Is your home ready for the Holidays?

Is Your Home Ready for the Holidays? Christmas is right around the corner and that means it’s a countdown until the guests arrive. So much to do, so little time! Dealing with the pressure of knowing that people are coming for dinner in a matter of days is similar to the feeling you get when you are just about ready to put your home on the market for sale. Where do you start? It is time to clean, finish the minor house repairs, or stage for the holidays?

When tackling the cleaning on your list… is the best use of your time to grab the mop and bucket or simply pick up the phone and call someone else to do it for you. There are many great and highly reputable cleaning companies in town, and if you need a Ritz Carlton clean at a Wal-Mart price, another option is for you to call your Realtor. No, we don’t clean houses, but with all the sales we do, clients moving out; not having any time to make the home ready for the new buyer, we always have a good house cleaner on call in a pinch who knows how to clean from top to bottom at different price ranges.  The key to a good cleaning for the best price is to make sure you have supplies ready and that the home is picked up and free of toys, countertop clutter, and pets that can prevent access to the entire home.  I received a call once from a service provider that told me “Raylene, the rest of the home is fine, but we couldn’t go into the master bedroom closet, because there is a large live boa constrictor hanging from the ceiling.”

When getting the home ready for visitors, it’s almost like “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie” – first be sure to remember to clean where it will be most noticeable to guests: ceiling fans and return air vents are the areas most commonly overlooked. And if you are cleaning that return air vent, might as well change the air filter while you are at it. If you are one of those folks who dust and dust yet seem to be getting nowhere, an item to add to the Honey Do list before the guests arrive is to buy a tube of clear caulk, climb in the attic, and seal your return air vent on both sides. Often, little bits of insulation dust can be brought into the home from the attic. Sealing the return air vent on both sides will eliminate the problem and result in more free time between dustings. Just remember to wait for the caulk to dry before placing the air filter back in place! When you are in the attic, PLEASE watch your step! “Yes, Raylene…um this is the Heating and A/C Company. We completed the repair you requested on the furnace for the closing this afternoon and the return air duct is all sealed up. Unfortunately, our guy fell through the ceiling on his way out.”

When the home is ready, it’s time for the fun part! Shopping and staging for the holidays! Guests love walking into a home and getting the nice, warm fuzzy feeling of Holiday Spirit. A good starting place is to find a holiday scent you like and be consistent throughout the home. Evergreen and Peppermint are popular, as long as they are not overwhelming. My mother always told me “the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach,” and I don’t think you can go wrong with the scent of pumpkin spice, sugar cookie, or gingerbread. The key is to not mix scents and stay away from smells that are fruity or overpowering. Scents similar to fresh, holiday cooking also complement the holiday, and guests might even think the great smells came from your kitchen!

Many of the stores in Bryan-College Station are great at providing holiday accent pieces for home decor.  Always check the paper for the latest deals of the day.  The easiest path to Holiday decorating is to take what you have and replace pieces with holiday – take out the cotton stalks in your front entry vase and replace them with holly branches, the dining room table runner and centerpiece with a holiday runner and centerpiece, the wreath over your kitchen with a holiday-inspired creation (typically on sale at Hobby Lobby for 50% off!)

Just remember, the point of theholiday season is to enjoy the time you have with your close friends and family. This can easily be accomplished, no matter what state your home is.