First Guest Gifts

Looking for ideas for first guest and if you did anything special. I feel as though I'd like to honor them in an "extra" way but wondered if it would be too much. They are a mother and daughter coming for an audition in the music department at the local college.
Feeling good about everything else and will bake apple crisp and chocolate chip cookies tomorrow!

I didn't give gifts, but I do have a hint. We have a guest book that we leave in the common room. After one year, I read the whole thing. We'd had people from all continents, most states and even the same town we are in.
It was so awesome to see how many people had visited and from how far away.
I do suggest you get a guest book. We are on our third summer and our third guest book.

TheBeachHouse said:

I didn't give gifts, but I do have a hint. We have a guest book that we leave in the common room. After one year, I read the whole thing. We'd had people from all continents, most states and even the same town we are in.
It was so awesome to see how many people had visited and from how far away.
I do suggest you get a guest book. We are on our third summer and our third guest book..

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I agree no gifts but the book I have also for them to comment on the BnB. . Best wishes.....

TheBeachHouse said:

I didn't give gifts, but I do have a hint. We have a guest book that we leave in the common room. After one year, I read the whole thing. We'd had people from all continents, most states and even the same town we are in.
It was so awesome to see how many people had visited and from how far away.
I do suggest you get a guest book. We are on our third summer and our third guest book..

Click to expand...

Thank you. That's a good idea and makes me feel better. Guess I'm thinking I'm not doing enough and needing to give away stuff like another recent thread talked about.

Mary at Bridgewater Inn and Cottage said:

TheBeachHouse said:

I didn't give gifts, but I do have a hint. We have a guest book that we leave in the common room. After one year, I read the whole thing. We'd had people from all continents, most states and even the same town we are in.
It was so awesome to see how many people had visited and from how far away.
I do suggest you get a guest book. We are on our third summer and our third guest book..

Click to expand...

I agree no gifts but the book I have also for them to comment on the BnB. . Best wishes.....
.

Click to expand...

Thank you. I am getting excited!

If you're already making the cookies you can put them in a little decorative bag (like you get at Michael's) with a ribbon and put them in the room.
It gives the look you're going for without making the guest feel odd.
And definitely get the guest book! We have one in every room and it helps the guest feel like they made the right choice when they see all the lovely comments. (Ok, not the first guests, but you'll see how fun it is down the line!)

I'll offer words of wisdom from my mom (not about guests but about husbands when I told her I was going to bring my new spouse coffee in bed) - don't start something today you don't want to do for the rest of your life.
If you go overboard for the first guests they may tell the world, then everyone will expect the same. Take it easy on yourself, excited as you are.
You can always up your game as you go, it's harder to back off down the road.

How about asking them if you can take their picture and do a little feature story on them on your site? Are you doing a blog? "The Rose of Sharon's first guest". That would make them feel special.

Nothing more than what you would do for everyone else. Every time I meet a guest I remember our first guests' advice, "Tell the guest your name, so they know who to address!"

And don't be afraid to plead newbie! Play the noob card unashamedly.
Our house was not in the best condition and anytime someone had an issue, we would answer with, YES!!! That faucet is on our list! We've only owned the house for two weeks/two months/one season!
Or, THANK YOU for letting us know! We just moved in and are starting repairs!
Or, I can tell you now, we will NEVER run out of coffee cream again! Lesson learned!!

TheBeachHouse said:

And don't be afraid to plead newbie! Play the noob card unashamedly.
Our house was not in the best condition and anytime someone had an issue, we would answer with, YES!!! That faucet is on our list! We've only owned the house for two weeks/two months/one season!
Or, THANK YOU for letting us know! We just moved in and are starting repairs!
Or, I can tell you now, we will NEVER run out of coffee cream again! Lesson learned!!.

Click to expand...

And just sayin'....those were not lies. We have since replaced all the faucets, all but one sink, toilets, floors, lights, furniture, shower heads..... And we now stock mini-moos so we will never be without cream.

TheBeachHouse said:

TheBeachHouse said:

And don't be afraid to plead newbie! Play the noob card unashamedly.
Our house was not in the best condition and anytime someone had an issue, we would answer with, YES!!! That faucet is on our list! We've only owned the house for two weeks/two months/one season!
Or, THANK YOU for letting us know! We just moved in and are starting repairs!
Or, I can tell you now, we will NEVER run out of coffee cream again! Lesson learned!!.

Click to expand...

And just sayin'....those were not lies. We have since replaced all the faucets, all but one sink, toilets, floors, lights, furniture, shower heads..... And we now stock mini-moos so we will never be without cream.
.

Click to expand...

It's good to know that everything doesn't have brand new and pristine the day you open your doors. I look around and see so many things that I'd like to have done before opening - but it just isn't realistic until some money starts coming in.

Aspiring Martha said:

TheBeachHouse said:

TheBeachHouse said:

And don't be afraid to plead newbie! Play the noob card unashamedly.
Our house was not in the best condition and anytime someone had an issue, we would answer with, YES!!! That faucet is on our list! We've only owned the house for two weeks/two months/one season!
Or, THANK YOU for letting us know! We just moved in and are starting repairs!
Or, I can tell you now, we will NEVER run out of coffee cream again! Lesson learned!!.

Click to expand...

And just sayin'....those were not lies. We have since replaced all the faucets, all but one sink, toilets, floors, lights, furniture, shower heads..... And we now stock mini-moos so we will never be without cream.
.

Click to expand...

It's good to know that everything doesn't have brand new and pristine the day you open your doors. I look around and see so many things that I'd like to have done before opening - but it just isn't realistic until some money starts coming in.
.

Click to expand...

I'm looking forward to some returning guests noticing the upgrades in the bathrooms. Took us two seasons to get to them. They look AWESOME!

TheBeachHouse said:

Aspiring Martha said:

TheBeachHouse said:

TheBeachHouse said:

And don't be afraid to plead newbie! Play the noob card unashamedly.
Our house was not in the best condition and anytime someone had an issue, we would answer with, YES!!! That faucet is on our list! We've only owned the house for two weeks/two months/one season!
Or, THANK YOU for letting us know! We just moved in and are starting repairs!
Or, I can tell you now, we will NEVER run out of coffee cream again! Lesson learned!!.

Click to expand...

And just sayin'....those were not lies. We have since replaced all the faucets, all but one sink, toilets, floors, lights, furniture, shower heads..... And we now stock mini-moos so we will never be without cream.
.

Click to expand...

It's good to know that everything doesn't have brand new and pristine the day you open your doors. I look around and see so many things that I'd like to have done before opening - but it just isn't realistic until some money starts coming in.
.

Click to expand...

I'm looking forward to some returning guests noticing the upgrades in the bathrooms. Took us two seasons to get to them. They look AWESOME!
.

Click to expand...

I was just looking at all of your pictures. What an amazing place you have!! Your bathrooms look beautiful - but I'm thinking your guests who stayed before the updates were perfectly delighted with your inn. Beautiful. Simply beautiful!

Aspiring Martha said:

TheBeachHouse said:

Aspiring Martha said:

TheBeachHouse said:

TheBeachHouse said:

And don't be afraid to plead newbie! Play the noob card unashamedly.
Our house was not in the best condition and anytime someone had an issue, we would answer with, YES!!! That faucet is on our list! We've only owned the house for two weeks/two months/one season!
Or, THANK YOU for letting us know! We just moved in and are starting repairs!
Or, I can tell you now, we will NEVER run out of coffee cream again! Lesson learned!!.

Click to expand...

And just sayin'....those were not lies. We have since replaced all the faucets, all but one sink, toilets, floors, lights, furniture, shower heads..... And we now stock mini-moos so we will never be without cream.
.

Click to expand...

It's good to know that everything doesn't have brand new and pristine the day you open your doors. I look around and see so many things that I'd like to have done before opening - but it just isn't realistic until some money starts coming in.
.

Click to expand...

I'm looking forward to some returning guests noticing the upgrades in the bathrooms. Took us two seasons to get to them. They look AWESOME!
.

Click to expand...

I was just looking at all of your pictures. What an amazing place you have!! Your bathrooms look beautiful - but I'm thinking your guests who stayed before the updates were perfectly delighted with your inn. Beautiful. Simply beautiful!
.

Click to expand...

Thank you. I just checked the website and the pictures posted are all "before" pictures. We have put in new sinks and sitting areas in most rooms since those pictures were taken.
I know DH has taken the pictures, but wasn't sure if he'd updated the site yet. Had to check first.

Aspiring Martha said:

TheBeachHouse said:

TheBeachHouse said:

And don't be afraid to plead newbie! Play the noob card unashamedly.
Our house was not in the best condition and anytime someone had an issue, we would answer with, YES!!! That faucet is on our list! We've only owned the house for two weeks/two months/one season!
Or, THANK YOU for letting us know! We just moved in and are starting repairs!
Or, I can tell you now, we will NEVER run out of coffee cream again! Lesson learned!!.

Click to expand...

And just sayin'....those were not lies. We have since replaced all the faucets, all but one sink, toilets, floors, lights, furniture, shower heads..... And we now stock mini-moos so we will never be without cream.
.

Click to expand...

It's good to know that everything doesn't have brand new and pristine the day you open your doors. I look around and see so many things that I'd like to have done before opening - but it just isn't realistic until some money starts coming in.
.

Click to expand...

Aspiring Martha said:

It's good to know that everything doesn't have brand new and pristine the day you open your doors. I look around and see so many things that I'd like to have done before opening - but it just isn't realistic until some money starts coming in.

Click to expand...

We waited a year before making changes to understand what guests wanted.

Aspiring Martha said:

TheBeachHouse said:

TheBeachHouse said:

And don't be afraid to plead newbie! Play the noob card unashamedly.
Our house was not in the best condition and anytime someone had an issue, we would answer with, YES!!! That faucet is on our list! We've only owned the house for two weeks/two months/one season!
Or, THANK YOU for letting us know! We just moved in and are starting repairs!
Or, I can tell you now, we will NEVER run out of coffee cream again! Lesson learned!!.

Click to expand...

And just sayin'....those were not lies. We have since replaced all the faucets, all but one sink, toilets, floors, lights, furniture, shower heads..... And we now stock mini-moos so we will never be without cream.
.

Click to expand...

It's good to know that everything doesn't have brand new and pristine the day you open your doors. I look around and see so many things that I'd like to have done before opening - but it just isn't realistic until some money starts coming in.
.

Click to expand...

The door on Rosi's Room looks like it has psoriasis - and I have left it that way. I tell my guests it is an old house and the doors have painted grain. IF I were to fix them up, no one would every know what colors or the effort it took to make that grain.
That is my story and I am sticking to it.

We've given repeat guests little gifts here and there but mostly a free upgrade which they totally appreciate (unless they are attached to a specific room which does happen). I've recently had so many people asking me if I did anything special for guests when they are celebrating during their weekend away. Almost all of my guests are. So for those who ask, I put a little note in like "Happy Birthday" or "Happy Anniversary" with their free truffles that I was putting in there anyway so they feel special but it hasn't cost me anything additional.