This is a sponsored post in Diamond Bloggers. All opinions are mine.
It’s almost that time of year again. Time to open our homes to entertaining and hosting family and friends this upcoming holiday season. While it can seem daunting to be able to accommodate guests in our homes, it can be done easily and on a budget. Check out these 7 tips for preparing your home for houseguests this fall.
7 ways to prepare your home for houseguests this fall:
1) Declutter and clean. First things first: give your home a good clean before your guests arrive. This includes clearing away as many of your personal belongings as possible from the areas your guests will be using, such as the bedrooms and bathrooms. Empty a drawer in the bedroom, make space in the guest closet, and leave space for your guest’s coats in a front closet. Make sure there’s space in a wardrobe or under the bed for guests to store their empty suitcases. This step is crucial before guests arrive but can be done days or weeks in advance of their arrival!
2) Always be prepared. When it comes to hosting guests in your home, being prepared is key. You’ll want to be as much done before your guests arrive to allow yourself time for doing what matters most when it comes to houseguests, the hosting! Preparing a shopping list, taking an inventory of guest essentials (towels, linens, and a laundry basket for dirty clothing), and planning your tablescapes and decor can be planned out weeks in advance.
3) Stock your home. Before your guests arrive, take the time to see if your guests will require any special foods or require specific foods to cater to food allergies while in your home. Then stock up on anything they might need – even if it’s something you don’t like. I like to go the extra mile and stock my home with holiday-themed teas, coffee, snacks, sodas, and breakfast items, including fresh fruit, they might enjoy. I then add them to my kitchen’s coffee bar, along with a framed printable letting them know they can help themselves to anything they might want. And for nightcaps, I like to add an assortment of beers, ails, sparkling waters, and ciders to my office mini-fridge. Some of my favorite brews include seasonal varieties from Melvin Brewing. This gives my guests a space to use nightly as a business hub, correspondence center, and place to unwind together.
4) Give your guests plenty of information. One of the best ways you can prepare your home for guests is to give your guests the skinny on home your home works. Provide your guests with a bedside binder containing laminated sheets on all the information they might require during their stay is key. You’ll want to provide information on local pharmacies, doctors, vet clinics, local leash laws (should they be bringing their fuzzy family with them), and dry cleaners in your area.
Guests may also enjoy the information on local attractions, self-guided tours, coffee shops, and restaurants your guests want to visit or utilize during their trip. If your guests don’t have their own transportation while staying with you, provide them a $20.00 reloadable transit card, transit map, and number to your local taxi cab company.
Last but not least, share with your guests your personal schedule. Note your shower times, kid’s school schedules, policy for wearing shoes in your home, meal routines and, if you are working, what time you leave and expect you home each day. Don’t forget to let guests know what day a cleaner, pool service, or gardener comes to your home either. The last thing you want is a guest to be caught off-guard while alone in your home!
5) Make them feel at home. For guests in your home longer than a few days, give your guests their own set of keys so they can come and go as they please. They’ll feel more at home if they don’t have to ring the doorbell every time they come in. Don’t forget to give them the code for any alarms you might have, show them how to work them, and mention where you hide spare keys in case of an emergency. You’ll also want to provide your guests with electricians, plumbers, security, your full mailing address (in case they need to quickly purchase something on Amazon), and other functionary information such as wi-fi passwords and codes for central air systems, as needed.
6) Give your guests a personal space. Giving your guests a small sitting room, use of an office during their stay, or an enclosed porch will give them a better sense of autonomy while in your home.
7) Take a walkthrough. As a concierge is a key to a hotel, as are you to your guests while they are staying in your home. To ensure your guests have the best stay possible, you’ll need to perform a walkthrough of your home. Pretend you’re a visitor in your own home and spend a night in the guest room. Note your surroundings. Is the room too hot, too cold, how many beds or cots will your guests and their children need, and most importantly, are those beds comfortable?
That’s it, folks! Preparedness is key. Especially when it comes to hosting friends and family this coming fall. Friends, I hope these 7 tips will better help you prepare for guests in your own home this fall. Your house guests will appreciate you taking the time to make them comfortable in your home. Now I have to ask, do you have tips for preparing for houseguests each holiday season? I’d love to hear about it in the comments below!
