10 Ways to Prepare Your Home for Holiday Houseguests

The holidays are finally upon us, and several people are beginning to plan their holiday feasts and parties with their friends and loved ones. Many people nationwide travel to visit with their families or friends over the course of the holidays as well, and while this can be a fun and joyous time for the host, it can also be a stressful time.

No need to stress out! Just read the following 10 tips to help you prepare your home for your guests this holiday season!

Accessorize and Arrange Conveniently – Think about what you need in your living space for guests to sit and talk comfortably. Set small side tables next to your couch and chairs in your living room so that your guests have a place to set down their drinks and phones. Bring out throw pillows on a too-deep sofa so that guests can sit comfortably. Remember when you rearrange your furniture to make it easy for your guests to converse. There’s no rule that says that everything needs to match, but do try to make all of your furniture about the same height so that the eye level is equal.

Offer Storage Space – Guests come with baggage. Well, maybe emotional baggage, but we mean ACTUAL bags and suitcases! Make sure you can accommodate them well by giving them an obvious place to store their coats and bags. Even if you don’t have a spare closet, a simple row of pegs or hooks in the foyer will be just fine.

Make Them Feel at Home – Provide a useful surface for their toiletries in your bathroom or in a nearby location. Anything from a cabinet to a table to just simple stool will let your guests feel like they don’t have to litter the bathroom sink with their hygienic or cosmetic supplies.

Cozy Up the Bedroom – Don’t forget about the guest room! Put out extra blankets to ensure that your guests get a good night’s sleep. Be sure that the sheets are washed and clean as well and that there are enough pillows to accommodate your guests’ needs.

Offer Light Reading – Sometimes it’s nice to sit down in our own space and escape for a bit. Remember to stock the guest room with light reading. Magazines and short stories are always good choices, along with shorter novels.

Deck Out the Nightstand – If at all possible, do try to provide a nightstand next to your guests’ beds. It’s always great to have a safe nearby spot to place a glass of water, glasses, or phones at night. Additionally, provide a light for reading, an alarm clock, and a box of tissues on the nightstand.

Don’t Play Hide-and-Seek With the Basics – No one likes to guess where necessities are, especially in someone else’s home. Assure that your guests can easily locate the basic necessities like towels and washcloths, toilet paper, basic foods (cereal, tea, coffee, milk, bread, etc.), blankets, and more by placing them in obvious places (or even in plain sight).

Supply Finger Foods – Give an inviting feel to your home by providing bowls of plates of nuts, fresh veggies, cheese, and pretzels on your tables. Just be sure to keep food away from curious pets!

Add a Touch of Color – Add a cheery touch to nightstands, dressers, or windowsills by displaying little vases with fresh flowers. Even small vases don’t need more than a few blossoms! This is an inexpensive and easy way to add a pop of cheer and color where it’s needed.

Offer an Extra Seat – Sometimes it’s nice to have a place to sit or set things on. If you can, add a bench or extra chair to the guest room so that your guests can place their suitcase and bags on. They’ll appreciate it!

Want more tips on how to ready your home for guests this holiday season? Looking for that dream home to accommodate all of your friends and family? Just give us a call at (618) 761-5024 or at (618) 791-9298. You can even check us out online at www.dianamasseyhomes.com to see how we can best help you. Happy holidays!

8 Curb Appeal Ideas to Attract Homebuyers

Perhaps the most important question you need to ask yourself right now if you’re selling your home is, “What will be the first thing that potential homebuyers will see?” Quickly after you ask that question, you should additionally ask yourself if the things that will attract or deter them from your home.

Usually, the first thing that homebuyers will notice when looking for homes is your front yard, the color of your home, the landscaping, and if the home has an attractive exterior. They won’t be able to see the new kitchen appliances you have or the gorgeous, original hardwood floors that are throughout your home. If your curb appeal is subpar, the homebuyers won’t even bother coming through your front door to check out the inside of your home.

But what’s a homeowner to do? Well, don’t fret and continue reading – we have 8 tips that will help you improve your curb appeal and attract homebuyers to your lovely abode pronto!

Reevaluate Your Exterior Paint – Before you even begin on your yard work, look up and check out your home’s exterior. Is the pain cracking, dingy, or old? Is it incongruent with the colors that are present in the neighborhood, or does it not matchup with the style of the home itself? If so, you might want to reevaluate your home’s paint color. If nothing else, do consider pressure washing your siding or brick; it’ll look just like new after you do so!

Keep Your Accents Fresh – Whether your house is adorned with shutters, columns, or planters, be sure that all the accents are in good condition. If there is any damage to your planters, driveway, fences, or exterior lighting, be sure to address them and repair the damaged areas.

Take Note of Walkways – Next on the list are your walkways and entryways. Are the sidewalks cracked and old? Are the stepping stone paths broken? Are weeds sprouting up in the cracks in your driveway? Consider giving extra attention to these areas. Pull the weeds, and fix any broken areas. Additionally, power wash these areas to make them look just like new once more. You’ll notice a difference right away!

Pick Up Your Toys – Curb appeal is associated with how you and your family live your lives day in and day out. Make sure that you don’t leave any objects out on the lawn, or your potential homebuyers could draw up opinions about you and how you care for your home. When you’re finished with gardening tools, put them away immediately. The same goes for your children’s toys – be sure to teach them to put them away when they’re done playing with them. This will help prevent your lawn from appearing unkempt.

Love Your Lawn – Now it’s time to look at your lawn. How do your plants, grass, and surrounding areas look? Does your lawn look beautifully-kept or like a scraggly eyesore to the unbiased eye? Be sure to pull weeds where you can and fix unsightly areas in your yard, and consider employing new landscaping in your yard if it looks a little, well, sad in the landscaping department.

Out With the Old – This may seem kind of crazy, but even the simplest things like your mailbox or house numbers can turn a buyer off. If you’ve lived in your home for a while now (or if your mailbox has seen better days), replace your old mailbox and house numbers with new, more inviting ones!

Add a Pop of Color – Does your home need some extra color? Add an instant pop of color with planters filled with seasonal plants at your front door, in your yard, or at the sides of your garage. The plants will make future homebuyers happy to see what else is inside!

When trying to revamp your curb appeal, remember that it doesn’t have to be difficult or cost you al lot of money. If you’re having trouble attracting homebuyers, try the 8 tips above to help, or go ahead and give us a call at (618) 791-5024 or (618) 791-9298! You can also visit us online at www.dianamasseyhomes.com to see how we can help you sell your home and get the dream home you’ve always wanted!