After Thanksgiving we are heading to Florida on home exchange. There is a lot to do before our swap partners arrive! Making your home ready and welcoming for home exchangers is an important part of the hospitality we extend to our guests.
THINGS TO DO
Take a look in that task jar. Let's see, "Fix basement step." Is that because it creaks, or because it's missing? Little nuisances you've been meaning to deal with are one thing. But hazardous conditions need to be addressed before you turn over the keys. It's not good hospitality to help someone break a leg.
Not organized enough to have a list of home repair jobs? Make one. Use a dispassionate eye. Folks I knew were interested in exchanging their large two-bedroom in a prime Greenwich Village location. The 24-hour doorman enhanced the appeal of their offer. The gray smudges marring walls that had not been painted in over a decade did not.
LAST MINUTE EMERGENCIES
Stuff happens. Just before leaving for a swap I once managed to slip in the tub for the first (and so far, the last) time, taking the shower rod and curtain with me. A quick trip to the hardware store had me back in business with a pressure rod and a fresh new shower curtain. It is best to have a time buffer in place so you can attend to any issues that arise the day the swappers arrive. Failing that, alert a friend or neighbor with keys that you may need assistance attending to a last-minute errand, letting exchangers in who can't figure out your keys, or express-mailing you something you forgot to pack.
YOUR TO DO LISTS
Besides your home repair and freshening tasks, there is another sort of to-do list that every home exchanger needs. We'll set ours up next time.
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