{"id":710,"date":"2016-12-16T10:00:40","date_gmt":"2016-12-16T10:00:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mymilestone.com\/blog\/?p=710"},"modified":"2016-12-15T15:52:15","modified_gmt":"2016-12-15T15:52:15","slug":"hosting-houseguests-holidays","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mymilestone.com\/blog\/hosting-houseguests-holidays\/","title":{"rendered":"Hosting houseguests for the holidays"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>With the holidays in full swing, your home is probably going to be filling up with guests pretty soon, and there&#8217;s a good chance that a few of them will be spending the night. If you&#8217;re concerned about your readiness, don&#8217;t sweat it\u2014just follow this guide to hosting houseguests!<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-713\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mymilestone.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/houseguests-2.jpg\" alt=\"Woman talking on phone to help plan for hosting houseguests\" width=\"820\" height=\"356\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mymilestone.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/houseguests-2.jpg 820w, https:\/\/www.mymilestone.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/houseguests-2-300x130.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.mymilestone.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/houseguests-2-768x333.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px\" \/><\/p>\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Communicating ahead of time<\/strong><\/h1>\n<p>For everyone&#8217;s benefit, it&#8217;s wise to have a little chat with your guests before they arrive. Here are a few good questions to ask:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>When are they coming and how long do they plan to stay?<\/li>\n<li>Do they have their own transportation?<\/li>\n<li>Is there anything specific they want to do while they&#8217;re in town?<\/li>\n<li>Do they have any food requirements, allergies or preferences?<\/li>\n<li>Do they have any other special requirements?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>For your own sanity, it&#8217;s also important that you let your houseguests know about your own situation so they don&#8217;t have unreasonable expectations. Let your guests know about:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Your work or other commitments during the time of their stay<\/li>\n<li>Any household routines that must be adhered to, such as children&#8217;s bedtimes or letting out pets at certain times<\/li>\n<li>Their sleeping arrangements<\/li>\n<li>What they need to bring and what you&#8217;ll be able to provide<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-714\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mymilestone.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/houseguests-3.jpg\" alt=\"Person laying towels on bed to prepare for hosting houseguests\" width=\"820\" height=\"360\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mymilestone.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/houseguests-3.jpg 820w, https:\/\/www.mymilestone.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/houseguests-3-300x132.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.mymilestone.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/houseguests-3-768x337.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px\" \/><\/p>\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Getting your house ready<\/strong><\/h1>\n<p>How much work you put into preparing your house for overnight guests depends on what state your living space is in to begin with\u2014hopefully it&#8217;s not too far gone\u2014and how discerning your guests will be. For example, you&#8217;ll probably want to clean more intensively for your mother in-law than for your old college buddies.<\/p>\n<p>If you&#8217;re hosting a holiday party or get-together in addition to having people stay with you, chances are you&#8217;ll be taking care of some of these tasks anyway:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Cleaning:<\/strong> You don&#8217;t have to scrub your windows and dust every knickknack, but cover all the basics. Sweep and vacuum, give the kitchen and bath areas a good once-over, and eliminate as\u00a0much clutter as you can.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Sleeping arrangements:<\/strong> If you have a guest bedroom, put clean sheets, blankets and pillows on the bed\u2014bonus points for extra blankets. Also, clear out a drawer\u00a0for your guests&#8217; belongings, and try to make the room look clean while keeping it homey. If you don&#8217;t have a guest room, do what you can to make your couch, futon or air mattress as warm and welcoming as possible.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Stock up:<\/strong> You&#8217;ll want to provide for your guests as best you can\u2026 within reason. Make sure there&#8217;s food in the fridge, put clean towels in the closet and if you&#8217;ve been saving all those little hotel soaps and shampoos for years, now is your chance to put them out!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-712\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mymilestone.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/houseguests-1.jpg\" alt=\"Young family being welcomed in as houseguests by parents\" width=\"820\" height=\"361\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mymilestone.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/houseguests-1.jpg 820w, https:\/\/www.mymilestone.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/houseguests-1-300x132.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.mymilestone.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/houseguests-1-768x338.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px\" \/><\/p>\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Hosting houseguests<\/strong><\/h1>\n<p>While hosting houseguests, your goal is to make them feel comfortable and welcome, not like they&#8217;re in the way or that you&#8217;re inconveniencing yourself to accommodate them.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Put out some games and reading materials\u00a0(for kids and adults).<\/li>\n<li>Make plenty of outlets available for phone-charging.<\/li>\n<li>Plan activities and trips, but allow some downtime too.<\/li>\n<li>Invite guests to be a part of your regular routine\u2014ask if they need to go to the store or want to come walk the dog.<\/li>\n<li>Give your guests priority parking.<\/li>\n<li>Make snacks available and let your guests know that they can help themselves.<\/li>\n<li>If they ask to help out, let them. Everybody likes to feel useful!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>You don&#8217;t have to provide constant entertainment or transform your home into a five-star hotel for your houseguests\u2014and chances are, your guests understand this as well as you do. So, have fun while you\u2019re hosting houseguests! For more holiday tips, check out our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mymilestone.com\/blog\/\">blog<\/a>.<\/p>\n<!-- Begin Yuzo --><div class='yuzo_related_post style-1'  data-version='5.12.74'><!-- without result --><div class='yuzo_clearfixed yuzo__title yuzo__title'><h3>Related Post<\/h3><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t  <div class=\"relatedthumb \" style=\"width:125px;float:left;overflow:hidden;\">  \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t  <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.mymilestone.com\/blog\/popular-home-trends-spring-color\/\"  >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t  <div class=\"yuzo-img-wrap \" style=\"width: 125px;height:90px;\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"yuzo-img\" style=\"background:url('https:\/\/www.mymilestone.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/spring-1-150x150.jpg') 50% 50% no-repeat;width: 125px;height:90px;margin-bottom: 5px;background-size: cover; \"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t  <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t   <span class=\"yuzo__text--title\" style=\"font-size:13px;\">Home trends to help you spring into color to spruc...<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t  <\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t  <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t  <div class=\"relatedthumb \" style=\"width:125px;float:left;overflow:hidden;\">  \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t  <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.mymilestone.com\/blog\/open-concept-homes-7-benefits\/\"  >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t  <div class=\"yuzo-img-wrap \" style=\"width: 125px;height:90px;\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"yuzo-img\" style=\"background:url('https:\/\/www.mymilestone.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/open-concept-7-150x150.jpg') 50% 50% no-repeat;width: 125px;height:90px;margin-bottom: 5px;background-size: cover; \"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t  <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t   <span class=\"yuzo__text--title\" style=\"font-size:13px;\">The benefits of a new home with an open-concept fl...<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t  <\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t  <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t  <div class=\"relatedthumb \" style=\"width:125px;float:left;overflow:hidden;\">  \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t  <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.mymilestone.com\/blog\/cedar-park-real-estate-park-brushy-creek\/\"  >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t  <div class=\"yuzo-img-wrap \" style=\"width: 125px;height:90px;\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"yuzo-img\" style=\"background:url('https:\/\/www.mymilestone.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/pabc-go-1-150x150.jpg') 50% 50% no-repeat;width: 125px;height:90px;margin-bottom: 5px;background-size: cover; \"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t  <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t   <span class=\"yuzo__text--title\" style=\"font-size:13px;\">Explore Cedar Park real estate at The Park at Brus...<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t  <\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t  <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t  <div class=\"relatedthumb \" style=\"width:125px;float:left;overflow:hidden;\">  \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t  <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.mymilestone.com\/blog\/why-now-is-the-time-to-buy\/\"  >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t  <div class=\"yuzo-img-wrap \" style=\"width: 125px;height:90px;\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"yuzo-img\" style=\"background:url('https:\/\/www.mymilestone.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Aug-Blog-Image-150x150.jpg') 50% 50% no-repeat;width: 125px;height:90px;margin-bottom: 5px;background-size: cover; \"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t  <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t   <span class=\"yuzo__text--title\" style=\"font-size:13px;\">Why Now is the Time to Buy<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t  <\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t  <\/div>\n<\/div> <style>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t.yuzo_related_post img{width:120px !important; height:110px !important;}\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t.yuzo_related_post .relatedthumb{line-height:15px;background: !important;color:!important;}\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t.yuzo_related_post .relatedthumb:hover{background:#fcfcf4 !important; -webkit-transition: background 0.2s linear; -moz-transition: background 0.2s linear; -o-transition: background 0.2s linear; transition: background 0.2s linear;;color:!important;}\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t.yuzo_related_post .relatedthumb a{color:!important;}\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t.yuzo_related_post .relatedthumb a:hover{ color:}!important;}\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t.yuzo_related_post .relatedthumb:hover a{ color:!important;}\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t.yuzo_related_post .yuzo_text {color:!important;}\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t.yuzo_related_post .relatedthumb:hover .yuzo_text {color:!important;}\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t.yuzo_related_post .relatedthumb{  margin: 0px  0px  0px  0px;   padding: 5px  5px  5px  5px;  }\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/style> <script>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t  jQuery(document).ready(function( $ ){\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\/\/jQuery('.yuzo_related_post').equalizer({ overflow : 'relatedthumb' });\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tjQuery('.yuzo_related_post .yuzo_wraps').equalizer({ columns : '> div' });\n\t\t\t\t\t\t   })\n\t\t\t\t\t\t  <\/script> <!-- End Yuzo :) -->","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Is your home the central gathering point this holiday? To keep your sanity and to create a homey environment, check out these tips for hosting houseguests.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":714,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[78,59,58,51,50,35],"class_list":["post-710","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-social-events","tag-holidays","tag-home-maintenance","tag-homeowner-tips","tag-new-home-tips","tag-new-homeowners","tag-tips"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mymilestone.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/710","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mymilestone.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mymilestone.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mymilestone.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mymilestone.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=710"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.mymilestone.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/710\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":715,"href":"https:\/\/www.mymilestone.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/710\/revisions\/715"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mymilestone.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/714"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mymilestone.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=710"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mymilestone.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=710"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mymilestone.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=710"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}