The holiday season is eventful. You’ve got guests to welcome, trees to trim, cakes to bake, and so much more. That said, the holidays can be a stressful season, but with proper planning, you can experience some well-deserved downtime without any worries.
Even though there’s a long way to go until the holidays, it’s never too early to start getting your vacation home ready for the festive season. Here are our pro tips to prepare your home for the holidays:
#1 Optimize Living Spaces
If you’re planning on having friends and family over for the holidays, be sure that there’s room for everyone. You’ll likely be spending your evenings catching up and enjoying each other’s company, so be sure to spruce up your living spaces. Rearrange furniture so that your guests can converse comfortably. Replace your current dining set if it’s too small.
If interior design isn’t your forte, you can always ask a property management company to spruce up your space for you.
#2 Declutter Your Vacation Home
Before guests arrive, be sure to declutter everywhere, especially living spaces such as the kitchen and living room. Store unnecessary items in your storage shed, or if you don’t have one, simply store it out of sight. If you have an attic or basement, bag up your belongings and stash them there throughout the holidays.
The last thing you want is for your nieces and nephews to find things that they shouldn’t find, or for your in-laws to learn about your new “weird” hobby.
Don’t have time to declutter? A property manager can do it for you.
#3 Enhance the Entryway
Want to make a good first impression? Enhance your home’s foyer — after all, it is the first thing that your friends and family will see.
There’s a good chance that your guests will arrive together, so make sure to make space in your entryway. Clear out clutter such as shoes and coats, and add a bench where your guests can take off their boots. Don’t forget to place a mat by the main door to keep your floors sparkly clean.
#4 Refresh the Guest Rooms
Does your guest room look bare and bleak? Don’t worry — getting your guest room to look like it belongs in a five-star resort is easy. Here’s what you should do:
- Replace the mattress
- Put clean white sheets on the bed
- Install an in-room TV (with cable, of course!)
- Add scented candles
- Hang bright artwork
#5 Clean the Home
Cleaning is the hardest part of preparing your home for the holidays. If you’re hosting a holiday party, you’ll want your home to be spotless from top to bottom. Unfortunately, cleaning can be a challenge, considering the list of things you need to take care of before Christmas.
Cleaning is also time-consuming. You need to scrub the tub, brush the blinds, wash the windows, and more. To take the stress out of this chore, consider hiring a property management company to clean your home for you. That way, you can focus on other tasks.
#6 Give the Fridge and Oven a Deep Clean
It’s the festive season — of course there’ll be a feast. So, don’t forget to give your fridge and oven a deep clean. If you have leftovers from last week, consider throwing them out or consuming them before the Christmas cooking starts. This ensures that you have enough space to store your festive food.
The holidays can be hard on your oven. To make sure it survives the holiday season, clean its top burner thoroughly. Now isn’t the time to use your oven’s self-cleaning feature, as this can actually do more harm than good. The last thing you want is for your oven to break down before the big day.
#7 Child-Proof the Home
Even if you don’t have children, you should consider child-proofing your home. There’s a good chance that your guests will bring their children with them. Here’s what you can do to make your home child-proof:
- Cover electrical outlets
- Move or secure lamps, vases, etc.
- Install safety gates on stairs
- Create a designated “play” area
Be aware of what children can reach. For example, you shouldn’t place a scented candle on a coffee table at the risk of a house fire. Holiday decor should also be safe for children. For instance, you could use LED lights as they are cool to touch. Children can be curious, so it’s better to be safe than sorry!
#8 Clean the Carpets
Carpets make your luxury home look more classy. However, what’s not so classy about them is that they collect a lot of dirt and dust. If it’s been a while since you’ve had your carpets professionally cleaned, now is the time to do so. Even if you have a vacuum, you probably won’t be able to clean your carpets perfectly — especially if they’re stained.
You should also enlist the services of a professional carpet cleaner after the holidays. Regular maintenance is essential if you want to protect your property’s value.
#9 Tune Up the Furnace
The worst thing that could happen is your furnace breaking down in the middle of Christmas dinner. That’s why you should schedule a furnace tune-up at least once a year. Regular furnace servicing is the key to avoiding breakdowns. Plus, it can potentially prolong the life of your furnace.
#10 Check Your Carbon Monoxide Detector
The holiday season is the perfect setting for carbon monoxide poisoning — the oven is working overtime, the fireplace is burning fervently, and so on. If you haven’t already installed a carbon monoxide detector, it’s time that you do. If you already have a carbon monoxide detector, don’t forget to change its batteries.
The Bottom Line
The holiday season doesn’t have to be stressful. By following these tips, you can experience the holidays the way they’re meant to be experienced.
And remember, if you’re having a hard time getting your home ready for the holidays, you can always count on Luxury Property Care. Our full-service property management company offers property preservation for South Florida homes. That includes making sure that your home is ready for the holidays.
Call us today at (561) 944 – 2992 or complete our contact form to learn more. It’s never too early to start getting ready for the holidays!
