How to Prepare Your Home for Its First Guest

The Right Mindset: Your Home Is Now a Product

The mental shift from "my vacation home" to "a hospitality product" is the most important step in preparing for your first guest. You're not just letting someone stay in your house — you're delivering an experience that will be publicly reviewed and compared to hotels and other rentals.

This doesn't mean your home needs to be impersonal or sterile. The best vacation rentals have personality and warmth. But everything in the home should be there for a reason — either it serves the guest experience, or it shouldn't be there. Family photos, personal documents, and sentimental items should be removed and stored securely.

"Guests don't want to feel like they're staying in someone else's house. They want to feel like they're staying in a beautiful home that happens to have everything they need."

— Tahzjuan Hawkins, STAY49

Furnishing Essentials

You don't need to spend $20,000 furnishing a rental. You need to spend smartly. Focus your budget on the items guests interact with most — the bed, the couch, the kitchen, and the bathroom. Everything else can be modest.

1. 1Mattresses: This is where you invest. A quality queen or king mattress in the primary bedroom is essential. Guests sleep 8+ hours per night — the mattress defines their comfort more than anything else. Budget $500–$1,000 per primary bed.
2. 2Linens: White or neutral hotel-style bedding. Duvet covers that wash easily. At least 2 sets per bed so turnovers aren't delayed by laundry. Avoid anything that shows stains easily or wrinkles badly.
3. 3Towels: White, thick, hotel-quality bath towels. 2 bath towels, 2 hand towels, and 1 washcloth per guest. Plus a set of beach towels if you're near the water (you are — it's Point Roberts).
4. 4Sofa and seating: Comfortable but durable. Avoid white or light-colored upholstery. Performance fabrics (Crypton, Sunbrella) resist stains and clean easily.
5. 5Dining table: Seats enough for your max occupancy. This is where families gather — don't skimp on size.
6. 6Outdoor furniture: Clean, weather-resistant patio set. If your property has a view or outdoor space, this is a major selling point. Make it inviting.

Kitchen Setup

A well-stocked kitchen is one of the top reasons guests choose a vacation rental over a hotel. They want to cook meals — especially families with kids. Don't just throw in a random assortment of mismatched items from your own kitchen. Curate it intentionally.

• Cookware: A quality non-stick frying pan, a stainless steel sauté pan, a large pot, and a baking sheet. These four items cover 90% of vacation cooking.
• Utensils: Full set of cooking utensils (spatula, ladle, tongs, can opener, bottle opener, corkscrew, peeler, sharp knife set). Don't forget oven mitts.
• Dishes and glassware: Enough place settings for max occupancy + 2 extras. Durable, dishwasher-safe, plain white or simple pattern. Wine glasses, coffee mugs, and water glasses.
• Small appliances: Coffee maker (drip is fine, but a quality one), toaster, and microwave. Blender is a nice bonus. Skip the bread maker and waffle iron — they take up space and rarely get used.
• Pantry basics: Coffee, tea, sugar, salt, pepper, cooking oil, dish soap, sponges, paper towels, plastic wrap, aluminum foil, and trash bags. Replenished after every turnover.
• Kid-friendly extras (optional but appreciated): A high chair, a few plastic plates and cups, and basic kid utensils. Families notice and love this.

One critical detail: make sure everything works. Test every burner. Run the dishwasher. Check that the garbage disposal functions. Confirm the oven temperature is accurate. Nothing frustrates a guest more than discovering a broken appliance when they're trying to cook dinner.

Bathroom Standards

Bathrooms are where cleanliness standards are most scrutinized. A hair on the bathroom floor can tank an otherwise glowing review. Set up your bathrooms for easy cleaning and consistent quality.

• White towels only — they can be bleached, and guests associate white towels with cleanliness
• Quality shampoo, conditioner, and body wash in refillable pump dispensers — not tiny hotel bottles
• Extra toilet paper (at least 2 spare rolls per bathroom, stored visibly)
• Hair dryer (surprisingly often requested)
• Non-slip bath mat
• Full-length mirror somewhere in the home
• Trash can with lid in every bathroom
• Good lighting — guests need to see clearly for grooming

Professional Photography

We cannot overstate this: professional photography is the single most impactful investment you'll make in your listing. Not iPhone photos. Not "good enough" snapshots. Professional, staged, well-lit photography by someone who shoots real estate or hospitality.

1. 1Hire a photographer who specializes in real estate or vacation rentals — not weddings, not portraits. Budget $300–$600 for a thorough shoot.
2. 2Stage every room before the shoot. Clear counters, make beds perfectly, set the dining table, add fresh flowers or a fruit bowl, and ensure every light is working.
3. 3Shoot during the day with natural light. Open all curtains and blinds. Turn on warm interior lights to add depth.
4. 4Capture the exterior, the view, the neighborhood. Guests want to see what it feels like to be there — not just what the rooms look like.
5. 5Include lifestyle shots: a book on the patio with a coffee, the BBQ area set for dinner, the path to the beach. These create emotional connection.
6. 6Update photos annually or whenever you make significant improvements. Stale photos that don't match reality generate complaints.

The Final Walkthrough Checklist

Before your first guest arrives, do a complete walkthrough as if you were a guest arriving for the first time. Be honest and critical. Here's what to check:

• Front door: Does the smart lock work smoothly? Is the entry clean and well-lit?
• First impression: Walk in the front door. What do you see? Does it feel welcoming?
• Kitchen: Open every drawer and cabinet. Is everything clean, organized, and stocked?
• Bedrooms: Lie on every bed. Are the mattresses comfortable? Are there enough pillows? Do the blackout curtains actually block light?
• Bathrooms: Check for any signs of mold, mildew, or staining. Are towels fresh and properly folded?
• WiFi: Test the speed (use speedtest.net). Is it at least 50 Mbps? Is the password easy to find?
• Temperature: Does the heating and cooling system work properly in all rooms?
• Safety: Smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher — all present and functional?
• Guest guide: Is there clear information about WiFi, trash day, local restaurants, emergency contacts, and house rules?
• Outdoor space: Is the patio clean? Is the BBQ functional? Is outdoor furniture in good condition?

If anything on this list doesn't meet your standards as a guest, fix it before your first booking. Your first few reviews set the trajectory for your listing — starting strong is significantly easier than recovering from early negative feedback.