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Preparing Your Home For Guests This Holiday Season

Oct 04, 2019
Preparing Your Home For Guests This Holiday Season

The holiday season is a wonderful time to get together with family and loved ones; but, if you’re the one hosting the festivities, it can get stressful. Don’t wait until it’s too late and get started now. By tackling each of these steps weekly, you won’t have to worry about everything snowballing. We’ve got everything you need to know to be the ultimate host this holiday season. If you still feel like you need assistance after reading this, contact Mid-Florida and we can help take some of the burdens off your shoulders.

Upgrade your curb appeal

First impressions last, so start the visit off on the right foot. Show off a manicured lawn, rake up fallen leaves, tidy up the yard, and add festive decor! Your guests will appreciate the time you’ve taken to spruce things up for them. Plus, HOA will be happy too.

Clear the clutter

When extra rooms are unused, they often become the place to store holiday decorations, boxes of old toys, oversized luggage, or other miscellaneous items that don’t have a spot in your home. This is also probably where your guests will be staying. While you don’t need to clear everything out, you can still take this time to reorganize or donate items. The latter goes perfectly with the spirit of holiday giving! You can even make this a family-fun affair by getting your kids involved and asking them to donate some of their toys or clothes to those in need.


Rather than diving into deep cleaning your home, start by decluttering problem areas. Some places that could need decluttering include your kitchen, foyer, living room, and kitchen. Remove anything unnecessary that may be laying around on your countertops, coffee tables, or ottomans. Just remember, if it’s a public area, then it should be cleaned.

Childproof your home

You might be an empty nester or your kids might be past the age where your home needs to be childproofed. However, it’s still a good idea to carry out these safety measures before you have little ones staying over.


  • Cover unused electrical outlets with protectors and hide exposed power strips.
  • Put away small toys or knick-knacks that could be potential choking hazards.
  • Make sure dangerous appliances such as hair dryers are out of reach.
  • Install a heat-resistant gate around your fireplace.
  • Move away lamps and vases from table edges.
  • Provide a way to block stairways.
  • Store all medications away in a safe and secure place.


For a more comprehensive list of how to childproof your home, check out this article.

Tackle repairs

All year long, we have tasks that we put on our “to-do” list and then put off on fixing. The countdown is on and there’s no more time to procrastinate. Compile everything that you’ve written down and begin tackling them one by one. These home repairs could include a leaky faucet, smelly air conditioner, or creaky door. Spend a weekend to get these repairs done so your guests don’t have to deal with faulty products or appliances.

Routine maintenance

One of the best parts about having people over for the holidays is hanging out with everyone in a cozy environment. You’ll want to make sure that your heater is still working. With guests arriving, you don’t want to find out it needs repairs at the last minute. Schedule an appointment for inspection and maintenance. HVAC maintenance is an important part of extending the lifespan of your unit and there are many additional benefits.


Benefits include:


  • Prevent expensive repairs or replacement
  • Increase energy efficiency
  • Improved air quality


If you are in the Gainesville area and would like to speak with one of our heating repair experts, give us a call at (352) 377-4414. Keep your guests warm this holiday season!

Get the kitchen ready

With the holidays comes A LOT of large meals, which means your fridge is going to need to store a lot of produce and leftovers. Clear up some space by tossing out all the expired products. You might be surprised at how old that bottle of dressing is. Once you have more room, you can wipe down any spills with warm water, dish soap, and a sponge. You should also remove any dust that has accumulated on the condenser coils in the back to ensure a well-running machine.

Write down instructions

In this day and age, getting the WiFi password is one of the first things we do when arriving at a new place. Print out a sheet of paper with the WiFi password, instructions on how to control the TV, alarm code, and any other information you think your guests may need.

Prep the bathroom

This will be one of the most used rooms and a little can go a long way. Keep extra toilet paper out in plain sight, as well as towels. Take this time to stock up on toiletries such as shampoo, conditioner, body wash, lotion, and toothpaste. Your guests will most likely bring their own products but it’s good to be prepared in case they forget something. It’s also a good idea to make sure everything is running smoothly. If the toilet has been running nonstop or you’re experiencing low water pressure, you likely have plumbing issues. Get these straightened out by calling a local plumber. You don’t want to wait until you have 20 people over and everyone is waiting in line for the one working bathroom.

The guest room

Whether it’s the spare room, office, or den, there are some things to consider when preparing your guests’ sleeping arrangements.


  • Make room for your visitors’ luggage and bags.
  • Clear up space in a dresser drawer and hanging room in the closet.
  • Provide extra pillows and blankets on top of their bed.
  • Give them some type of entertainment such as a book, magazine, or TV


Another tip to remember: once your guests leave, wash the sheets and put them back on the beds so they’re all set for the next occasion.

Safety checklist:

  • Keep jumper cables on hand. If someone gets stranded with a bad battery, you can give them the start they need without calling Triple A.
  • Make sure your first aid kit is up to date.
  • Keep a fire extinguisher on hand.
  • Change the carbon monoxide and smoke detector batteries.

Last-minute ideas:

  • A few days before their arrival, stock up on some of their favorite snacks to make them feel more comfortable.
  • Put up all your holiday decorations to put everyone in a festive mood!
  • Get everyone out and about by preparing a list of the best local events and restaurants.
  • Provide a spare set of keys so your guests aren’t holed up inside all day

Bringing comfort to your home

With these tips in place, your hosting skills might even rival Martha Stewart. Here at Mid-Florida Heating & Air, we’re proud to be bringing comfort to homes and businesses since 1983. Get in touch with one of our technicians today for reliable HVAC and water heater repair services. Our experts will ensure you have the perfect environment for your visitors this holiday season.

Schedule an appointment online by filling out our contact form or give us a call at (352) 377-4414 and we’ll get to you right away!

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