Your Stress-Free Holiday Checklist For Brooklyn Home Owners

Holiday checklist for Brooklyn home owners

Brooklyn Home Owners can enjoy the holidays by following this stress-free checklist. We have officially entered the preparation season, and there is much to do. Checklists are a great way to ensure you don’t forget something important. I use checklists to keep me on track regularly. 

Time Off

Start your holiday planning by deciding on your time off. Block it off your calendar to ensure work or obligations do not interfere. Consider your traditions as you determine the days you want to be free.

Prepare Early

I’m sure you have found the holidays sneaking up on you once or twice in the past. Brooklyn home owners should begin to prepare as early as possible. Start making your list and checking it twice now! Put together a timeline to accomplish all your goals. We overestimate the time we have to get things done. Avoid the last-minute scramble with early preparation.

Holiday Cards

Receiving a greeting card is a good feeling. Knowing that the sender took their time and included you on their list is always heartwarming. Unfortunately, this task has fallen off many “To-Do” lists over the years. If you regularly send cards or want to start sending holiday cards, do it early. The mail service has been slower since the pandemic. If the thought of writing out all those envelopes and getting to the post office for stamps has you procrastinating, you may want to try an online service like Postable. Unlike other greeting card senders, their service has no membership fee.

Clean Before Decorating

Now is a great time to do a thorough cleaning. You will pack many of your non-seasonal decorative items away to make room for that seasonal decor. Getting the major cleaning done first is easier as you are removing the non-seasonal stuff. And once this major cleaning is complete, you will only have to do a minor tidy-up before guests arrive. 

Declutter

While you are cleaning, declutter too. As you deep clean each room, collect the items that you don’t use, need repair, or no longer like. Take them straight to a donation center or repair shop. Everything you keep should have a home. If it doesn’t have a home, now is the perfect time to figure out the most logical, convenient place to store an item. Not only will your home be organized, but you can also make room for guests if you expect them.

Focus on the Entry

Pay particular attention to how your guests will enter your home. Make sure sidewalks and driveways are clear of debris, snow, and ice. Stock up on some ice melter to prepare you for inclement weather. If you are decorating outside, ensure the porch is welcoming and decorations do not restrict the passage through the front door. Inside you will want to also focus on a welcoming atmosphere along with some practical items. For example, where will coats be stored as people enter your home? Is there a place for wet or dirty shoes? Again, make sure any decorations are not restricting the area to provide space for your guests to take on and off jackets and shoes.

Decorating

Whether you go all out or tend to be a minimalist, plan when you want to decorate your home. If your calendar is beginning to fill for December, you should schedule time now for decorating. You should also pre-plan when you are taking down your decorations. 

Delegate or Hire Help

There is so much to do to prepare. Spending a few extra dollars to hire help may be a good investment in yourself for the holidays. Do you have some minor repairs a handyman can tackle for you? Could someone else handle the cleaning? Can you find someone else to decorate the outdoor areas? Hiring help is one of many ways to get the work done. You can delegate chores to other household members. Even children can help by doing chores like watering the tree, decluttering their toys to donate to needy children, and hanging up cards as they arrive. Go through your list of to-dos to see what someone else can help you complete.

Be Safe with Electric

Be sure not to overload circuits. Timers are a good idea to regulate electricity usage for your holiday decorations. Extension cords can be a hazard. Do not use indoor extension cords for outside.

Set a Budget

Spending too much money during the holidays on gifts, food, and entertainment isn’t unusual. Carefully set a budget before you start spending. Some people find the envelope system helpful. You put the amount of cash in an envelope you are willing to pay for a particular category, like gifts, food, entertaining the kids, etc. This Dave Ramsey article explains how to set up and use the envelope system for budgeting. You can adapt the principles for your holiday spending.

Shop Early

Even if our supply chain were back to normal, getting your shopping done early is an excellent way to reduce stress levels. Not only does it feel good to have your shopping done, but it also gives you plenty of time to get things wrapped. Of course, there is always that guy who claims he loves shopping on Christmas Eve! Is it genuinely exhilarating for him, or is he just procrastinating? Don’t forget to buy a few emergency gifts to have on hand if you receive an unexpected gift from someone.

Prepare Your Guest Room

A house full of friends and family is more fun during the holidays. Prepare a space for your guests where they can have some privacy. A guest bedroom decorated with a cozy feel will be where they can retreat if they need some alone time. Be sure there are enough linens and some storage available, and add extras such as water bottles and toiletries to give your room a hotel-like feel.

Stock Your Pantry

Prepare your meal plans with a few extra meals just in case you have unexpected guests. Non-perishable items for breakfast, lunch, and dinner are good to keep on hand for a quick meal or unexpected visitor. A few easy-to-prepare snacks would also be a good idea.

Check Your Essentials

If you haven’t prepared your home for winter, now is the time to pay attention to a few items. 

This previous blog post will help you prepare for the winter ahead.

Check Travel Plans

We have seen quite a travel disruption lately. As a result, you need to double (or triple) check your travel plans. In addition, it would be wise to create a Plan B if your plans are interrupted.

Be In The Moment

It is often difficult to enjoy the moment you are experiencing when you have so many tasks on your list. However, pre-planning will allow you to relax and enjoy your family and friends this holiday season. 

Contact Your Realtor®

As your Realtor®, I am probably not on your holiday preparation checklist, but I will answer your questions if you are contemplating a home sale or purchase. January is a popular month for job promotions. A promotion sometimes requires the employee to relocate. Congratulations if this is you. Let me know how I can help you.

Contact me, Charles D’Alessandro, your Brooklyn Real Estate Agent with Fillmore Real Estate, if you are considering buying or selling a home. As a Brooklyn real estate agent with over 35 years of experience, I have been helping Brooklyn Home Owners with advice and resources. Reach me by phone at (718) 253-9500 ext. 1901 or by email at [email protected].

Charles D'Allesandro

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