by Tash Brooks

We all need a cheat sheet. Something that makes life a little easier. We know that hosting is really about the details and details can easily get missed when you have a full life and a full plate.

Use this simple checklist so that you can make sure you’ve got everything in place before your guests arrive. It’s my hope that this helps streamline the process for you!

Love!

Tash xx

Before They Arrive

☐ Send a welcome text/email with: Address, parking instructions, confirming their arrival window, flight number. Any quirks (pets, stairs, noise, early mornings or
working hours)

☐ Ask about allergies, accessibility, or special needs. I usually have night lights on hand in case children or elderly staying in a guest room needs some additional
light.

☐ Essentials basket for guests. Essentials basket list here

☐ Make sure you have a few family friendly boardgames and a stack of cards. Sometimes the weather doesn’t cooperate and it’s nice for people to have
something fun to do when they get home earlier than expected or aren’t up for a full day of exploring

☐ Make the bed, set out towels, clear a drawer/closet space

☐ Make sure that you have preprepared the first main meal they’ll have upon arrive (breakfast, lunch or dinner)

☐ If this is your guests first time in your city, prepare a small binder of your favorite local hotspots so they have time to explore

☐ Welcome sign or card - I always have my kids work on a sign or a card welcoming. There’s
nothing like cute kid writing

When They Arrive

☐ Greet them at the door if possible and put away pets if you’re worried about the doors being open and them escaping

☐ Show: bedroom, bathroom, coffee/snack zone, where to put shoes

☐ Say explicitly: “Please help yourself to anything in the kitchen.”

☐ Have one tiny surprise ready (note, treat, flowers, local map)

☐ Include a small sign with Wifi password

☐ I like to give guests a Polaroid to use while they’re visiting and a small book to put their photos in. At the end they can make a polaroid book of all of their
favorite moments. It can also be a fun activity to do during your stay. At the end of each day, they share the photos they’ve taken - or tried to take!

During the Stay

☐ Share your schedule & ask theirs

☐ Offer at least one planned connection moment (meal, walk, movie)

☐ Share your game cupboard with your guests. It can be a wonderful intergenerational way to connect and get to know one another

☐ Make sure they know:
How to work shower/coffee/thermostat
How to lock up if they come/go

☐ On their last day, ask to go through all of their Polaroid photos from their trip