There are plenty of distractions being a first-time homebuyer, especially with the holidays upon us! Below are a few safety reminders to keep handy this busy season:
1. Turn off Christmas lights before hitting the hay. Lights get hot when they’ve been on for 12+ hours. Leaving them on all night can be dangerous. Make sure lights are set on a timer, or are unplugged from the wall before going to sleep.
2. Don’t overdo power strips. Too many extension cords and power strips can lead to fires.
3. Water your tree! Depriving your tree of water causes a sad, dry tree, which is also a fire hazard. Water your tree once a day to keep it alive and healthy! (There’s always the artificial route, as well).
4. Lock up. Unfortunately, theft is at its all-time high during the holiday season. Keep your gifts and yourselves safe by locking doors and windows.
5. Pre-salt your sidewalk and steps. Sidewalks and front stairways can often freeze at night. It’s a good idea to go ahead and place the de-icing down where you and visitor’s often step.
Bonus tip: With all the fire hazards, make sure all smoke alarms have fresh batteries! Did you know: having a burglar and smoke alarm calls for a discount on your homeowner’s policy? Give us a call if you’d like us to apply this discount by providing us with your alarm certificate.
Extra Bonus tip: The most important tip of all, have a very Merry (and safe) Christmas with your family and loved-ones.