Preparing for house guests

Preparing for house guests can be a lot of work, but if you start early, and have a good attitude, you will enjoy the preparation, and the visit! If you put special effort into preparing for your next houseguest, it will be much easier the time after that. You could even start preparing now, even if you do not have house guests scheduled at all. Then when someone calls, you are ready to go. You want your houseguests to feel welcomed and loved, and comfortable in your home. If you are prepared, and have a good attitude, you can find great joy in every house guest you have.

Tips:

Make your guests feel welcome and loved
Do not let your guest feel anything negative from you, or let them know if you are stressed.
While they are there, be sure to visit with your guests, say hello to them every morning, be friendly, peaceful, positive, inviting and enthusiastic.

Before they visit:

Ask about allergies
Ask what cereal, milk, fruit, beverages, breakfast items, snacks, groceries they like, and pick those up ahead of time
If they are bringing children, ask what they will need – playpen, car seat, stroller, diapers, formula
If they are older or disabled, take a new look at your house from their perspective, and ask how you can prepare for them – higher toilet seat, shower bench, clear spaces, …
Start several days ahead of time preparing
Clean the house
Clear clutter from your guest room and bathroom
Put an extra house key on a key ring, and give to your guest when they arrive
Use inflatable mattresses for extra beds, if needed
Show your guest where your computer is, and how to access the internet
Set up a small television in the guest bedroom
Show your guest how to use the television and satellite in the family room
Show your guest how to adjust the heat and air
Give guests the tour of the house
If you or your guest drinks coffee, put on a timer or set it up
Put together a basket of snacks in the kitchen
Have a breakfast basket in the kitchen – with little cereal boxes, oatmeal, fruit, pastries, protein bars; juice & milk in the fridge – or even better, get up & make breakfast for your guests
Clean out the fridge
Give your guests a list of your home, cell and work phone numbers, and other key phone numbers
Show your guests how the washer & dryer works, and where the laundry soap and stain spray is
Communicate with your guests about your schedule, and interesting events they might attend
Invite guests to accompany you to activities
Ask your guests if they have questions, what you can do for them
If you have photos of your guests, put those out in a frame, or hang on the fridge
Invite your guests to cook in your kitchen, use the washer & dryer, watch TV, play video games, use the items in your house
Have a pot of soup, pizza, Chinese takeout, leftovers or other dinner waiting for guests when they arrive – even it is just a light meal
If there are children, put together a basket of toys & children’s books

In each bedroom or area where guests are sleeping:

Fresh, clean sheets – your best sheets, if possible
Several pillows – your best pillows, if possible
Extra blanket
Chocolates
Fresh flowers
Candles
Phonebook
Magazines
Travel or guide books for your local area, marking pages that are your favorite
Coupon book for your city
Travel brochures and coupons for local attractions
City map
State map
Map you customize of your neighborhood, interesting points of interest, grocery store
Space in the closet
Empty a drawer in the dresser and a shelf on the bookshelf, and point those out to your guest
Hangers
Empty space to put things on a chair, suitcase rack, dresser
Extra trash bags
Nightlight in the hall outside the bedroom
A list of nearby businesses of interest or convenience – grocery store, gas station, pharmacy, urgent care, hospital, bus station, airport, mall, Target, Wal-Mart, local attractions, Church, library, coffee shop, bookstore, ...

Put by each bed:

Bottled water
Tissue box
Paper
Pen
Flashlight
Reading light
Ear plugs
Sleeping mask
Small trash can
Alarm clock
Telephone, if possible (turn the ringer off, so that your calls don’t wake up your guest)
Available electrical outlets
Power strip, empty, for their electronics
Chocolates, treats

Put in each bathroom:

Washcloths
Hand towels
Bath towels, large, clean, your newest & best
Sample or hotel size toiletries – soap, shampoo, conditioner, lotion, toothpaste
Razor
Toothbrush, dental floss, mouthwash
Extra toilet paper
Extra trash bag
Candle
Match
Flower in a vase
Tissue
Cups for water

Put by each phone in the house:

Paper
Pens
Your contact information
Home address & phone #
Emergency numbers and information

Don’t forget to enjoy your company. Sharing your home with guests can be stressful, but if you clean and organize your home ahead of time, you can have a fun and relaxing time visiting with your guests

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Preparing for house guests