The Phantom Ping

The guest said something watched her sleep, and whispered secrets way too deep.

We figured it was just the vents—our HVAC’s known for making friends.

It started with a ping.

Then another.

Then… the message:

“Hi, I’m so sorry to message this late… but I think your house might be haunted.”

The time? 11:47 p.m.

The tone? Equal parts polite and petrified.

We blinked.

Not because we didn’t believe her.

But because we’d just had guests check out that morning who called the home “peaceful” and “soothing.”

“I heard footsteps in the hallway. Something brushed past me while I was brushing my teeth. I know it sounds crazy, but I swear I’m not alone here.”

Was this a prank? A nightmare? A guest gone off-script?

But no—she was serious. 

Midnight Management Mode

This wasn’t a moment for text. I picked up the phone and gave her a quick call.

She answered on the first ring, her voice tight.

“I really don’t want to sound dramatic,” she said, “but I can’t shake this feeling that something’s off.”

I reassured her immediately:

“You’re safe. No one else is on the property, the doors are secured with a smart lock, and the outdoor motion lights are active. I know the house can have its creaks, especially at night—do you want to walk through a couple of things together?”

We stayed on the line for ten to fifteen minutes, walking room by room.

The “footsteps”? Likely the HVAC cooling off for the night—a common sound in desert homes.

The whispering? The neighbor’s bamboo wind chimes, faint but audible through the bathroom vent.

She laughed nervously, said that made a lot of sense, and thanked me for being so kind. “I feel better now. I think I just got spooked.”

The (Ghost-Free) Ending

With every light on, the TV on, and her favorite podcast queued up, she decided to stay.

She messaged again the next morning:

“Thanks again for calling me last night. I think I freaked myself out. Your calmness helped more than you know.”

No hauntings.

No horror.

Just another night in hosting.

What Hosts Can Learn (Without Getting Spooked)

Never underestimate the power of a well-timed phone call. A quick check-in during a late-night guest panic can make all the difference—sometimes, it's not about solving a problem, but reminding them there's a real human on the other side who cares. That kind of reassurance can turn a potential early checkout into a glowing review.

And if you need help crafting a guest experience that makes people feel at home—no matter what their imagination cooks up—we’ve got you covered.

At NSM Staging & Design, we create spaces that feel safe, welcoming, and memorable… even when things go bump in the night.