hotels

THE BASICS / MUST-HAVES: BATHROOM ● *Toiletries: Soap (body/shower and sink/hand), hand towel, body towel, face towel + back up of each (2 per person per room), shower mat, toilet paper (plus backup), shampoo, conditioner. ○ Extra touches: feminine products, disposable razors, scale. ● *Towels: 4 per bedroom (body, face, hand). ○ Outdoor towels (2 per person) and if you’re home is pet friendly, then towels for pets too). ○ 1 half of the above towels will be stored securely and not available to guests. ■ Please note, people will take indoor towels outside, and outdoor towels in. No matter how well you label and how politely you ask, be prepared for accelerated wear/tear of your towels. Home Goods & Marshalls / Ross, TJ Maxx are great places to replenish towels affordably. ● *small trash can in each bathroom KITCHEN & DINING ● *Dishes: (indoor and outdoor (if you have outdoor entertaining/eating space); plates & bowls; ○ Quantity Tip: Enough place settings and dishes and tableware to handle twice the number of your maximum group size, not because twice as many people will show up, but because guests don’t want to do dishes after each use). ● *Silverware: (indoor and outdoor) ● *Glassware: (indoor and plastic for outdoor; large & small, wine & water). Mugs, coffee, and tea. ● *Utensils: (can opener, ladles, spatulas, Tupperware, pasta strainer, pots, pans, decent knives, a pot large enough for pasta, saucepans, large and small fry pan, wine glasses, a bottle opener, whisk, pitcher, salad bowl, baking sheet, scissors, corkscrew, big cutting board, kitchen hand towels, condiments (ketchup, mustard) ● *Kitchen supplies: (garbage can, garbage bags, sandwich bags, dishwashing soap, dishwasher pods, paper towels, kettle) LIVING / BEDROOMS ● Bedroom: Furniture in each room (chest of drawers (if no walk-in closet) ● *At least one night stand + lamp ● TV ● *Fan (if no A/C) ● *Beds/Bedding (on the bed and at least 1 backup set). Duvet + comfortable > quilt. Think about laundry. If you can fit an entire room (or 2) of linens in one load – you’ve saved time and energy. Some quilt / bedding covers take an entire load unto themselves. ● Pillows plus decorative pillows ● A reading chair ● Full-length mirror ○ An extra touch would be iPhone/iPad alarm clock. ● *Living Room: Furniture: Coffee table, couches (plus throws and pillows), books, area rug ● Other Rooms: at least one desk on the property, artwork in each room. ● *Dining Room: table & chairs, place settings, area rug. ELECTRONICS ● *Flat screen TV (+remote) in the main room and at least 2 bedrooms ● HD channels or Apple TV or Roku Devices ● *High-speed wi-fi password protected OUTDOORS ● Outdoor furniture (table, chairs, umbrella), BBQ (and utensils) welcome mat, storage box, hose, trash can (recycling, trash, landscape) ○ Note: What happens if you receive mail at this residence? US Mail allows for mail holds (so long as only at one residence — in other words, you can’t hold mail at more than one home at the same time). CLEANING ● *Cleaning supplies (broom, mop, kitchen counter cleaner, vacuum, furniture cleaner, floor cleaner, paper towels, and glass cleaner) PRIVATE AREA / OWNER ONLY ● *Owners area: lockable closet to store supplies (paper towels, toilet paper, backup linens/towels, firewood, wine, candy, electronics not accessible to guests) – only accessible for owner/manager/cleaning crew), back up key lock box on the property / hidden THE EXTRAS – (ITEMS NOT EXPECTED BUT HIGHLY APPRECIATED) 1. Full-length mirror Everyone isn’t the same height, a medicine cabinet mirror is a liability within itself due to the fact that short-sized guests will need a chair to see their outfits. Acquire a full-length mirror that can be easily hung on the bedroom door of the rental home. 2. Liners in trash cans Having trash bags in all of the garbage cans throughout the vacation home adds to the aura of cleanliness. Ensure that you do the same with bathroom trash cans, also. 3. Starter pack of coffee, creamer, and sugar These household items are ideal if you receive an abundance of guests during the nighttime. Everybody enjoys a cup of Joe in the morning and your nighttime guests are no exception. 4. Salt And Pepper Chances are that when your guest arrives, they may intend to cook frequently, but they more than likely aren’t going to pack spices within their suitcase. Providing some spices or salt and pepper at the minimum can be helpful and demonstrate a level of consideration on your part in the guest’s eyes. 5. Emergency Supplies You should always expect the best but prepare for the worst, especially if you reside within an area that is prone to be affected by natural disasters. But by keeping a first aid kit, flashlights, and battery-powered radio you can do just that. 6. Cleaning supplies Stock the rental home with mops, brooms or cleaning supplies that the guests can utilize. 7. Hair Dryer Most guests won’t pack a hair dryer in their suitcases. They may expect this to be in a vacation home due to the fact that a large majority of hotels provide hairdryers. When it comes to household conveniences, for a small investment of $10 you can provide yet another convenience to your guest. 8. Iron & Ironing Board No one likes sitting on the floor to iron clothes on a small dorm-sized ironing board. Consider purchasing a full-sized ironing board to add to your list of household conveniences that will be observed by your guests. 9. A Deck Of Cards A deck of cards can provide an endless source of entertainment to keep your guests preoccupied during rainy days. While you can provide a variety of games such as chess, checkers, and bingo. At the minimum, a deck of cards will suffice. 10. Facial Tissues Another set of essential household items is facial tissues. Some guests may have an allergy-related condition and as such, may feel repulsed at the fact that