In most cases guests can stay two nights as a guest, which mean you only need to clean up after yourself and clean your room to airbnb ready state when you leave (including putting on new linens and washing old ones). Beyond this Guests must pay or do a work trade.

Short Term Worktrade

If you are staying several days or weeks and want to do work trade this is possible if and only if:

• You are willing to completely read and follow directions.

• You will not create extra work for others (such as leaving a mess or stuff lying around)

• You are really good at communicating about your work.

• You are extremely self motivated.

• You will not leave things partially complete and in a half complete state for days or weeks.

• You are resourceful and won’t ask a ton of questions that you could figure out yourself.

• You will proactively figure out what needs to be done, and follow priorities if they are set. In other words, you will plan ahead and not find obstacles that a little bit of upfront work would have eliminated.

• You are absolutely committed to completing anything you say you are going to do, at the time you say you will.

Generally work trade is available for 1 - 2 hours/day on each and every day you are staying depending on where you are staying. If you are on an informal work-trade plan (vs. long term signed agreement type), then please follow this process. If you have a longer term agreement, it may have additional guidelines.

• Read all sections of the website.

• If you are staying more than one week and doing any work projects, make sure to read the best practices guide. Commit to following the best practices principles. There are many practices that are critical.

• Determine what work tasks you are planning to do. Look around or read the site for ideas. Make sure you communicate what you are planning to do before you do it to allow feedback from others.

• Email alpacaplayhouse@gmail.com include “worktrade” in the subject link, and in the body provide the details of your work plan within 24 hours of your arrival. Log your hours in the spreadsheet on the same day you do the work. Not the next day or afterwards.

• Each day you work email the above address with an update on how much time you have spent, and what was complete along with any relevant pictures of before/after or something that shows the work. Always include before and after photos - more than one. Do this every day you work. If you don’t do this on the same day, work is discounted by 1/3rd because it tends to be drift off in sub-optimal directions to varying degrees. So just do it.

Long-Term Worktrade

For those interested in long-term arrangements, in addition to the short term qualities stated above, the following qualities are required for it to be a suitable position.

• You are good at using web apps for organizing and are able to clearly prioritize and follow priorities.

• You are willing to give effort on a consistent manner over the course of days.

• You will be able to read the website and internalize the house rules and procedures, and follow them consistently and accurately. Often little things like putting the wrong subject in emails can create problems because the filters won’t forward them to relevant parties.

• You communicate consistently and clearly and without delay.

• You don’t leave jobs unfinished.

• Pay for worktrade tasks will typically done when they are complete and properly reported with before and after pictures and relevant links. The compensation for those who are not doing trade for housing are $20/hour unless otherwise negotiated. The first task should be no more than 2 hours to ensure that the work is being done in a manner that is consistent with the general expectations outlined above.