Etiquette question
 

Thanks up front for your help.

Situation: My wife and I have friends who own a condo in Corpus Christi, TX. They don't use it a whole lot and they told us we can use it for free. I said that I'd feel better about renting it from them. The response was to, "Just leave a little money on the counter then if that's what you wish".

Q: What's the etiquette on the amount I should leave?

We've been in this situation a number of times, both as landlords and as guests. We always leave at least what a cheap hotel room in the area would have cost us (per night).

$75/night and a small gift.

A couple of bottles of choice wine and gift certificate to the best restaurant in town would also work.

Only concern with leaving cash is who takes care of the place for them?

Will they know you left it?

See Dottores other unfortunate thread.

I wouldn't leave cash but instead get a nice gift that would fit the decor of the condo.

They probably have a housekeeping service that cleans, does the laundry and straightens up after a guest/renter leaves. I'd leave that amount. I think it's usually around $75 or so.

Great advice. Cold hard cash just seems so, well - cold. Leave them something more "personal", like he suggests. It shows a bit more thought and effort than just cash.

Yeah, maybe microwave oven, tequila and mixer, some wine, of course if they are a recovering booze jockey, maybe a set of knives.

You will know better when you get there. If they have crappy towels at the place in Corpus, get them towels.

I've often heard this sentiment expressed.

But when you're on the receiving end (as we often are with a recreational property that we loan out to friends) cold hard cash is so much better than gift certificates or bad wine.

Trust me. Cash is king in these situations. And no one wants more crap (vases, steak knives, towels etc) for the house.

I agree that cash would work in this situation. As a landlord, I also think that a gift that improves the unit would be accpetable as well. If the microwave was on it's last leg or needed updating, that would work. If a set of blinds were chewed-up and you replaced them, anything to either line my pockets or make my life easier and one less thing I had to do would be appreciated.

Thanks everyone for your input. My wife and I now know exactly the left and right sides of this etiquette question and we'll do the right thing.