Holiday Hosting Tips for Katy TX Homeowners

Are you hosting the holidays at your Katy home this year? As your Katy real estate agent, I’m here to help you prepare! Here is a list to guide you along. You’ve still got a week, you can do this! The more you can prepare ahead of time, the more quality time you can spend with your guests.

1.  Declutter. Time is limited, so this isn’t like decluttering before a home sale. Leave the closets and inside of cabinets alone, just declutter the public areas and guest rooms. Make room in the foyer closet for coats or shoes, remove clutter from guest bedrooms, organize toys in bins, etc.

2.  Add lighting. It’s wise to invest in some nightlights for the bathroom, kitchen, guest rooms, or anywhere your guests might wander during the night. Motion-activated lighting outside is smart as well, as guests will come or go after the sun has set.

3.  Prepare bathrooms and sleeping spaces. Bathrooms will need to be cleaned whether guests are just visiting or staying overnight. Give them a good cleaning, remove clutter from counters, fill a basket with items a guest may need and place on countertop, and have extra toilet paper visible. Clean and prepare towels. Clean and prepare sheets, blankets and pillows. Have extra blankets available if guests get cold.

4.  Set up a breakfast station. If you have overnight guests staying, and you’re cooking a meal for the holidays, you won’t want to worry about breakfast as well! Set up a coffee station and cereal, pastries or whatever is easy to grab and eat. Have bowls, plates, mugs and silverware out so guests don’t have to go through all of your cabinets to find these items.

5.  Clean the kitchen. Every house guest will be making a trip into the kitchen at some point. Clean, clear away clutter on counters and tables, clean inside the refrigerator and microwave, and remove any old food or condiments in the fridge to make more space. Run the dishwasher so you have all of your dishware available and ready. Buy and prepare any food ahead of time that you can, so you’ll have less to do on the actual day.

6.  Hand out jobs. Don’t try to do everything on your own! Get the family involved, giving each person a job. (Some could be fun, like picking out a holiday playlist, or wrapping gifts.) Let your guests bring food dishes, beverages or desserts. Cookies, for example, are easy to transport and one less thing for you to worry about.

This season is all about spending time with loved ones and being grateful. Don’t stress too much, your guests know it’s a lot of work to host and will just be grateful that you are! As your Katy real estate agent, I hope you have a wonderful holiday with friends or family! Contact me when ready to achieve your Katy real estate market goals, now or in the New Year.

Mickie Cioccia

Mickie C and Company Realty
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Katy TX Holiday Home Prep

Are you hosting a holiday gathering at your Katy home in the coming week? Cooking all that food in your kitchen, and having that many people in your house, can take a toll on any homeowner! To help you prepare, as your Katy real estate agent, here are some tips I collected for you:

1.  Clean your kitchen appliances. Give your microwave a good scrubbing, especially if it is above the stove and acts as a ventilator. Use a degreasing spray on it, and on your stovetop, to prevent any grease fires. Clean the outside of the oven, but don’t use the self-clean cycle. This is hard on most ovens, and you don’t need that going out right before the big day!

2.  Prepare your refrigerator. Go through your condiments and toss anything that is expired. Eat leftovers leading up to your big holiday gathering, so that there is plenty of space for appetizers, dinner and leftovers. Organize and clean, as lots of people will be going in and out of the fridge.

3.  Prepare the bathroom. Clean, organize, declutter. Take everything off the sink that doesn’t need to be there. Then make a guest bathroom station with soap, lotion, extra towels, whatever you think a guest may need, so you don’t need to be bothered with these things on the big day. Keep a plunger and extra toilet paper handy as well!

4.  Prepare the entryway. Outside, make sure your front porch light is working, and consider lighting your walkway, so there are no slips on your guests’ way in. Inside, remove clutter from your foyer and consider a welcome mat for shoes, a coat rack, a bench where guests can remove shoes, etc.

5.  Child-proof the main living areas if you have lots of children coming. Move lamps, vases and other breakables from table edges. Block stairways to prevent falls. Purchase some plastic cups, or sippy cups, depending on the children’s ages.

6.  Set up a drink station. Drinks are something that most guests can handle on their own, so one less thing for you to manage. If guests are staying with you, set up a morning coffee station. For the gathering, set up a counter or table for alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. Have glasses, an ice bucket, utensils, beverages, garnishes, whatever you feel the need to include!

7.  Prepare appetizers and desserts ahead of time. Whether you need to cook or bake, or just set them up on a tray, do this before guests arrive to cut down on your to-do list. Consider a potluck too, so you have less cooking to worry about, and more merriment to enjoy!

8.  Set up extra seating. Set up chairs where you hope guests will hang out. Face furniture toward each other, to create ideal social situations. If you need more seating, ask your guests to bring some chairs!

The important thing is to stress less and enjoy more. As your Katy real estate agent, I wish you a happy holiday season! When ready to achieve your Katy real estate market goals in the New Year, give me a call!

Mickie Cioccia

Mickie C and Company Realty
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See Katy and Houston, TX Homes for Sale 
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With Thanksgiving this week and winter holidays just around the corner, it may not seem like the ideal time to sell your Katy home. However, if you want or need to sell this holiday season, there are still buyers out, who also want or need to buy this time of year! As your Katy real estate agent, allow me to fill you in on some tips that could get your home sold fast this time of year.

1.  Make sure your listing is quality. Buyers are busy with family gatherings, holiday shopping, etc. They tend to spend more time house hunting online before they take the time to see a home in person. Therefore, it’s critical that your online listing has quality photos and description to lure buyer interest!

2.  Use the holidays to your advantage. The holidays allow you add festive features to your home this time of year, making it look extra cozy and bright! Focus on your home’s main focal points, such as a fireplace or grand staircase. Decorate with lights and garland. Set up a tree or a front door wreath. Keep the holiday décor subtle. You don’t want to drown out the home’s features or make it look cluttered.

3.  Be flexible with your time. Chances are, you have a lot going on this holiday season too. However, it’s important to keep your schedule open for last-minute showings, as buyers are busy and will need to squeeze showings into a busy holiday season. Take advantage of times that you have to leave the house by using them to holiday shop or to attend holiday events with the family. Keep your house clean at all times so it’s ready at a moment’s notice!

4.  Make your home move-in ready. Buyers want a quick, easy home sale, and in a perfect world, they’d like to be settled in their new home for the holidays. Having a move-in ready home is key. Consider having it pre-inspected, so no issues cause the home sale to take longer. Make some quick updates that will impress buyers. Offer incentives, such as helping pay for closing costs or including updated appliances.

5.  Focus on curb appeal. As always, the outside of the home is what buyers usually see first, so take the time to spruce this up. Clean the yard and gutters, touch up paint on siding or front door, hang a decorate wreath or add a welcome mat, replace front porch light bulbs, etc.

When ready to sell your Katy home, or when ready to buy in Katy, contact me! As a Katy real estate agent, I am here and ready to help you with your Katy real estate market goals year-round. When you’ve got questions, or you’re ready to get started, I’m ready to assist! Give me a call and have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Mickie Cioccia

Mickie C and Company Realty
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See Katy and Houston, TX Homes for Sale 
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