I like to joke that people should (or maybe shouldn’t) see how Yolanda and I spend the first hour at any rental home we get to. As soon as we’re in, we pick up all of the clutter and move things around, trying to make it our own as fast as possible. Nine times out of ten, we’ve chosen the house based on location, which means sometimes there is a compromise on the aesthetics. So to improve them, we will happily rearrange things, setting out the best barware, salvaging the best frying pan, and storing away the garish still-life painting hanging over the dining table, thoughtfully of course. (One time, we moved ninety percent of a cabin we rented for the summer in Connecticut into a crawlspace our hosts had — they were unexpectedly thrilled with the results and wanted to know when we would be back!)
Even more important than rearranging what’s already in your rental, however, is making sure you’ve brought everything else you need along with you. Especially in this current moment of people forgoing hotels for Airbnb and house rentals, I believe everyone needs to consider what makes a house a functional home for them before setting out on their trip. For me, it means at the very least packing my favorite coffee and cocktail shaker, but typically much more: I often show up with my favorite soap and shampoo, a pepper grinder, a set of chefs knives and even a sauté pan.
The main reason for all of this is simple. There's always an unease the first time you book a house you've never rented before. For me, knowing I’ll have my essentials from the beginning provides a sense of control and comfort as I’m tackling a new location, and often saves me some money, too. I hope the below list and stories help you draft your own.