Are you okay with coming to my home for your appointment?

[Jabril]

Are you okay with coming to my home for your appointment

I will be graduating from myomassology school in four months (Feb 2006) and I am currently seeking out the best place to house my business (I plan on practicing independently). I am entertaining several ideas, including operating from my home, exclusively making outcalls, and renting private office space. I am particularly drawn to operating from my home, because I would like to specialize in relaxation therapy and will also provide some spa services, and would therefore like to create a warm, comforting, "homey" environment. But I am concerned that my clients may feel wary about coming to get a massage at someone's home, especially since I plan on targeting pregnant women and geriatric clients.

What do you think? Would you feel comfortable, as Joe Schmo client, coming to your therapist's home for relaxation massage/spa services? I would love to hear everyone's feedback.

Very interesting question, and one I dealt with personally as a client recently. Upon making an appointment with this one therapist, first I was invited to an exercise class with three other people at her office, which is the 3rd floor of this building with a bunch of other stores. I figured she was kind of getting a read on if I was a good client, which I understand. Then two weeks later, I had my first regular massage at this same office building.

Three months later on my second massage, she emailed me and (perhaps cause of snow or so I thought) said that I would have to come to her home office which is 5 minutes further and that she had two dogs and a cat and hoped I didn't have allergies, but she seemed to want me to come, but hoped it wasn't an inconvenience. I found this a bit odd, but agreed, as I didnt' want my massage cancelled. I must say, it felt awkward as heck as a 33 year old male driving up to a strange woman's driveway and having dogs bark at me. I also would say, it was really awkward sitting on someone's couch or being in their kitchen, but the dogs were jumping up on me and kind of made me more relaxed. The house was fortunately, very clean and decorated for Christmas. Anyhow, the massage went well and after it I learned that it all seemed part of the therapists plan to lure me to her home office, where she was obviously a lot more comfortable. She seemed much more friendly and at ease at home, perhaps because of the dogs? She said her goal was to eventually get all her clients to come to her home office, but I guess for now she uses the office building to kind of weed them out and as a screening process. Once you are on the trusted client list, she invites you to her home office. With her home office, the parking is better, the heat/air conditioning is better, and she seems much more friendly and at ease, so hey, I am not complaining. It's a little awkward, but the two large dogs kind of help me get over it. I didn't know that the home office was simply another room in her house, but O well....she's probably the best MT I ever went to and enjoys her work a lot.

My guess is that your home office is fine but you have to make the client feel comfortable in that environment, because they might be tenative at first.

 

[Aaron_J88]

Are you okay with coming to my home for your appointment

I must say, it felt awkward as heck as a 33 year old male driving up to a strange woman's driveway and having dogs bark at me. I also would say, it was really awkward sitting on someone's couch or being in their kitchen, but the dogs were jumping up on me and kind of made me more relaxed.

If you feel awkward and weird just being in her house, than you must have subconscious urges and desires that are not professional.
A good dog does not jump up on people.

 

[MiSs. H. aKtHeR]

Are you okay with coming to my home for your appointment

I must say, it felt awkward as heck as a 33 year old male driving up to a strange woman's driveway and having dogs bark at me. I also would say, it was really awkward sitting on someone's couch or being in their kitchen, but the dogs were jumping up on me and kind of made me more relaxed.

If you feel awkward and weird just being in her house, than you must have subconscious urges and desires that are not professional.
A good dog does not jump up on people.

i'd be a little unnerved if my MT called at the last minute to reschedule the location of the service to the home that is further away than the office. i think ace would have been more comfortable is the MT had been forthcoming... rather than being 'put together' by a 'bait n switch'. it sure makes me wonder if her home office is licensed.... but it turned out okay.

 

[in_lovebaby13]

Are you okay with coming to my home for your appointment

I must say, it felt awkward as heck as a 33 year old male driving up to a strange woman's driveway and having dogs bark at me. I also would say, it was really awkward sitting on someone's couch or being in their kitchen, but the dogs were jumping up on me and kind of made me more relaxed.

If you feel awkward and weird just being in her house, than you must have subconscious urges and desires that are not professional.
A good dog does not jump up on people.

That's nonsense. You mean to tell me that the average guy who shows up at a middle aged attractive MT's house, who lives alone with her two dogs, on a snowy night, nonetheless, wouldn't feel a little awkward? It was just the situation I was in, nothing to do with subconscious urges and desires. She changed the appointment that morning by email...I had nothing to do with it but did wonder why. I found out later why. Your blaming men for subconscious desires..weak. Yes, dogs shouldn't jump on people but these dogs evidently were very happy to see me. Some clients might have not liked that too much but I like animals so I didn't care at all. The dogs kind of broke a little bit of the discomfort I had at the start with the new setting.