Preparing for Family House Guests

By Kevin Stevens, Networx

Tick tock, tick tock: The clock is running and the in-laws will be here in one week! For those that live far away from family, these visits have more significance than those who might get a visit every week or two. Here is how I prepare my house for a visit from the in-laws.

Busy Lives and Priorities

Like most people, life can get pretty busy and taking on some extra chores means something else has to give. In both of my brothers’ cases it might mean the cleaning service comes in for an extra day; for me it means a little less sleep since our Denver-area cleaning service is my sweetie and me. This is one of a handful of differences in how people prepare for guests.

For us being mountain recluses, overnight guests are pretty rare and chances are the guest room has transitioned into its more natural state of entropy. We still call the guest room “shipping and receiving” as it tends to collect boxes and packaging from what might have arrived from UPS in the last few weeks or months. It also contains some of the overflow from our pantry.

As the least used room in the entire house, it tends to take the lowest priority. The saying “out of sight, out of mind” holds true here.

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Lynne B.

11:34PM PDT on Oct 12, 2012

My guests take our home as it is, we are fairly tidy people. I don't deep clean just because someone is coming. I don't want judgmental people in my home thank you.
If they drop in unexpectedly, love me, love my dust.

October 12
send a green star

Marie W.

9:35PM PDT on Jul 30, 2012

Flowers are good- so are fluffy towels.

July 30
send a green star

annie s.

9:28PM PDT on Jul 30, 2012

Flowers are always a nice touch too.

Lyn S.

6:51PM PDT on Jul 29, 2012

@DawnW - I've nicknamed him HooRoo (an aussie expression meaning - roughly - see you later). He's played peeping 'tom' 3 times now - cute, I guess, but they pack real gut-ripping toes and can be quite dangerous - especially when startled, if they find themselves cornered. I'll tell him you'd like to meet him next time he pops his head in! :)

July 29
send a green star

Dawn W.

8:30PM PDT on Jul 24, 2012

@Lyn S.-- A kangaroo! Well I wouldn't be comfortable crossing paths with snakes or spiders,but I'd love to meet a kangaroo! Even in an outhouse. :)

July 24
send a green star

8:17PM PDT on Jul 24, 2012

We don't get many guests (either invited or uninvited) - as soon as they learn we still have an OUTSIDE 'dunny' (loo) they quickly develop ailments or emergencies which prevent them from staying. Anyone with a little more 'pioneering' spirit who claims not to be worried about it, tends to stay away when they learn that there's a chance of meeting snakes on the way there, holding interesting conversations with large spiders while you sit there, or having one particular kangaroo poke his head through the door while you're out there. Puts an entirely new slant on 'communing with nature'. LOL

Terry V.

8:47AM PDT on Jul 23, 2012

thanks

July 23
send a green star

Anne H.

1:23PM PDT on Jul 22, 2012

We've found that sometimes wine makes the visit worse, be careful with that one. I try to check some things before they arrive. Is the visit stay and relax, follow our lives or be a tourist? This gives me an idea of what to plan. I also try to find out if they have food situations so I can shop ahead of time. A comfy, cozy place to sleep and a way to get to their clothing seems to make people happy. The guest room doesn't have to be "the best" just the company.

We are vegan and also used alternative products (bar shampoo, dish soap) and don't have a tv but do have plenty of books. Our guests enjoy trying the different lifestyle and taking public transportation. We take lots of digital photos (visitors always forget) and then send them a link after their visit.