How Georgia Homeowners Should Prep Their House For The Holidays

Will you be spending Black Friday at a mall in Georgia jostling for deals? Or, do you prefer to spend the day off getting in the Christmas spirit? Before you start trimming the trees, consider giving your home a once-over this Thanksgiving.

The long weekend is a great opportunity to enlist the help of a professional handyman or cleaning service. Have them inspect your home's maintenance to ensure everything is in order before family comes to visit this December. 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If your insulation is outdated, lumpy and full of moisture, it's probably time for an upgrade.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 a low-cost, temporary fix until the 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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