I opened five months ago. One thing you will want to do is to have a guest book. I welcome each and every guest with a warm greeting indicating that I am excited to have them here and some things about the area. I also put pertinent information on it such as where to find my notebook that has house rules, emergency contacts, my phone number for texting as well as my husbands, and extra linens, toiletries, etc. I have a plate of fresh baked cookies there for them. When they leave I have a "thank you card" for them and a baggie of about four cookies to go. My card thanks them for staying with me, how important reviews are for both them and me, and an invitation to return.
When Teri was my first booking I sent her a message on the site telling her how excited I was to have her as my first guest. When she arrived I did just what I did above, and then took the time to get to know here when she reached out to us. She spent nearly five hours on our side of the BnB that night, and when she left she knew how important that visit was just by opening ourself to her. You message is fine, but going that extra mile will make all the difference. I just use the Composition Books from Walmart as guest books. Plenty of pages in them and inexpensive to get more. You will need them....:-).
Glenna and Dan