As the holiday season approaches, many of us look forward to festive gatherings, delicious meals and quality time with family and friends. However, preparing your home for the holidays can be a daunting task. Greg Haskett, TruBlue Director of Operations, offers expert advice on getting your home holiday-ready, including the opportunity to partner with TruBlue Home Service Ally for ongoing, subscription-based home maintenance services.
The first step, according to Haskett, is to ensure the home is safe enough for guests and loved ones.
“Changing the batteries in your smoke and CO2 detectors is crucial. Regular maintenance of these devices is key,” Haskett said. “We also suggest that if your fire alarm is more than 10 years old, consider replacing it with a newer, cleaner model. Throughout the years, smoke detectors collect dust and grime making them less effective. As a result, the alarm may fail to sound when you need it most.”
Another safety consideration is taking a look at your flooring. Replacing worn-out carpets with durable alternatives like luxury vinyl plank flooring can not only revamp your home’s look and feel, but will also make it safer for guests of all ages. “Make sure area rugs and carpets are secure to prevent tripping hazards,” said Haskett.
Good exterior lighting is also vital for guest safety. “Repair, replace or add additional lighting to ensure safe navigation at night,” said Haskett. For those expecting young families with children or pets, he suggests installing safety gates in key areas, as well.
Similarly, there are several easy modifications that can be done to accommodate older family members. “Think about installing grab bars not only in bathrooms but also in entryways,” Haskett said. “They are especially helpful for elderly guests like grandma.”
Other small safety tips include checking the security of doors and locks and ensuring solid seals on the windows.
In order to ensure the home is not only safe but also welcoming for guests, Haskett suggests several small cosmetic updates around the house. “It’s a great opportunity to freshen up common areas like the powder room by repainting or going around your home touching up nicks and scrapes on your window sills, baseboards, and doors, for example,” he said.
If you have a fireplace, the holidays are also the perfect time to have it cleaned and inspected. “Ensuring your fireplace is in good working order, including checking the damper, is the perfect way to ensure those cozy holiday evenings turn out as expected,” Haskett added.
In addition, doing some deep cleaning is always a good idea, especially in overlooked areas like cabinets, windows, screens and doors. This can be done in conjunction with putting up or taking down decorations.
“Make sure to focus on cleaning the oven and wiping the grime off of your oven hood in preparation for big holiday meals,” Haskett said.
Another expert tip, Haskett says, is to adjust the direction of your ceiling fans for the season — clockwise in winter instead of counter-clockwise in summer — to optimize air flow and help to reduce your heating and air conditioning bill.
Lastly, outside, Haskett notes that hanging holiday lights offers a prime opportunity to take care of some other oft-forgotten duties. “Don’t forget about cleaning gutters and ensuring downspouts are properly attached,” he said.
While all these tips are meant to be easy and convenient, Haskett says that it is totally natural for homeowners to find home maintenance overwhelming, especially during the busy holiday season. Luckily, they don’t have to do it alone.
For homeowners like this, TruBlue offers a full portfolio of handyman and home care services, no matter how big or small. Additionally, TruBlue's recurring service offerings like their Home Ally Maintenance & VIP services, allows seniors and busy families to stay on top of routine maintenance, offering a range of services that are scheduled throughout the year. By staying on top of small, often overlooked home projects, TruBlue helps seniors and busy families avoid costly repairs or issues in the future.
“Our monthly or quarterly assessment programs can help you identify what maintenance tasks you can handle and which ones we can take care of for you,” Haskett said. “This is particularly helpful for seniors or busy families during the holiday season.”
Preparing your home for the holidays doesn’t have to be stressful. With the support of TruBlue Home Service Ally, you can ensure your home is safe, welcoming and ready for the festive season.
To find out more information on owning your own TruBlue franchise, please visit: https://1851franchise.com/trubluehousecare/info
TruBlue Home Service Ally
SPONSORED
TruBlue Director of Operations Greg Haskett shares some expert advice on maximizing home security and maintenance for a worry-free, cozy and memorable holiday season.
As the holiday season approaches, many of us look forward to festive gatherings, delicious meals and quality time with family and friends. However, preparing your home for the holidays can be a daunting task. Greg Haskett, TruBlue Director of Operations, offers expert advice on getting your home holiday-ready, including the opportunity to partner with TruBlue Home Service Ally for ongoing, subscription-based home maintenance services.
The first step, according to Haskett, is to ensure the home is safe enough for guests and loved ones.
“Changing the batteries in your smoke and CO2 detectors is crucial. Regular maintenance of these devices is key,” Haskett said. “We also suggest that if your fire alarm is more than 10 years old, consider replacing it with a newer, cleaner model. Throughout the years, smoke detectors collect dust and grime making them less effective. As a result, the alarm may fail to sound when you need it most.”
Another safety consideration is taking a look at your flooring. Replacing worn-out carpets with durable alternatives like luxury vinyl plank flooring can not only revamp your home’s look and feel, but will also make it safer for guests of all ages. “Make sure area rugs and carpets are secure to prevent tripping hazards,” said Haskett.
Good exterior lighting is also vital for guest safety. “Repair, replace or add additional lighting to ensure safe navigation at night,” said Haskett. For those expecting young families with children or pets, he suggests installing safety gates in key areas, as well.
Similarly, there are several easy modifications that can be done to accommodate older family members. “Think about installing grab bars not only in bathrooms but also in entryways,” Haskett said. “They are especially helpful for elderly guests like grandma.”
Other small safety tips include checking the security of doors and locks and ensuring solid seals on the windows.
In order to ensure the home is not only safe but also welcoming for guests, Haskett suggests several small cosmetic updates around the house. “It’s a great opportunity to freshen up common areas like the powder room by repainting or going around your home touching up nicks and scrapes on your window sills, baseboards, and doors, for example,” he said.
If you have a fireplace, the holidays are also the perfect time to have it cleaned and inspected. “Ensuring your fireplace is in good working order, including checking the damper, is the perfect way to ensure those cozy holiday evenings turn out as expected,” Haskett added.
In addition, doing some deep cleaning is always a good idea, especially in overlooked areas like cabinets, windows, screens and doors. This can be done in conjunction with putting up or taking down decorations.
“Make sure to focus on cleaning the oven and wiping the grime off of your oven hood in preparation for big holiday meals,” Haskett said.
Another expert tip, Haskett says, is to adjust the direction of your ceiling fans for the season — clockwise in winter instead of counter-clockwise in summer — to optimize air flow and help to reduce your heating and air conditioning bill.
Lastly, outside, Haskett notes that hanging holiday lights offers a prime opportunity to take care of some other oft-forgotten duties. “Don’t forget about cleaning gutters and ensuring downspouts are properly attached,” he said.
While all these tips are meant to be easy and convenient, Haskett says that it is totally natural for homeowners to find home maintenance overwhelming, especially during the busy holiday season. Luckily, they don’t have to do it alone.
For homeowners like this, TruBlue offers a full portfolio of handyman and home care services, no matter how big or small. Additionally, TruBlue's recurring service offerings like their Home Ally Maintenance & VIP services, allows seniors and busy families to stay on top of routine maintenance, offering a range of services that are scheduled throughout the year. By staying on top of small, often overlooked home projects, TruBlue helps seniors and busy families avoid costly repairs or issues in the future.
“Our monthly or quarterly assessment programs can help you identify what maintenance tasks you can handle and which ones we can take care of for you,” Haskett said. “This is particularly helpful for seniors or busy families during the holiday season.”
Preparing your home for the holidays doesn’t have to be stressful. With the support of TruBlue Home Service Ally, you can ensure your home is safe, welcoming and ready for the festive season.
To find out more information on owning your own TruBlue franchise, please visit: https://1851franchise.com/trubluehousecare/info
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