Compass Greater NY, LLC
Ann Marie Damashek, GRI, CBR, SRES, Compass Greater NY, LLCPhone: (917) 623-0624
Email: [email protected]

Essentials for Hosting Guests in Your Home

by Ann Marie Damashek, GRI, CBR, SRES 05/31/2020

Image by 영훈 박 from Pixabay

One of the great benefits of having a home of your own is being able to host friends and family. If it’s your first time living in a house that’s big enough for more than just you, you’ll want to make sure you plan out the best way to keep people comfortable before they actually arrive. There are comfort items you can wait to stock up on closer to when folks are actually staying with you, but there are other aspects of hosting that you’ll want to determine in advance. 

Sleeping space. 

You may be fortunate enough to have an extra bedroom in your home that can simply be a guestroom. If so, great! When furnishing your guest room, you’ll want to design it to have the aesthetics you like, but also functionality for as many hosting situations as possible. When selecting furniture search for something versatile. A queen bed with a pull-out trundle is ideal. This bed allows you to host up to three people in the same room. If there isn’t much space in the room, try a bed with pull-out drawers where you can store extra linens and blankets, or where your guests can store their belongings.

If you don’t have a guest room, think about ways you can make other rooms in your home useful for guests. If you have a home office, you might be able to introduce a couch that doubles as a futon. You can find great daybeds, often with trundle options, that will work as a nice nap space on a regular basis, but that can serve guests when needed. If you’re using your living room or den as a sleeping space for visitors, invest in a durable sofa bed. You may also consider adding fold-out cots or rollup foam mattresses that are easy to store in closets. If you have kids that frequently have friends or cousins over have a couple extra sleeping bags handy so you can make additional sleeping space in your kid’s rooms. 

Linens and toiletries. 

Second to comfortable sleeping areas, you will want to have plenty of linens and extra toiletries handy for your guests. Have enough towels and bedding on hand for at least the number of people you may commonly have over. When friends and family come to stay, at least one person always forgets some of the basics. A great host will have extra toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant (go for travel size!) and soaps available to help someone out in a pinch. 

Hosting is so much fun, but being unprepared can add unwanted stress when you’re trying to enjoy time with those you love. Take a few steps to prepare for your guests in advance, so all you have to do when the time comes is worry about food and fun!

About the Author
Author

Ann Marie Damashek, GRI, CBR, SRES

Ann Marie Damashek has always been a natural at helping people prepare their homes for sale. She started out with a successful business selling goods for people on eBay. "Nine times out of ten they were hiring me because they were down-sizing,” Ann Marie says. "So I decided to get my license. I said, ‘Might as well sell their house too.’” The transition was a smooth one and for nine years she’s had a thriving full-time real estate business that allows her to marry her entrepreneurial spirit with her passion for helping others. With an office in Larchmont, New York, she serves all of Lower Westchester County, with her primary market in the Sound Shore region. The majority of her business is "sphere of influence” with former clients referring her to friends and family. A gifted communicator, Ann Marie quickly builds trust and rapport with her clients by being both thoughtful and responsive; she understands that during the purchase or sale of a home, a quick response time is crucial. "I am very accessible,” Ann Marie says. "I always make time for my clients. They can call me, text me, email me up until 10 o’clock at night and I will respond. I’m available on weekends. I get back to people very promptly. I’m very customer service-oriented.” Her clients appreciate her professionalism, passion and enthusiasm and as a result her repeat and referral rate continues to grow each year. While selling real estate is serious business, Ann Marie knows that at times humor and a moment of levity can be a relief to clients. While she has a laidback and easygoing personality, she can be assertive when needed on her clients’ behalf. She loves being of service to them, and the continually changing nature of the work keeps her engaged and fulfilled. "It’s never boring,” Ann Marie enthuses. "Every day is different. That’s probably what I like most about it. But I also enjoy helping people sell or buy and educating them about the process. I love helping them achieve their goals.” This ethic of service has resulted in well-deserved recognition. Ann Marie has received the Westchester Magazine Five Star Real Estate Agent Rating four years running, in 2015 and 2016 she was the #1 agent in her office, and she’s a Zillow 5-Star Premier Agent. To keep in touch with former clients, Ann Marie sends cards to mark special occasions or reaches out via email. To market her listings, Ann Marie uses Multiple Listing Services (MLS), as well as Listingbook.com, a service that allows both agents and their clients access to MLS data. She also uses a Facebook business page and ads to boost new listings or promote upcoming open houses. "That drives a tremendous amount of traffic,” Ann Marie says. She also uses the most popular real estate websites such as Zillow and Trulia. A strong believer in giving back, Ann Marie sits on the Board of Trustees of her church and is involved in a variety of social justice projects. She’s affiliated with Furniture Sharehouse, a furniture bank for Westchester County, which collects and distributes gently used furniture free of charge to those in need. "I love it on so many levels because as a realtor, it’s helps my sellers downsize through charitable donations. I like the environmental aspect of it as well. And it helps people who truly need things.” She’s also involved in Impact 100, a women’s philanthropic giving organization. In her free time, Ann Marie enjoys gardening, traveling, and spending time with family and friends. For the future, Ann Marie wants to continue expanding her business and developing her brand, and she someday hopes to grow a strong team. But her main goal is to stay in the real estate business, helping her clients to achieve their dreams.