Home Improvement Projects To Finish Before Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a special holiday when families and friends gather around the dinner table to visit over Thanksgiving dinner. Whether you prefer a traditional stuffed turkey dinner with sides or a cultural family favorite, our real estate agents have a few tips to make your Thanksgiving a success.

Whether you're expecting nearby family members or out-of-town guests looking for D.C. homes for sale, you want your home to reflect a warm, welcoming atmosphere. By tackling some home improvement projects before guests arrive, you can make this Thanksgiving a memorable occasion.

Spruce Up Curb Appeal

The first thing your Thanksgiving guests will see is the outside of your home, so you need to spruce up your curb appeal. That starts with a clean, well-manicured front yard that welcomes guests to your home. A few days before your guests arrive, take the time to do some important yard work:

• Rake up leaves and debris
• Mow the grass
• Prune trees and shrubs
• Plant seasonal flowers
• Clean out gutters
• Wash the windows

Showcase the Season

By adding festive holiday lights and decor, you can boost your curb appeal and showcase the spirit of Thanksgiving indoors. Create a festive entry with holiday twinkling lights in the trees, pumpkins lining the walkway, and a beautiful Thanksgiving wreath on the front door. As guests enter your home, welcome them with spice and pumpkin scented candles, fresh pine, gourds, and small pumpkins on the mantle, and a festive dinner table with a beautiful centerpiece that showcases the season.

Fire Up the Fireplace

November weather brings a drop in outdoor temperatures that puts a chill in the air, so it's the perfect time to warm up your home with a roaring fire in the fireplace. If you haven't used your fireplace in a while, you may want to call a chimney sweep a week or two before Thanksgiving to inspect fireplace safety and clean out the chimney. Once you know there are no safety problems, stock up on pine or hickory logs and fire up the fireplace to welcome your Thanksgiving guests.

Check the Kitchen Appliances

If you're like most people, cooking Thanksgiving dinner requires a whole day in the kitchen. When roasting a turkey, cooking various side dishes, and baking a few pies, you need to make sure your stove and oven are in prime working condition. You also need to check the operation of your dishwasher for washing all those after-dinner dishes and your refrigerator and freezer where you'll be storing lots of leftovers. Thanksgiving is no time to discover that your kitchen appliances are malfunctioning.

Repair Plumbing Problems

With a houseful of family, friends, and weekend guests, you can't afford to have leaky faucets, toilets that won't flush, stopped-up shower heads, low water pressure, or no hot water. In October or early November, inspect your home's plumbing and call a plumber if you discover problems. Thanksgiving plumbing problems will quickly put a damper on your holiday festivities and make your visiting house guests feel uncomfortable during their stay.

Hire a Professional House Cleaner

You can clean your home yourself, but you may want to conserve your energy for those marathon cooking sessions in the kitchen and long hours of entertaining family and friends. To get the best service, address special cleaning needs in bathrooms, guest rooms, and living spaces where your guests will be gathering. Make sure spaces are dust-free with crystal clear glass, polished floors, and clean, comfortable furnishings.

If you're interested in buying or selling in D.C. and surrounding areas, contact us for available properties and prices that fit your lifestyle.