Holidays bring the craziness, but you can get ahead of the curve by prepping your North Idaho home now. There are five essential areas to address:
Declutter the House
The first step to preparation is to organize what stays and what goes. Pick an area, take everything out, designate trash from donation, and then put away all the items you’re keeping. With freshly organized cabinets and drawers, this is a good time to put away items you don’t need during the holiday season. This will make room for all the fun decorations. Once you’ve organized, clean the areas that will be heavily used, such as the kitchen, guest room, and bathrooms.
If you discover any necessary home repairs while cleaning, reach out to us for trusted and vetted recommendations
Clean the Outside
If you’re going to have more people than usual at your house, it’s important to make room for extra cars and clear your entry ways. So make sure you rake your leaves and shovel snow from pathways. Clear your porch of excess toys and bulky furniture and have a doormat to avoid tracking in mud or water.
Stock the Guest Room
You may have some extra overnight guests during the holiday season, and it’ll be so much easier if that room is ready to go. Make sure you have clean linens, extra pillows, and cozy blankets easily accessible to your guests. Stock the bathroom with essentials like towels, toiletries, and extra toilet paper. Consider adding a small welcome gift or card for an extra touch.
Organize Kitchen
All the best holiday memories happen in the kitchen, so let’s set it up for all your large gatherings. Start by cleaning out the fridge and pantry to make space for holiday supplies and leftovers. Make a meal plan for holiday gatherings and stock up on necessary ingredients. You can even prepare and freeze dishes in advance to reduce stress on the actual holiday.
Decorate
Have fun with this one! You’ve done all the hard work. Now pull your decorations out and let your creativity shine. If you have the time, you can make your decorations with friends and family and extend the fun. If you’re not sure where to start, focus on entryways and living spaces where your guests will gather.
If you’re interested in putting your house on the market in the spring, you’re already half-way there with your holiday clean. Reach out to us now for the complete home checklist before your home goes live.
Now that’s all done, sit by the fire and enjoy your freshly cleaned home. The only hard part now is keeping it up through the end of the year!
