Holiday Home Safety Tips

The holidays are most people’s favorite time of year – make sure you stay safe this season by protecting your home and your loved ones.

Now that the Christmas trees are up, the mercury is dropping and there are holiday lights everywhere, things sure feel festive! Let’s keep it that way by following a few simple steps to prevent accidents or other issues that are common around the holidays.

IF YOU ARE STAYING HOME:

If you will be around your house over the holidays this year, there are a few things you can do to ensure your home is safe and well protected.

• Keep edible gifts and ornaments up high where pets and children can’t reach them. Allergies, food intolerances, and other hazards can be dangerous this time of year. Nuts are a choking hazard and an allergen for many children, chocolate can be deadly to dogs… these are just a few examples why food needs to be safely out of reach.
• Have road salt or a de-icing product handy to clear any ice from your front steps or sidewalk. Also clear away any snow as soon as you can to prevent it from getting compacted and turning into dangerous slippery ice.
• Ensure your smoke detectors are working properly; ‘Tis the season for forgotten baking in the oven, candles left unattended, and overloaded electrical sockets. Other than being vigilant and keeping an eye on the kitchen, blowing out those candles, and minimizing electricity use, make sure your smoke detectors are ready to go in an emergency!

IF YOU ARE TRAVELING:

Leaving your house unattended can dangerous, especially during the holidays because burglars know this is the time of year when lots of properties are vacant and ripe for the picking. Here’s how to protect yourself:

• Arrange for a house sitter. Either have a friend come to stay or hire a reputable company. Never let your house look like it’s unoccupied. Your house sitter should shovel your walks, turn lights on at night, and park in your driveway.
• Put your mail on hold. The USPS will collect your mail for you for free for almost any period of time you specify. Have a neighbor or your house sitter collect other mail that isn’t distributed by your mail carrier, such as flyers or deliveries.
• Unplug appliances and keep the heat on. You can save on electricity and reduce risk of fires by triple-checking that appliances are shut off and unplugged wherever possible. However, don’t skimp on heat. If you house gets too cold, you run the risk of frozen water and gas lines, which can lead to burst pipes, flooding, or fires.

These holiday tips are courtesy of Leigh Brown, the best Charlotte agent, best Concord agent, and renowned short sale expert in Charlotte and short sale expert in Concord. If you have any questions about NC homes for sale, Charlotte real estate for sale, Charlotte MLS, or Charlotte real estate questions in general, don’t hesitate to reach out!