Being a gracious host does not need to be difficult. Here’s a list of simple things to do when having house guests that will make their stay enjoyable.
If you’ve ever had a bad experience staying at a friend’s or family member’s home, then you know how important it is to make sure guests enjoy their stay.
You don’t have to spend a lot of money or make grand gestures. Small touches here and there are more than enough. And, when you do just the right things, you’ll let your visitors know that you care.
Here are ten ways to be a gracious host so your house guests feel welcome.
10 Little Things To Do To Be A Gracious Host
1. Provide An Inviting Space
When preparing for house guests, clean your home. Focus on the areas that they will see e.g. guest bedroom, guest bathroom, kitchen, living room and entryway.
No-one wants to stay in a house that’s covered in dust and has piles of stinky laundry scattered everywhere.
Make sure to have guest room essentials like clean sheets and blankets. In the bathroom, stock up on necessities e.g. toilet paper and fluffy towels.
Guests may forget to pack important toiletries and it can be embarrassing to ask for certain items. So, plan carefully and put together a little welcome basket with everything they might need during their stay.
2. Make Note of Travel Dates
Knowing when house guests are scheduled to arrive and leave is important, especially if you’re picking them up from the airport. Also, if you’re taking time off from work for the duration of their stay, you need to know how long they’ll be there.
Double-check and arrange a place to meet, if you’re picking them up.
Alternatively, if your house guests will be driving, give them clear directions to your home and reserve a parking spot for them, if possible.
3. Get Key Personal Information
It should go without saying that having food for your visitors is necessary. They need to eat while at your home.
But, are your guests on a special diet? If they are, offer to take them grocery shopping after they arrive. Don’t bother stocking up on food because you may not know exactly what they like. Some people can be very particular about food.
Do they have allergies—food or otherwise? Find out before they arrive and plan accordingly.
Obviously, if they are allergic to cats and you have one, this is pertinent information. This may mean they’ll have to find somewhere else to stay.
4. Greet Your Guests
Give your visitors a warm welcome once they arrive. Offer them snacks and drinks no matter what time of the day it is. Traveling often leaves you tired and hungry, especially if coming from a different time zone.
Have their room prepped and ready to go so they can make themselves comfortable and rest immediately. Help them take their bags to the guest room.
5. Give Them A Tour And Make Them Feel At Home
A gracious host always gives guests a tour. After you take them to their room, show them where they can store anything they unpack and where the guest bathroom essentials are.
Show them where they can find snacks etc. in the kitchen and where the recycling is. Give them a laundry basket and point out how things in the laundry room work.
Give them an information packet that contains important details like your cell phone and landline numbers with area code, WiFi password and alarm code.
Explain any quirks your house may have or anything they might find difficult to operate. For example, if you have a fancy shower with all the bells and whistles or a door that constantly jams and you have to turn in a circle, then jiggle the handle three times before it will open. (You should get that fixed by the way.)
Make sure your visitors have and know everything to avoid the awkward feeling of having to ask.
6. Entertaining House Guests
It’s always nice to have a few activities in mind that you can do with your guests. Let them know about your plans before they travel so they can pack any important items that they’ll need e.g. comfortable shoes for hikes, swimwear for a beach trip, chic dress for a nice dinner out.
7. Be Considerate When Having House Guests
Treat your guests like you would want to be treated. If your guest room also doubles as your home office, remove all important items from that room while you have company. The last thing your guests want is for you to disturb them because you need to access items you left in their room.
If your house guests will be sleeping in an open area like the living room, be quiet until they wake up. Also, don’t sit on the pull-out couch watching TV till 2 a.m. with your guests yawning while you keep them up.
Keep your kids as quiet as possible as well or, at the very least, warn your guests what time you and your children usually wake up.
Finally, keep pets out-of-the-way. You may love your dog and find his rambunctious nature funny but your guests may not. Plus, pet hair gets everywhere. If possible, restrict where your pets can go.
8. Make Guests Feel Useful
Include your company in simple activities so they feel useful. Let them know they can help with dinner e.g. make a salad but make it perfectly clear that this is optional.
Save chores like taking out the trash for people who actually live in the house 365 days a year.
9. Offer A Spare Key
Giving house guests a spare key allows them to come and go freely. They don’t have to worry about being able to get in the house late at night and you don’t have to wait up for them to get home.
10. House Guest Host Etiquette
The final way to be a gracious host is to remember that your house guests are on vacation. Don’t freak out if they don’t make the bed or offer to vacuum. Don’t force them to do all of your planned activities.
Allow them some downtime on their own. Sometimes, lounging around the house is as much activity as I can stand on vacation. Ask them what they would like to do. If they want, make helpful suggestions about fun activities they can do without you.
Following this list of small tasks ensures you pay attention to your guests without smothering them. They’ll feel cared for and you’ll have conquered being a gracious host.
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