First night nerves

[brightmike]

So we have our first real booking soon. The previous bookings have been friends of family or family of friends which has given some good feedback.

It sounds mad but I don't think I will sleep the whole weekend until they have gone and I have counted the teaspoons or more importantly checked Tripadvisor!

I guess that feeling soon goes? Do you always remember your first time?

[kevsboredagain]

Don't worry, it will become slightly less stressful in time. In my first year I knew all my bookings in my head and always knew when people were due to arrive. Now I need Excel.

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

[kg1]

Good Luck - our firsts were a Japanese family, whose English was not great - boy was I anxious - can they understand the boiler, washing machine etc.

All was fine & we got a lovely Xmas card from them that year.

[barbersdrove]

Oh yes! I thought I had prepared but things happened. However, without those things i wouldn't have learnt and been even more ready for the next lot. Things still happen 8 yrs later and I'm still learning and adapting.

Happening 1. I had made up the double bed for the couple but they wanted to use the sofa bed too as one was a heavy snorer. I hadn't put the linen for that in there. So that taught me not to make assumptions about peoples sleeping habits.

Happening 2. the washing machine leaked and flooded the kitchen. We were out and not contactable. That taught me to always have someone on hand even if we were going to be out who could get in and deal with an emergency like this.

I'm sure it will be fine but my message is don't despair if not. You are not perfect and can't foresee everything. It's how you handle things that matters. Those guests have returned several times now.

[SandyBeaches]

Good luck and you're not alone. I didn't sleep at all the weekend our first guests arrived, and we were away ourselves at the time which wasn't a very bright idea!

Everything turned out fine and the lady very kindly rang me with some suggestions as to extra things we could provide, as they had a holiday home themselves so she understood completely that feedback is a good thing.

As we don't have children ourselves I hadn't considered that it would be useful to provide plastic plates/beakers/cutlery and she pointed this out so I was very grateful.

[Casscat]

I still get anxious about guests arriving and can't relax until I get the email which says "we are here safe and sound and we LOVE it!" I don't ask them to email me, but there hasn't been one single visitor so far that hasn't and I really appreciate them taking the time. Your booking will go like clockwork I am sure

[Normandie]

I guess that feeling soon goes? Do you always remember your first time?

I have the first time feeling with the first booking every year - which hasn't been helped by the first booking of the year for the past 3 years having something go wrong - either the nightmare I had 3 years ago when OH was in hospital with a worrying post-op staph infection, or the complete breakdown of the heating system the following year... and something happened last year though I can't now remember what.

Good luck for next week, it'll (probably!) be absolutely fine... and once they're in and settled, you'll wonder why you were worried.

[Normandie]

I guess that feeling soon goes? Do you always remember your first time?

I have the first time feeling with the first booking every year - which hasn't been helped by the first booking of the year for the past 3 years having something go wrong - either the nightmare I had 3 years ago when OH was in hospital with a worrying post-op staph infection, or the complete breakdown of the heating system the following year... and something happened last year though I can't now remember what.

Good luck for next week, it'll (probably!) be absolutely fine... and once they're in and settled, you'll wonder why you were worried.

[CarolineH]

I guess that feeling soon goes? Do you always remember your first time?

I have the first time feeling with the first booking every year -

+1 Normandie

In fact with two weeks to go before my first "real" guests, I'm already starting to get a wobbly tummy feeling and this is my 13th season!

I guess it's a good sign though, it means that I'm not getting complacent and I still care.

All will be fine and there is nothing more satisfying that supplying someone with the base to have a good holiday!

[Bunny]

I'll never forget my first booking. It was a disaster and it nearly put me off altogether. I'm still here 9 years later, but it was more about them rather than me or my cottage. I particularly remember the women put the fear of god up me. As I was showing her around she suddenly asked "can I smoke in here?". "I'm really sorry but it is strictly non smoking", I said. "Good, I just wanted to make sure you enforce it as I don't wish to breathe in other people's filthy air" she said. She winged about everything and didn't stay for the full duration and boy was I glad to see the back of them. I don't want to make you worry more; the chances are it will go fine. What I'm trying to say is you will always get the occasional problem and they are the ones you remember but you just have to pick yourself up and remember that the vast majority of bookings go absolutely fine. You learn from every single problem and you can then put processes in place to make sure that the same thing can't happen again. Good luck. When you get that thank you and you know that your guests have had a good time it's very satisfying. After all, we are creating memories.

[Beachcondo]

It's always a buzz with the first bookings of the season!

I usually try and contact them midways to hear if they have anything that needs rectifying. That way I get an idea if I want to pursue a review with them or not.

Don't be disappointed if they don't leave a review on TripAdvisor after their stay. I'm happy if I get 1 out of 10 to write a review.
But as it's your first guests, it might be a bit easier to nudge them into writing.

[linda que linda]

Our VR is 2.5 km to the beach from town on a dirt road and I never rest until I hear the guests have arrived safely. Even if I've arranged for our caretaker to meet them & escort them to the property, I worry that their cell phone won't work or they won't find the meeting place.

One never stops fretting in this business! Good luck, I'm sure all will turn out fine.

[brightmike]

Thanks for all the encouragement! I never want to be complacent and have enjoyed the process so far so I'm looking forward to this final stage.

[Astorchamonix]

Our firsts guests broke our new kettle and didn't check out (just went off skiing for the day!) with us due more guests in that day! Since then we have had at least 15 more guests without a single problem so the nightmare was not sustained!
As stated previously, have a excel spreadsheet with all guests and enquires on as it's easy to get lost in a barrage of emails. Good luck and enjoy it!