Don Vandervort, Head Homeboy, has written more than 30 DIY home improvement books, been a segment host on HGTV, served as MSN.com's home improvement expert and written countless magazine articles.
Are you expecting guests for the holidays? If so, now is the time to get your home looking good and working great.
Before company arrives, it pays to look around your home and see it as your guests might. If you’ve been living with a drippy faucet, a poorly flushing toilet, or a sticking door for months, you may simply have gotten used to it. A little bit of TLC can make your home friendlier, safer, and more comfortable for guests. So, before you roll out the welcome mat, consider these eight things:
1) Be sure your appliances are in good working order (when you entertain, you’ll probably need all of them). For repairs you can handle, see the section on Appliances. For repairs beyond the scope of your abilities, call an appliance repairperson. If it’s time to replace some of your home’s appliances or fixtures, be sure to check out our various appliance buying guides.
2) Explore some of the amenities that make a great guest room. Have an empty dresser and a luggage rack on hand. Also make sure there is plenty of empty space on tables and nightstands for books, jewelry, and other small items. For more about what you can do, see our Decorating & Furnishing section.
3) Save your guests from having to put up with a poorly flushing toilet or the drip-drip of a leaky faucet. Make sure the plumbing works properly, particularly in the bathroom they will be using. For information on making basic repairs, see the sections on Bathrooms and Plumbing & Fixtures.
4) Don’t leave your guests in the dark. Be sure lamps, lights, outlets, and switches work. For more on this, see Electrical & Lighting.
5) Solve door and window problems. Doors and windows should close and latch properly to ensure both security and privacy. If you need, weather-strip a window, adjust the hang of a door, or make similar repairs, see Doors and Windows & Skylights.
6) If small children are among your visitors, make your home a safe place for them. Many accidents happen during the excitement of holidays, particularly when kids are on unfamiliar turf. For more about steps you can take, see the Childproofing section.
7) Organize your guest closet. Because most guest closets double up for housing general storage, they tend to be stuffed with clutter. A great way to maximize a closet’s storage capacity, and to provide plenty of hanging space for guests’ clothing, is to outfit the closet with storage organizers. For information on this, see Closets & Storage.
8) Be sure your fireplace is in good working condition. When you gather around the hearth with friends and family, the last thing you want is to be driven away by smoke or, far worse, a chimney fire. Chimneys require cleaning periodically. You can have this done by a professional chimney sweep or, in some cases, you can do it yourself. For more about this, see Heating & Fireplaces.
