Tips for Preparing for Houseguests

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One of the perks of owning a home with room to spare is being able to host friends and family when they come to visit. Whether friends are coming into town for a weekend to enjoy a football game or it is your turn to host the holiday meal, welcoming guests into your home requires some preparation. Here are a few tips to help you and your guests enjoy their stay.

 

Home Improvements

Make sure any simple or unfinished house projects are completed before your guests arrive. Some projects that homeowners face are easily ignored and postponed day to day. Use your guests’ visit as an excuse to finally tackle the to do list that continues to grow each week. A small issue that takes less priority than major problems is easy to get used to and just live with rather than addressing the problem immediately. However, what you may have become accustomed to could be an annoyance or hindrance to your guests. For example, you can easily quiet the bathroom faucet that has to sit at a very specific angle to avoid a constant drip. However, a guest may have difficulty getting it situated in the middle of the night and either be awoken by taking the time to get it just right or be kept awake by a constant dripping sound. Oil the hinges of the squeaky back door that causes no issues for you and your early-rising family since it may wake your late-rising guests, and take the time to secure the towel bar that falls off after every other use. Completing the small tasks will not only make your guests’ stay better but will also give you the satisfaction of finally getting them done.

 

You can also use your guests’ stay as an excuse to make some updates to your home. If you are lacking in outdoor lighting, consider installing some updates. This can be very helpful for your guests to navigate to and from your house after dark. Updating outdoor lighting in the backyard as well can also enhance your entertaining space. To make sure your guests feel welcome from the start, test your doorbell to make sure it is in working condition before they arrive, and replace it if needed. If you have a designated guest bathroom that is rarely used, assess the condition of the shower head and water pressure before your guests need to use it. In addition to these updates, schedule routine home maintenance tasks, including lawn care, clearing out your gutters, and general cleaning, to be done before your guests’ stay.

 

Guest Room Preparation

The first step to preparing your guest room is cleaning up and clearing out. In addition to dusting, vacuuming, and putting clean linens on the bed, clear out any unnecessary items. Especially if your guest room doubles as a storage area, having visitors is a great excuse to go through your things and donate or discard items you have held onto for too long.  Make sure your guests have enough space to store their luggage and unpack some of their things. Neatly organizing out of season clothes, wrapping paper, or miscellaneous keepsakes in the guest room is perfectly acceptable. Just be sure to make room for the temporary occupants of the space. Designating a couple of shelves and/or drawers for your guests’ items is a great way to make your guests feel welcome. You may want to provide a few extra hangers and closet space for your guests to use as well.

 

Once you have cleared out some belongings, placing certain items in the room can greatly improve your guests’ experience. Lamps provide low light for reading before bed and are helpful for guests to have easy access to light instead of navigating through an unfamiliar room to get to a light switch. A full-length mirror and a trash can are also thoughtful additions. If your outlets are hard to access or are far from the nightstand, provide a power strip or extension cord to ensure your guests can charge devices without too much hassle. Extra blankets are also helpful and can easily add some style to the room.

 

Guest Accommodation

Being organized is helpful for everyone. When items are easy to find, guests and hosts alike have more freedom. Store extra items, such as blankets, towels, washcloths, soaps, and toilet paper, in an easy to find location. When these items are neatly stored in a visible location, guests do not have to worry about running out of essentials or bothering the host. While most cleaning items are often stored out of sight, keeping a plunger visible near the toilet can help give guests peace of mind and avoid potential embarrassment for them if they need one. It is also helpful to have a clear place for used towels to reside; this may require adding a hook or bar to your bathroom if you have several guests at once or adding a laundry hamper. Giving a quick tour of where dishes and snack items are located in the kitchen can help your guests feel free to serve themselves if the host is unavailable.

 

Along with being organized, it is essential to have clear communication between the host family and guests. Having an info sheet or sign in the guest room is a great way to provide helpful information, such as your wifi network and password, instructions for operating the TV and streaming services, and any quirks specific to your home, for your guests. Communicate with your guests about the schedule of their visit. You do not need a minute by minute plan for each day, but having a general idea of who will be where and when will help with sharing space and accommodating everyone’s needs. For example, parking with the schedule of the day in mind can prevent anyone realizing at the last minute his or her car is blocked by another car in the driveway. If multiple people need to share a bathroom, having a schedule of who needs access can help the getting ready process go smoothly.  To allow your guests the ability to freely come and go as they please, you may want to lend them a spare key and provide any info needed for operating your alarm system. You may also want to give your guests a list of your favorite area attractions for them to explore for when you are not able to join them. Nicely making your guests aware of your house rules, especially if they are unique to your family, up front can prevent conflicts from arising during their visit. For example, if you prefer that no one wears shoes inside the home, ask your guests to take off their shoes at the entrance rather than allowing pent up frustration to potentially cause an argument after a few days. In the same way, kindly set clear boundaries as needed.

 

By doing some preparation and setting appropriate expectations, both you and your guests can enjoy the time you get to spend under the same roof. Use your guests’ stay as an excuse to finish projects and do an overall survey of your house. Get your guest room ready to be more than extra storage space, and make a plan with your guests. At the end of their stay, your guests should remember your hospitable and accommodating attitude.

 

Kimberly McMahon

Home & Yard Magazine