<p>I have dark granite in my house and water marks are not an issue. You just wipe up any liquid until it’s dry. And wipe down the counter and “buff” dry with a paper towel.</p>
<p>I think any surface has its issues. But before we got the granite I’d heard so much about issues with staining being a problem, cleaning, sealing, etc. And have had NO problems at all.</p>
<p>Just my 2 bits. :)</p>
<p>^^^
Thanks for the dark granite info. </p>
<p>Ok…so far… *(I’m sure I’m missing stuff. )</p>
<p>Flooring…laminate, stone, or wood-look vinyl planks by Armstrong. Might use wood, but not in baths or kitchen. Need to really look at that wood-look stuff for real. Looks good on internet, may look tacky in real life.</p>
<p>Window coverings…plantation shutters and mini blinds.</p>
<p>Counter tops…granite or quartz for kitchen…maybe Corian or tile for bathrooms. Formica for laundry. ( I still don’t know the benefits of quartz over granite).</p>
<p>Gas or Electric for stove…thinking gas…I prefer to cook on gas. Then gas for water heater and gas for dryer.</p>
<p>HE washer and dryer & some HE detergent</p>
<p>Ceiling fans in all bedrooms, family room, and above dinette and under patio cover.</p>
<p>tub/shower area will be tiled to the top to lessen mildew issues. </p>
<p>Supplies…</p>
<p>TP
paper towels
windex
all purpose spray
toilet cleaners, brushes, and plungers
shower cleaners
vac for hard floors
swiffer
appropriate floor cleaner
indoor broom*
liquid hand soap for kitchen and bathrooms
new soaps for shower/tub</p>
<p>Furnishings… *sources…Costco, Sams, IKEA, good thrift store/Craigs list finds. * Mattresses will likely be from Sams or Costco.</p>
<p>Queen for master + headboard, dresser, bed tables, mirror, flat screen. *If room, a chair or desk</p>
<p>Queen for secondary + headboard, dresser, bed tables, mirror, flatscreen</p>
<p>Twin beds for secondary, dresser, bed table, *flatscreen and kids game system</p>
<p>(all flatscreens will be wall-mounted)</p>
<p>L shaped large sectional leather couch for living room</p>
<p>Some big floor pillows or the coffee table with have little seats underneath (seen this before)</p>
<p>recliner if needed and there’s space</p>
<p>large square coffee table with either glass top or a beveled glass piece placed on top.</p>
<p>Dinette table with some kind of protected finish. *Seating 4-6 *(will double as a game table)</p>
<p>4 counter height bar stools for kitchen counter bar.</p>
<p>small book shelf/game cabinet</p>
<p>Some pictures, etc for the walls. *Nothing expensive.</p>
<p>Kitchen stuff…</p>
<p>White dishes with 8 place-settings including 8 coffee mugs</p>
<p>White serving pieces</p>
<p>16 glasses *(maybe 8 tall and 8 juice or highball size)</p>
<p>8 wine glasses</p>
<p>Stainless flatware with at least 12 place-settings and the serving pieces</p>
<p>8 steak knives</p>
<p>2-4 good knives</p>
<p>mixing bowl set</p>
<p>Good coffee maker</p>
<p>Blender</p>
<p>mixer</p>
<p>toaster</p>
<p>crock pot</p>
<p>small rice cooker</p>
<p>george foreman grill</p>
<p>2 cutting boards that can go into the DW</p>
<p>can opener</p>
<p>bottle opener</p>
<p>colander</p>
<p>measuring cups</p>
<p>2 cup glass measure</p>
<p>4 cup measure</p>
<p>measuring spoons</p>
<p>veg peeler</p>
<p>cheese grater</p>
<p>salad bowl</p>
<p>wood spoons and silicone spoons/slotted spoons</p>
<p>spatulas</p>
<p>pancake turner</p>
<p>tongs</p>
<p>Some basic spices & S&P</p>
<p>teapot</p>
<p>pots and pans *- good quality, some non-stick</p>
<p>stock pot for pasta, etc.</p>
<p>large covered fry pan</p>
<p>cast iron pan</p>
<p>two-sided griddle…grill/flat</p>
<p>roasting pan*</p>
<p>9X13 pan</p>
<p>8x8 pan</p>
<p>cookie sheet</p>
<p>trivets and oven mitts</p>
<p>8 kitchen towels</p>
<p>dish scrubbers</p>
<p>bottle dish soap</p>
<p>DW tablets</p>
<p>some foil, baggies, plastic wrap, etc</p>
<p>some rubbermaid storage.</p>
<p>Linens…</p>
<p>At least 2 sets of linens per bed
2 sets of blankets per bed
at least 2 pillows per bed (4 for queens)
bedspreads
blanket throws
12 bath towels per bathroom
shower/bath rugs
washcloths
hand towels</p>
<p>Outdoor Misc…</p>
<p>Gas BBQ*</p>
<p>Patio furniture</p>
<p>Still trying to determine some slow growing/low maintenance plantings and trees. *Climate is hot/moderate with very occasional freezing temps (just a couple days a year).</p>
<p>hose</p>
<p>outdoor broom</p>
<p>Misc…</p>
<p>Guest book with maps, restaurant info, take-out info, local worship locations, shopping, attractions, golf courses, hospital info, etc.</p>
<p>Fire extinguishers</p>
<p>Yes, we do charge an additional cleaning fee–in addition to nightly rate.</p>
<p>mom2collegekids-great list</p>
<p>As for outside, we are near the beach so we also provide beach towels and 2 boogie boards. Be very careful with outdoor furniture–we purchased some furniture that has sunbrella cushions and while it is very comfortable I am concerned about it getting destroyed. It is next to a fire pit–(although we state no smoking) I am waiting for cigarette burns and sticky marshmallow remnants. In hindsight I would have gone with Adirondack style or the plastic stuff with cheaper cushions. </p>
<p>Surprisingly enough, we get a lot of questions about the quality of our BBQ. We just replaced it and I took a lot of time looking at what was available out there. Since it was not for us I originally was going to go a bit cheaper but they difference between $200-$400 BBQ quality-wise, it was well worth it to spend more for durability. We went with a Ducane propane unit and it is great!</p>
<p>Yes, we do charge an additional cleaning fee–in addition to nightly rate.</p>
<p>Can I ask how much? Does it vary by length of stay or number of guests?</p>
<p>I agree that a good BBQ is a must. Thankfully, there are so many good ones out there without crazy prices. I like the ones that have a side burner. I’d love to include an outdoor kltchen, but I’m not sure if that’s affordable with the build and all the “stuff”. </p>
<p>I like the Ducane BBQs, and I’ve also liked the ones that Sams Club has as well. Theirs have their name on it, but some other company probably makes them for them.</p>
<p>I am taking notes from your lists. We just took possession of our beach house, but are not planning to rent it. That said, we have a ton of family with lots of neices and nephews that are counting on spending weeks at a time with us. We have 5 bedrooms and chose to put king beds in three of them, a queen size in one and the final bedroom has two bunks beds (one with a pull out trundle bed). So we can sleep 13 people in “beds”. We have also purchased 2 twin aerobeds and a folding cot. We have a family room, in addition to the living room. The family room can sleep 3 people (a queen AND a twin pull out sofa). Our floors are hardwood, with about 3 or 4 layers of finish. </p>
<p>I am now mulling over the suggestion here of getting a glass top for all our bedroom dressers and nightstands. Isn’t there a risk of it breaking/cracking? Also, glass gets fingerprints so I would have to weigh the risk of windex damage to the wood vs. wood scratches. </p>
<p>About the BBQ, do you guys really use the side burner? We have an outdoor kitchen at our main home with a 6 burner BBQ and side burner. We have NEVER actually used the side burner. Just wondering. We are looking at Weber’s. Might have to start a new BBQ thread! </p>
<p>We purchased pillows and white towels at Costco. They have the Martex white hand towels and washclothes in big bulk packs and they wash wonderfully. We got the white Charisma bath towels there too. Inexpensive and great quality.
You should have seen everyone staring at us when we bought 26 pillows! They kept falling off the flatbed as we tried to wheel them to the car! We bought an assortment of 2 pks. (Claritin pillows, Charisma pillow and something called Dreamscape) and we decided if we need any more, Charisma pillows won the comfort test. </p>
<p>Oh OP, don’t forget to call the credit card company and warn them before you do the big shops so you don’t trip any flags that shut down your cards!</p>
<p>We grill all the time, and have used the side burner …twice? in seven years. It is handy as a place to put things on for staging, but as a burner, we don’t really use it.</p>
<p>You might want to look into a thermostat that can be controlled remotely. I read an article about [Nest</a> | The Learning Thermostat | Nest inside & out](<a href=“http://www.nest.com/inside-and-out/#connected]Nest”>http://www.nest.com/inside-and-out/#connected) a while back.</p>
<p>Also, locks that can be controlled remotely:
[Remote</a> Management](<a href=“http://link.schlage.com/remote_management/Pages/RemoteManagement.aspx]Remote”>http://link.schlage.com/remote_management/Pages/RemoteManagement.aspx)</p>
<p>*I am now mulling over the suggestion here of getting a glass top for all our bedroom dressers and nightstands. Isn’t there a risk of it breaking/cracking? Also, glass gets fingerprints so I would have to weigh the risk of windex damage to the wood vs. wood scratches. *</p>
<p>If you’re worried that the Windex spray will seep beneath the glass then you have two options… one…spray the paper towel and then wipe. two…use the Windex wipes that come in a canister.</p>
<p>I’ve never had the glass break and I have glass on a few things. If you’re worried about a small square of glass easily being knocked off a small end table, then I think there are these adhesive dots that are placed on the underside of the glass and the dots act like grippers to prevent the glass from easily slipping/sliding. The adhesive is only on the side that adheres to the glass. the other side of the dot, the part that is contact with the wood, is rubber.</p>
<p>Oh OP, don’t forget to call the credit card company and warn them before you do the big shops so you don’t trip any flags that shut down your cards!</p>
<p>lol…yes, I can see that happening, while having a Costco flatbed full of stuff and having to call and say, “yes, I really am buying all this stuff. Some crazy person with a linen fetish doesn’t have my AmEx.”</p>
<p>*You might want to look into a thermostat that can be controlled remotely. I read an article about Nest | The Learning Thermostat | Nest inside & out a while back.</p>
<p>Also, locks that can be controlled remotely:
Remote Management
*</p>
<p>I like this…</p>
<p>hmm…wonder if I can get that remote thermostat installed at younger son’s college apt. They’ve gotten some surcharges for extensive heat/AC usage. I’d like to shut some of that down. :)</p>
<p>We grill all the time, and have used the side burner …twice? in</p>
<p>Really? People aren’t using it? Is it because they worry that their kitchen pan will get ruined? I think they’d be great for keeping a pot of Bush’s Grilling Beans or similar warm. (I love those grilling beans.)</p>
<p>The “advantage” of quartz over granite is that quartz is more uniform in color/pattern and you don’t have to seal quartz. Other than that, they are the same. I would not use Corian in the bathrooms either–thing curling iron/flat iron burns in the countertops.</p>
<p>I would rethink the gas stove as well. There is just more of a chance of someone being careless in the kitchen and burning down your place–think vacation, extra liquor consumed, etc.</p>
<p>As for stuff showing up on the countertops, I think the trick is not so much the color but to not get a solid color of anything. Make sure there is some kind of a pattern in the countertop and it will hide most everything.</p>
<p>I would put a king sized bed in the master. I will also again suggest 3 twins in one room or at least a folding cot or trundle for a 3rd bed in there. Like I said earlier, we are looking for a vacation rental and would pass by your place because of only having room for 2 kids in that one room–we have 3. We also won’t count any extra sleeping room in the living room because the kids sleep later than we do and we don’t want to have to stay in our bedroom all morning. If there is a second living area, say downstairs, that has a sectional or sofa bed set up that would be fine, but not in the main living area. The sectional is great for seating though.</p>
<p>My nieces and nephews are super excited about our bunk bed room. We put really good mattresses on the lower bunks in the event that adults need to take that room. </p>
<p>You could also just do two twins, one with a pop up trundle. </p>
<p>I am hoping that we don’t have to use our family room for overflow sleeping quarters too often. I think that is going to be our most popular room (since the games will be there).</p>
<p>same. I would not use Corian in the bathrooms either–thing curling iron/flat iron burns in the countertops.</p>
<p>oh yes…forgot about that. I guess it must be tile or granite. Formica would have the same melting issue.</p>
<p>I would do bunk beds if it weren’t a rental. Too afraid a little one would climb up and fall. </p>
<p>Ugh about the gas cooktop…I want one…whine, whine, whine…lol. But, maybe the smooth top electric ones are easier to clean.</p>
<p>If you haven’t already purchased your beds, you might consider XL twins in the twin room. We recently did this in our new beach condo (which, at least for the time being, we are not going to rent out). Figured they would be more comfortable for adults and especially for the tall people in the family. The XL linens are not really too hard to find. </p>
<p>Looks like a good list, I will check it over to make sure we have everything!</p>
<p>I will put Twin XL on my list. </p>
<p>I know it’s not hard to find Twin XL bedding, just don’t know how hard it is to find TwinXL mattresses. </p>
<p>Forgot to add to my list…</p>
<p>Tray
Pitcher</p>
<p>I’m going to have to find out how it works if I buy stuff in 2012, and the house isn’t ready until 2013. Don’t know how that will work out tax wise.</p>
<p>Mom2collegekids:</p>
<p>Yes, we do charge an additional cleaning fee–in addition to nightly rate.</p>
<p>Can I ask how much? Does it vary by length of stay or number of guests?</p>
<p>Our standard charge is $200, that is a bit less than what we are charged by our maid service for a before and after cleaning. We do not charge by number of guests but length of stay will be a factor if we have guests who stay for more than two weeks, although we haven’t had any as of yet. We will charge a mandatory cleaning every two weeks…this is in our contract. We also offer a cleaning service if requested during the stay at what ever rate we are actually charged.</p>
<p>So, do any of you vacation home owner people have a nice beachfront in Hawaii? :D.</p>
<p>SteveMA: check out Kona Sunset Vacation Rentals in Hawaii on the Big Island. They have some very reasonably priced rentals that are right on the beach.</p>
<p>Mom2CollegeKids – two other thoughts:<br>