Sharing a family holiday home is a wonderful privilege — until the calendar fills up, the laundry gets forgotten, and half the family swears they weren't the ones who finished the last bottle of wine.
The good news? Most frustrations can be avoided with a bit of structure, clarity, and common sense. Here's a straightforward guide to keeping your shared holiday home calm, fair, and enjoyable for everyone.
1. A clear booking system (so nobody "accidentally" takes August)
Unclear planning is the fastest route to tension. A shared calendar with visible availability works wonders. Rotate peak weeks, set simple rules, and make them visible to everyone.
Tools like ORSO remove double bookings and last-minute surprises. And yes, it's still possible to stay flexible — just without the "Wait, I booked that week!" debates.
2. Agree on basic housekeeping standards
Different families have different definitions of "clean". The easiest solution: create a short, realistic check-out list.
- Leave bathrooms tidy
- Empty bins
- Put sheets in the laundry basket
- Don't leave mystery leftovers in the fridge
Nothing rigid — just enough to ensure the next family arrives to a pleasant home, not a crime scene in the kitchen.
3. Split recurring tasks fairly
Holiday homes require year-round care: small repairs, heating checks, garden maintenance… Instead of burdening the most "responsible" sibling, distribute tasks across the year.
"Who last checked the boiler?" "Not me." "Not me either." "Well… it didn't check itself."
A simple shared task list helps avoid this scenario. ORSO can automate reminders so nobody has to play the role of "family project manager".
4. Manage expenses transparently
Even in close families, money can create tension. An annual shared budget simplifies decisions like replacing chairs, fixing the terrace, or upgrading the coffee machine.
Track small expenses too: cleaning products, wood for the fireplace, household basics. When everything is logged and divided automatically, discussions stay short, calm, and objective.
5. Communicate early (and kindly)
Most conflicts come from assumptions rather than actual disagreements.
Habits that help prevent trouble:
- Inform the group early if you need to change dates
- Flag small issues before they become big ones
- Share useful info (broken switch, new delivery, replaced appliance…)
- Keep discussions factual instead of emotional
Shared notes on ORSO centralise information and reduce the number of never-ending WhatsApp threads.
6. Define what "essentials" mean for your family
Some families always leave the house stocked. Others expect the opposite. Neither is right nor wrong — the key is agreeing on the approach.
Make a list of what should always be there: oil, salt, laundry detergent, toilet paper… and replenish it fairly. No drama, no surprises, and no debates about who used the last coffee capsule.
7. Keep perspective: the goal is enjoyment
At the end of the day, the holiday home should remain what it's meant to be: a place to disconnect, gather, and enjoy time together.
A few simple rules, a bit of transparency, and the right tools remove most friction — leaving space for what actually matters: family time, meals that last too long, long evenings, and memories that outlive the dishwashing.