Test Blog Take 2
Congratulations! You’ve set up a rental or exchange for your home and are preparing for your guests’ stay. While you probably have many things on your mind regarding your own travels, it is important to properly prepare for your tenant and provide a space that is organized and welcoming. We have compiled a list of the top ten things to do to prepare for your tenant:
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Leave important contact information
Be sure to create a list of contacts, including your own, just in case your tenant needs to get in touch. This should include a few friends or neighbors who are happy to answer questions about your home or the neighborhood.
Your tenants will appreciate it if you provide a building manager or trustworthy handyman who can help with little fixes around the house or contact a plumber or electrician if needed. Even better, include the local police and fire department contact information in case of emergency.
Be sure to email the list to them as well as print out a copy to keep in a central spot of your home.
- Household instructions
Think of things that might be mysterious to your new guest: your internet password, how to use the quirky oven, what not to put in the garbage disposal and other helpful pointers are welcomed tips. Many of us now have some combination of TV, satellite or cable that might seem incomprehensible to someone who has never used it, so a quick bullet points of instructions would be very welcome!
It’s also helpful to make a few notes on anything that happens on a regular schedule, like trash collection day or automatic sprinklers. Make a note on what your city allows in recycling, if they compost and which items go into which bins. Explain how your heating and/or air conditioning system works and what is a reasonable temperature to set each at, depending on the season.
Extra credit for making a few notes on where you will keep a few replacement items like light bulbs and extra batteries for smoke detectors. Click here for more inspiration and ideas.
Be sure to provide a printed copy of this as well with your contact information so everything your tenants might need to help take care of your home is at their fingertips.
- Have a spare key made
This is a simple but sometimes overlooked task. You will want to be able to give your tenants a spare key while keeping your own with you. Remember to also include entry codes to shared front doors or gated areas that your tenants will need to access your home. If your tenants will have access to a separately locked garage or shed, include that key as well.
At the same time as you are organizing this, think about having extra keys made so your tenants have a spare. And, bonus points for having an extra spare key to give to a trusted neighbor in case your tenant is locked out!
- General clean-up
A fresh, clean space is inviting and feels like home. If you hate to clean and can afford to hire a cleaning service, consider scheduling professionals to come about two days prior to your guests’ arrival. Sometimes someone who does not live in your space all the time may see areas or corners that really need a good scrub or dusting.
However, if you do not mind doing a deep clean on your home yourself, click here for our in-depth cleaning tips and tricks.
- Clear off horizontal surfaces
Horizontal surfaces are at a premium in any home. It’s where everything is set down. Imagine walking into a home and having nowhere to put your purse, your briefcase or your keys. Be sure to clear off some horizontal surfaces in your home to accommodate your guests. You will most likely want to put away some of your personal items anyway, so this is an easy way to do both.
Before you start, take a walk around your home as if you have not been there before. Is there an entryway to put keys, bags or coats? In the living room, is there a coffee table or sofa table that has a spot to put your guests’ books or a cup of coffee?
If you have an office in your home, clear off any desk space to create a space where someone can really concentrate. Make sure that bedside tables in the bedrooms are inviting and clear of your stack of reading or your extra glasses. Lastly, in the kitchen, sort through that pile of paper or junk that always accumulates and recycle or file them.