Draft house rules for Jon and Beth's house.

• Whiteboard
  • The big whiteboard is the default place for leaving notes, scheduling guests, etc.
  • The little whiteboard is the default place for leaving grocery lists.
  • If you're using the whiteboard for something else, copy the pending notes off of it first.
• Guests
  • All guests should have somewhere else that is home for them, and a reasonable expectation to spend time there. (But see the Significant Other Clause) Stays of less than a month with a plan of where to go next should be OK, but require discussion first.
  • Reasonable notification should be given to all residents before significant guest visitations. (A friend crashing on your floor doesn't count.)
  • Having someone use the guest room should be cleared with everyone (mostly to prevent conflicts) and the host should thoroughly clean the room (and sheets) shortly after the guests depart.
  • Scheduling guests (or scheduling "no guest" periods) is by default done on the whiteboard.
  • Any of us are entitled to have guests over, call gaming nights, etc.
  • Guest spots include the guest room, the couch that folds out into a double bed, and the futon (though the futon is unavailable while Andy is here). (And any others that we wind up adding...) After that, sleeping bags on the big room floor or other scrounged space.
• Significant Others
  • Significant Others are like guests, except they don't need to have somewhere else to go. If they need extra space or otherwise strain the household, rent needs to be rediscussed. They're generally subject to the privleges and responsibilities described in the house rules.
  • It's the responsibility of the involved people not to annoy others. Of course, "others" should help clarify what's annoying.
• Stuff in general
  • Make sure there's a space to put something before buying more stuff.
  • If you're selling something that's been in general use, by default offer to sell it to the other inhabitants first.
  • Newspapers and junkmail are fair game for disposal after midnight. In addition, Dave is entitled to the crossword puzzle as soon as the paper arrives.
• Private areas vs. Common areas
  • Common areas should be kept free from clutter, paper, junk mail, etc. at all times, and especially when guests come over.
  • Bedrooms are defined as private areas. They don't have to be kept clean to common area standards, and shouldn't be entered without permission or good reason.
• Pets
  • Pets spend all of their time either in their owner's room, or else outside.
  • New pets (including temporary visitations) need to be cleared with everyone first. (Due to allergies)
  • Pet precautions:
    • Block airflow out of the room (vents, door).
    • Regular vacuuming and cleaning of the room.
    • Pet baths as appropriate.
    • Stringent acess control -- and cleaning if they do get out.
• Electronics
  • Stuff out in the open is available for use unless otherwise marked. Anyone can turn on any game to play at any time.
  • Equipment problems and quirks should be noted so that they can be tracked and fixed. If a game or computer misbehaves badly, it should be considered broken and not used until fixed.
  • No violent behavior towards the games. Don't break them.
  • Be considerate about noise.
  • If appropriate, turn off when not in use. The main exceptions are things like the router and computer servers.
• Food/Kitchen
  • Dishes should be put in the dishwasher after use.
  • Public/private system for food. Staples like milk, bread, juice, rice, salt, sugar, spices, bulk noodles, etc. should be bought by and for everyone. Specialty items and items for planned meals belong to whoever purchased them. Mark things with a name to indicate their special status.
  • We need to keep track of who owns which utensils for when housing arrangements do change.
  • If the dishwasher needs unloading and you have time, please unload it. Similarly, if it's full, run it.
• Outdoors
  • Jon and Beth have hired a gardener, which should solve most of the potential problems.
  • Garage spots belong to Jon and Beth. Driveway spots that block access should only be used when there is high confidence that garage acess won't be needed (short visits, gaming nights, etc). The left side of the driveway doesn't block the garage, and is consequently fair game for parking.
  • Hot tub:
    • Don't make significantly more noise than the freeway.
    • Be aware that hot tubs can be dangerous (dehydration, alcohol, uncautious use alone, etc.).
• Indoor Cleaning
  • We need to work out who is responsible for cleaning what, and when. Rotating schedule? Assigned tasks? People's sensitivity to clutter/dirt varies. Don't be afraid to mention when things need to be done.
  • Tasks
    • Laundry: Done when needed by whoever needs it, except that Jon does Beth's laundry. Please close the laundry room door if the noise would annoy Dave.
    • Vacuum and dust (upstairs, living room, dining room and family room, downstairs halls and bedrooms)
    • Sweep and take out garbage
    • Other dusting: Less often.
    • Clean kitchen: Nightly, by whoever made the mess and/or ate the result.
    • Bathrooms (toilets, floor, shower): Done by the person who uses it the most, monthly and before major guest visitations.
    • Bathroom caulking: Every 6 months, by Beth.
    • Mop kitchen floor
    • Clean out Gararge: Yearly, by everyone.
    • Hot tub: Regularly, by Dave.
    • Paperwork: Often, by Beth.
    • Recycle run: When we have stuff.
• Personal Posessions
  • Each person gets to set rules for their stuff. People in the house are expeced to help enforce rules with visitors.
  • If you're not sure who something belongs to, treat it with sufficient care that you know you're not breaking the rules.
  • Default rules
    • Books
      • Paperbacks and some hardbacks are for general use. Check before they leave the house on loan.
      • Treat all books appropriately. Use bookmarks, and keep the dustcovers on the hardbacks.
    • Movies: They're there for the watching, including the "special boxed editions". Put them away when done.
    • CDs: They're there to be listened to.
    • Vids/pins: Fair game.
  • Dave's stuff
    • Dave's stuff rules!
    • Dave's electronics:
      • The stero is for public usage, but be very careful with the turntable, as it is probably the most fragle thing of the bunch.
      • If the VCR's TIMER light is on, check the program before you take the tape out, and put it back in before it starts taping.
      • You don't want to use Dave's computer.
      • Check before using Dave's laptop. It belongs to work.
    • Dave's poker/pool table: It's fair game.
  • Jon and Beth's stuff
    • Jon and Beth's Computers
      • Don't break them for what we want to use them for. Common sense applies, and Daktaklakpak needs enough free disk space to burn CD's.
      • If you burn a lot of CD's, buy some more blanks.
• Stopping renting.
  • We need to figure out what to do if things don't work out. Shouldn't be a problem, but discussion is good for avoiding problems.
  • Dave to get first month's rent free to give them time to move and everyone time to verify that things are working out.
  • Sudden loss of income (short notice) isn't an issue, as the rent isn't required for house maintainance, but rather for accelerated loan payment, and an expanded entertainment budget.
• Expenses
  • Paying for expenses doesn't count as taxable income, so that's preferrable to rent. Rent to be reduced as appropriate.
  • Phone lines: Looks like 3 phone lines: Jon and Beth, Dave, Drew. Expenses should be clear.
  • Dave to pay for cable, as long as he wants it.
  • Jon and Beth to pay for internet connection.
  • Jon and Beth to pay for newspaper (Mercury News).
  • Gas, Electric, Water and so on to be split appropriately, whatever that means. (Jon & Beth pay for)
• Room allocations
  • Kitchen: 4 chairs, oval table, food stuff.
  • Arcade (with the fireplace): Working pinball machines and video games.
  • Stealth room (small room next to kitchen): couch, TV, VCR, etc.
  • Living room (front room): Large table, Dave's pool table. No video games.
  Master bedroom: Jon and Beth's bedroom and bathroom
  • Bedroom 2 (downstairs, across from bathroom): Andy's Room (was lab)
  • Downstairs bathroom: Dave's bathroom/guest bathroom.
  • Disaster room (downstairs, next to master): Computer room, Beth's desk, other stuff if space.
  • Bedroom 4 (downstairs, next to garage): Dave's room.
  • Bedroom 5 (upstairs): Drew's Room
  • Upstairs bathroom: guest bathroom.
  • Big room: Bookshelves, punching bag, empty space for exercise and large gatherings.
  • Bar area: Beth's pottery lab.
  • Extra room: Guest bedroom.
  • Garage: Jon & Beth's cars, general storage.
• Holidays and trips
  • Discuss holiday plans ahead of time. This is so that other members of the household know what to expect.
  • Tell people if you're going to be gone, so that pets can be taken care of, chores rescheduled, worry avoided, etc.
• Common sense
  • If there's extra food, consider sharing it.
  • If there's a movie being started, consider sharing it.
  • If there's something else cool, consider sharing it. (Snow in particular counts)
  • Common sense applies in general -- we're sharing a house because it's fun and we like each other.
• Summary
  • If something bothers you, say something.
  • If you are bothering someone, do something to fix it (which may include compromising.)
  • If its not shut away in my room or specifically marked, its probably all right to borrow/use it.
  • If you aren't sure, ask.