We are combining our Barn Sale with our Holiday Open House this year, for the first time.The Barn Sale is open to the general public and our Holiday Open House has always been by invitation only. Our home and our guest house are both re-purposed barns.They are such novelties, everyone wants to see inside both of them. While the guest house is always open for our shoppers,during the sale, we usually only open our home to invited guests during the open house. My question is how to let only select folks in our home, without inviting total strangers in. Both barnhouses are decorated in an old time look, with lots of ideas for re-purposing. I love to show them off. However, I feel a wee bit uncomfortable with strangers coming into our home. How can I handle this without hurt feelings?
Junk Revolution Community » Inspire
Topic: Need help with ideas
(14 posts)-
Posted 1 year ago #
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huggybear38
Memberwow now that is a tough question.. hummmm.. if you could have some hostess in your home going thru with the guest maybe a way of letting strangers go thur with a safe feeling.. not sure if I could do that .. I would think hard on that subject..
Posted 1 year ago # -
gigi
Memberi see 3 options that may work:
have signs made that indicate the dual occasion but lets all know that the holiday open house is invitation only. upon entering...invitees must turn in their "special tag" (invitation).
have the open house available to the public with rooms roped off so as to peek inside and get the idea yet not have to worry about sticky fingers or nosey nellies. have groups of 10 or so go thru with a tour guide.
or....send out personal invites that indicate the tour takes place directly following or even before the barn sale begins and give an exact time tour begins-ends and that invitation is turned in at door for entry....you could even make it a game...have them drop it into a bowl and draw one for a prize...this way they aren't suspicious.
Posted 1 year ago # -
i think it would be kind of negative.everyone would like to see your house too and seeing others go in, when they wereent allowed, would be a big turn off.....especially to a lot of your first time visitors who might be potential customers who might turn into really good customers...
its kind of a hard situation..... i would probably not open up the house at all... or keep that part at a seperate time...
i sure wouldnt want to let everyone in my house....Posted 1 year ago # -
I don't think people expect to go into your home... of course people can be kinda, um, pushy... but they would be curious. Why not use a sign saying something to the effect that the home is 'reserved for a private event' (they don't have to know it's you who reserved it) but to be nice, what about a display of photos of the interior decor?
Posted 1 year ago # -
Maggie
MemberTo eliminate confusion & hurt feelings,I would not have the home open during this event. Then at a date near Christmas have an open house that is by invitation only.
Posted 1 year ago # -
gigi
Memberdear helen your idea of pictures is brilliant....i second that!!
then she-ne you show off your ideas and home to those interested and can still do a private showing!! that is a win-win!!
high five yourself helen!! woo-woo!!
Posted 1 year ago # -
All great ideas! My husband has volunteered to oversee the house tour. Since he is 6'5" and quite intimidating to those that don't know him, I think it will work out okay! We are going to rope off the bedrooms, where they can still see in, just can't enter. If I had only put a little thought in to combining the two events, before I started promoting it.
Ann,you are right, my whole concern is ...you never know who will become a great customer. I don't wish to offend anyone.
I would use the picture idea, but our friends would still want to see inside, because I decorate it differently every year.
I would just seperate the two, but think I will be worn out after the barn sale, plus we have already scheduled some of the local ladies' clubs to use the guesthouse for their Christmas meetings. I have to clean before and after each meeting, so my plate is full.
Posted 1 year ago # -
huggybear38
MemberGood Luck She-ne keep us posted on how it all turns out.. and pictures please
Posted 1 year ago # -
What a wonderful problem...to have so much to show & share! This was the first year that folks I don't know inquired when we might open our house for tours. Now, even though I like to share & love having folks at our Barn Sale & even walking our yard & peaking into outbuildings -- I am really quite a private person...and get a tad wierded out about people in my home. So what I decided is that if & when I ever might decide to open the house -- it would be at a certain time -- not sure if it would be during the sale or before/after/in the afternoon when the sheer volume of folks settles down....but I definitely decided that I would charge admission -- which would be donated to my favorite cause -- currently the Trempealeau County Humane Society. I think a fee would be appropriate and might actually keep a handle on any abuse of getting in. Folks would know up front that this is a charitable event.
KariPosted 1 year ago # -
dianeinthevalley
MemberGreat idea Kari.
Posted 1 year ago # -
do a drawing with their names and phone numbers - if something comes up missing then you know who all the suspects are...
Posted 1 year ago # -
Great idea, Kari! We have had so many wildfires in our area, and our fire department is volunteer. They have worked on next to nothing for the last few months. I probably wouldn't make much, but I could donate it to them. Maybe one of the firemen and his wife would come and help house sit! Four weeks from yesterday.I am getting so excited.
Posted 1 year ago # -
I think taking donations for the Fire Department would be marvelous -- what a wonderful way to honor their work through your lovely setting. And -- having a firefighter on hand -- extra cool!
KariPosted 1 year ago #
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