Wooden guest book

So, I’m wanting to order a wooden stove top cover like this one and use it as our guest book for people to sign. I was going to order it from Etsy (cause I’m not crafty at all) and definitely want people to be able to write on it. Is there something I need to tell the seller? I’m assuming a coating goes on it and I’m thinking maybe it shouldn’t come with any poly on it until after it’s been written on. Is this correct? Is this making sense? Lol