeping with the above, consider carpooling to make parking easier for everyone

* some tour organizers provide shuttles that take guests from one home to another and allow guests to park in a central parking lot, often near a boutique hosted by the tour organizers

* no children - sometimes tours are okay with babies that are held, or are in front packs, but certainly no strollers or toddlers running around, and mostly no children under 12

* no pets - I am not sure how tour organizers feel about Service Animals so best to check in advance

* some tours ask that you leave your purse, jacket (or any other bulky item) at a coat check to ensure the walls, artwork and furniture are not damaged

* many house tours are not wheelchair accessible, so check in advance

* wear comfortable shoes - ideally no high heels because they can damage the house owners floors. Many tour organizers and/or house owners will ask that guests remove their shoes, walk in bare feet or booties, or put booties on top of their bare feet or shoes. The tour organizers will let you know once you arrive at the tour what is appropriate for that house

* do not use the restrooms in the house unless there is a sign to indicate you have permission, or you ask a docent. Some tours organizers thoughtfully place portable toilets on the tour, and others map out where public restrooms are available.

Personally, the one that I would prefer, and suggest, you honor most of all, is regarding no photography. Think of it like this, would you want strangers photographing your house, your precious or personal items, the layout of your house etc? We want to assume that everyone on the tour is honest, but perhaps there are a few bad eggs who may be up to nefarious activities, don't let them spoil future open houses for the rest of us. You can be thrown off a house tour, so respect the house owners PLEASE!

I hope this is helpful!

Happy Touring,

Catherine