5 Tips for a Safe Holiday Gathering

With Christmas less than a week away, it is time to start preparing your house for upcoming get togethers with family and friends. Whether your guests frequent your home often or only a few times a year, it is important to create a safe environment for your holiday gathering. Your trusted real estate agent in Lake Ozark, Missouri is here to help you get ready for your upcoming event. Provided below are some helpful tips for keeping safety in mind with a number of guests in your house this holiday season.

1) Lighten it up

Whether you guests know their way to your front door or not, try to keep the pathway lit up this holiday season. With the sun setting earlier, landscape lights along your walkway can help your guests find their way to and from your entryway safely. In addition to adequate lighting, try to remove any tripping hazards from your pathway and front doorway.

2) Child Proof

If you do not have a young child, you may not be prepared to make your home a safe place for your guests’ kids. Ask parents to bring any safety devices to help keep their child safe, such as baby gates or cabinet locks. Also keep doors to unused rooms closed, such as a utility closet or a door leading to stairs, that could create a dangerous situation for a small child.

3) Fire Precautions

With meal prep and candles lit in your home, try to reduce the chance of a fire. Keep open flames away from flammable materials, such as Christmas decorations, and always ensure someone is in the kitchen when food is being cooked. Before your guests arrive, double check the smoke detectors in your house to make sure they are in proper working order. As guests arrive, it is a good idea to brief them on a fire escape plan, if the event should occur.

4) Shoe Organization

As guests enter your home, many will leave their shoes near the entryway. While this is considerate to help keep your floors clean, it can create a tripping hazard for others entering or exiting your house. Have a designated spot, out of the doorway, for guests to safely leave their shoes. It can also be helpful to provide a chair or bench in which guests can take off and put on shoes.

5) Cautiously Open Gifts

While exchanging presents is one of the most exciting things about the holiday season, especially for children, it also presents a few dangers. If a box needs opened, have a designated adult with scissors or a knife to assist in safely opening gifts. Make sure this sharp device is kept track of, it can be easy to accidently set down a knife, which could lead to a dangerous situation.

With increased foot traffic through your doors, it is important to ensure everyone spending time in your house is safe. While you may not be used to being extra aware of your guests’ safety, there are a few easy precautionary steps to take to help create a safe environment for your upcoming gathering. For a safe holiday party, put the above tips into action in your home. Your expert real estate agent at the Lake of the Ozarks wishes you and yours a SAFE and Happy Holiday!

Susan Spica
Professional REALTOR®

BerkShire Hathaway HomeServices
101 Crossings West, Ste. 202
Lake Ozark, MO 65049

Office: (573) 365-6868
Susan's Cell: (573) 280-0484