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Having Houseguests? Seven Ways to Ensure You’re the Host With the Most!

Do you travel a lot?  It’s all so relative isn’t it? What’s considered a lot by my cousins in the Netherlands is not a lot by North American standards. My cousins take a coffee break if they have to drive for 90 minutes! Perhaps that speaks more to the stage of develop of the culture rather than the geographic distance that needs to be covered.

In Europe I believe the focus is more on relationships, when it comes to how they spend their time. In North America in spite of Gen Y’s efforts, the primary focus is building and maintaining wealth…which, of course keeps our pace steady at GO, GO, GO!

Over the last the last few years I have traveled a mile or two.  And while I have had the opportunity to stay at many glamorous hotels, and some not so glamorous (thanks Isabelle for taking care of the mice), my favorite way to travel is to stay as a guest in someone’s home. It’s certainly a far better way to learn about the people you are engaging with.

And no one treats guests better than Jonellen and Lou Heckler.  When I arrived at their home for a weekend of coaching recently, there was a plaque on the front door that read: “Welcome Margaret.”  My suite (yes bedroom, bathroom and sitting area) also had my name on the door.  They had everything you would expect at a five-star hotel:  packaged quality soap, shampoos, body lotion and even toothpaste (just in case I forgot mine).  Everything was sparkling clean and inviting.

Uncertainty makes people feel uncomfortable—and your job as a host or hostess is to reduce that uncertainty. When you are entertaining house guests, let them know exactly what will be happening over the duration of their stay.

The most welcoming thing to say to guests is, “Make yourself comfortable. Make yourself at home.”

Seven things to consider when having houseguests:

1. Ask your guests about their food likes and dislikes before they arrive and be prepared to have items in your pantry that fit your guests needs.
2. Provide fresh linens and toiletries, such as toilet paper and tissues.
3. Give guidance on where to put things like wet towels, especially if it’s a shared bathroom.
4. Make sure there is a trash can available in the guest bathroom or bedroom.
5. Put a night-light in the hall or rest room so guests can easily find their way at night.
6. Agree on a time to be up in the morning and the options at breakfast. Have healthy snacks and fresh fruits easily available for guests. Your guests may feel uneasy about rummaging through your fridge or cupboard to find an afternoon snack (even if you’ve told them to help themselves!)
7. If there are kids visiting and you have valuable items that are at risk of being damaged, put them away before your guests arrive.

Bonus:
Ask your guest if they felt something else could be added to the guest rooms to make their overnight stay more comfortable. Jonellen has received great ideas from this request – including things like a lint roller to an ironing board and iron.

Do you have tips for entertaining houseguests you’d like to share? What are some things that hosts should avoid? Let me know in the comments section below!

Posted by Margaret in Everyday Etiquette.