Guest post by Alex Berger
When house hunting, one of the first things I considered was how I could entertain my future guests. Could I host dinner parties or have girlfriends over easily? What about the holidays? Would I have enough space for family members to stay and would I be able to create a welcoming home for the holidays? These are all important things to think about, if the holidays and entertaining mean a lot to you, as they do for me. So, after you ask yourself those questions, find the perfect home, and move in, it’s time to think about how you will actually put your thoughts into action. Here are a few tips that might help you when you are creating a welcoming home for the holidays:
Deck The Halls!
I absolutely love to decorate. Christmas-time would not be the same without all of the lights, glittery decorations, and bright greens and reds. Thinking about it, decorations making a holiday feel real is pretty silly, but I truly believe that seeing the decorations light up the roads as you are on your way home from work and brighten up your home when you pull into your driveway really makes most people happier and more joyful. This is why when creating a welcoming home for your guests, decking the halls can make it that much more special and inviting. It makes the holidays feel more real and more magical (especially for kids, too!).
Fill The Guest Bathroom With Essentials
Your guests shouldn’t feel awkward or bad about forgetting a toothbrush or body wash. I know I have definitely been in that boat before and it was really awkward when my host said, ‘I am so sorry – I don’t have another toothbrush.” In order to skip that awkward moment, stock your guest bathroom with the essentials. This means that you need to have body soap, shampoo + conditioner, toothpaste, towels, hand towels, toilet paper, and face wash. A few extras such as extra toothbrushes, razors, floss, mouthwash, etc. are so nice, as well!
In a small basket in the bathroom, you should keep new, sample-sized items of soap, shampoo, conditioner, mouthwash, Q-tips, lotion, dental floss, toothpaste, and Tide To Go. I also keep a spare toothbrush, comb, hairdryer, and razor on hand, as well. Many grocery and retail stores sell travel sizes of these items (I know Target does, for sure), but you can also pick them up from hotels whenever you travel. If you want to get a bit fancier, add bigger bottles of items and custom-made bar soap.
Adding these small essentials into your guest bathroom will make sure that your guests are comfortable and have what they need. There’s nothing worse than not having the essentials when staying in a new place. Adding in this small touch definitely makes your guests feel welcome!
Stock Your Fridge
Once again, there is nothing worse than not having the essentials or the things you “have” to have when staying in a new place. I always recommend finding out your guests’ preferences and trying to meet them. For example, do they like creamer in their coffee? A specific kind? If so, try your best to make it happen. I understand that you cannot take all requests and preferences, but if you know of something that they specifically cannot live without, try your best to get it for them. The holidays are built on traditions and it can be hard to visit a new place or house in place of another tradition, so if you do go out of your way to get something different for a specific guest, I am sure they will be so very thankful!
Offer Different Bedding Options
Some like fluffy, large pillows and others like thicker and firmer memory foam pillows. The same goes for sheets and blankets. While some like a lot of blankets and comforters, others cannot stand having a bed sheet. Everyone is different and that’s why you should offer different options. Of course, just like with the food, you cannot worry about it too much, but do what you can do to make them feel at home and everyone will be much happier – and much more rested!
Make Them Feel At Home
Last but not least, make them feel at home. Being a good host is trying your best to anticipate the needs and wants of your guests. Although you cannot predict everything that they might need, a few small touches along the way really helps them feel welcome and at home. It can be hard to be away from your home during the holidays, so it will really mean a lot to them, I am sure.
If the holidays are just as important and special to you as they are to me, I highly recommend asking yourself the important questions before buying a home. Some of these might be:
-Where will you put your Christmas tree?
-Would you have enough space to host guests?
-Is it a home that is easy to entertain in?
Try to think about all of the important questions yourself, but your real estate agent should be able to help you come up with great questions, if you tell him or her what is important to you when it comes to your home. Erin E. King with Jax Historic Realty is one of those agents. He “is a Best of Zillow® REALTOR® who specializes in Jacksonville’s historic neighborhoods. Historic homes feel a bit like kindred spirits. For the past two decades, he has been passionate about telling their unique histories and restoring them to new life. Today, he helps other old home aficionados do the same.”
A few ways that Erin makes the Jacksonville home buying process easier for you is by paying close attention to details, responding quickly to his clients, and by putting together a support team of contractors and other professionals, to help transactions go smoothly. No matter if you are searching for a new home, or old homes for sale in Murray Hills, he can help find the perfect home so that you can create a welcoming home for the holidays!
