With another holiday season upon us here in Harbor Country, including Sawyer, Lakeside, Union Pier, New Buffalo, Harbert, Grand Beach, Michiana and Three Oaks, many people will be descending upon the area to celebrate the holidays with their friends, family and loved ones. Whether you're a full-time resident that looks forward to hosting a holiday gathering every year or you visit a secondary Harbor Country home, it can oftentimes get a bit chaotic hosting guests! Here are four easy ways to prepare your home in Harbor Country for an influx of holiday guests:
1. Maintain the Outside. Your Harbor Country real estate may look beautiful on the inside, but what about its curb appeal? Just because it's winter doesn't mean that you should let exterior maintenance fall to the wayside! Whether or not you decorate the outside of your home for the holidays, be sure that walkways, driveways and patios are free of ice and snow. Take some time to shovel, de-ice and knock down any treacherous low-hanging icicles so guests can make their way into your home safely. Additionally, it's always a good idea to ensure that outside lights are working so guests can navigate to and from their cars after the sun goes down.
2. Child-Proof Your Home. Whether you host large gatherings with many loved ones or prefer to keep things simple and intimate, chances are that there may be a few kids in tow. Ensure that your home is safe for children of all ages by placing lit candles, sharp objects, cleaning solution, kitchen and bathroom chemicals and other potentially hazardous items in a locked area or high enough that they are out of reach. Ask parents to bring baby gates and child-proof cabinet locks to further ensure that any little ones are not at risk for injury.
3. Prepare Guest Areas. De-clutter, clean and prepare the rooms in your Harbor Country real estate that you know will be seeing a lot of foot traffic during your holiday gathering. Clean foyers and use a rug or welcome mat to keep mud, snow and other debris from being tracked throughout your home. Make sure bathrooms are sparkling, stocked with essentials such as toilet paper, hand soap and towels and that guests know which restroom(s) are available for them to use. You also may consider moving your coffee maker into the living or family room and creating a coffee station there, so guests don't crowd the kitchen before and after meals. This will also allow them plenty of space to make and/or wait for coffee.
4. Ready the Kitchen. Ensuring that the kitchen is ready for your gathering is imperative. Check that the stove, refrigerator, dishwasher, faucets, microwave and coffee makers are all in good working order. Be sure to stock up on amenities, such as paper towels, dish soap, napkins and glasses and dish ware for guests to use. As a longtime Harbor Country real estate agent, my personal philosophy is that it's always better to have some extra supplies than to run out and be short. Chances are, you'll use the extra basic kitchen essentials anyway! If you have time, clearing out old or expired items from the refrigerator is a great idea to make room for the array of leftovers that you will be sure to have.
Our team of experienced Prudential Rubloff real estate agents hope that you find these tips helpful and that all of our clients and readers enjoy a festive, warm holiday in your homes in Harbor Country. We look forward to working with you on selling or buying a Harbor Country home in the coming year.
Shoreline Property Advisors
@ Prudential Rubloff
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