How To Prep Your Home For The Holidays In California

In California, many choose to spend Black Friday jostling for deals at a mall. Meanwhile, others will be hanging decorations and trimming trees. But before you start decking the halls, it might be wise to give your home a once-over this Thanksgiving to ensure it is in tip-top shape before family comes to visit in December.

While you're eating a leftover turkey sandwich, enlist the help of a professional handyman or cleaning service to ensure your home maintenance is in order. Here are five easy upgrades you should make before the holidays:

1. Furniture and Beds

Has that pull-out sofa seen better days? Before you have a gaggle of guests, consider upgrading for a new model. Then, you can spend the month of December working hard to break it in — while watching Netflix, of course. Another smart upgrade to consider is platform beds. This can give bedrooms a more stylish, contemporary aesthetic while instantly offering more storage. Stash guests' belongings, keep gifts hidden, or store unkempt items out of sight.

2. Insulation

If your insulation is outdated, lumpy and full of moisture, it's probably time for an upgrade. A heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) professional can come take a look. Thankfully, today's options are also much healthier, with offerings like cotton insulation made from recycled denim.

If new insulation is out of your budget, it's still wise to ensure your home is air-tight. Check for leaky windows, doors and cracks. You can add weather stripping for low-cost, temporary fixes until spring.

3. Energy-Efficient Appliances

Today's appliances are leaps and bounds beyond their predecessors when it comes to energy efficiency. So if you haven't replaced your appliances in at least five or 10 years, chances are you're burning through a lot of extra cash. While it's hard to think about ditching a working appliance, it is smart to look now before the issue is dire, and you can save on energy costs in the meantime. To start, look for ENERGY STAR–rated appliances like washing machines, dishwashers, air conditioners and furnaces.

4. Stain Removal

Thanksgiving cranberry sauce on the carpet? If your grandmother's trusty stain removal remedy isn't working, it might be time to enlist the help of a carpet repair professional. The average cost of a carpet repair is $220, and you can put off installing a whole new carpet for a few more years.

5. Cleaning Services

If you're going to be cooking in the kitchen, entertaining guests and enjoying family time, let someone else worry about the dirty dishes. Get in touch with a house cleaning service now that can recover your kitchen and living area after a big holiday gathering for about $200.

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