Home Safety Tips for the Holidays
The holiday season is a wonderful time of year here at the Lake of the Ozarks. Right now, everyone is excited about Christmas and New Year’s and all the family and friends that we will get to see and spend time with. Your Favorite Real Estate Team knows that many people will be celebrating the holidays for the first time in their new home at Lake of the Ozarks! How exciting is that? But we also know that this time of the year is a time when a lot more accidents are reported happening at home. So we wanted to talk about a few home safety tips to keep in mind during the holiday season to keep your family safe and sound. If you’re interested in some of the hazards you can avoid and things you can do to keep your family safe, we encourage you to keep reading this blog!
Electrical Overload
It is easy to get excited and go a little overboard when it comes to the Christmas lights. but is extremely dangerous to overload your electrical system. Here are some good rules of thumb. Never add more than three strands of lights together unless they specifically say that it’s OK. Make sure that the lights you get are made for outdoor use if you’re using them outside. Check the lights you purchase to make sure they have been tested by a reputable testing lab such as UL-approved. Don’t use metal nails to hang strands of lights outside, use plastic clips instead. Make sure that you’re using stanchion cords that are rated for the load you were putting on them. if you ever notice a cord or wire that feels warm when you touch it, that is an indication that it could be overloaded.
Lights out
Some people like to leave the Christmas lights on all night long to celebrate, but it is actually dangerous to leave them unattended. When you leave the house, and when you go to bed, it is much safer to turn the lights out while you are gone or sleeping. If you are using timers, it is a good idea to check to make sure they are working properly.
Thirsty Trees
Keeping your tree watered is not just about keeping it beautiful. If your tree runs out of water and dries out, it becomes much more of a fire hazard. Not only will it drop tons of annoying needles on your floor, but it becomes a tinder box with all of the dry needles and branches. When you first get your tree, it is best to cut a few inches off the bottom of the trunk and place it in water to draw in as much as it can drink. Then make sure the water bowl stays full for the duration of time that the tree is up and in your home. The tree will drink much more on the first day than it will after a few days or a week. But keep checking just to make sure.
Your Trash Can be Telling
Be careful about the boxes and labels you throw in your trash or on the curb after Christmas. They can be a direct indication of some very nice and expensive items that are in your home. Thieves and opportunists look at the trash on your curb for clues on which homes to steal from - so leave them clueless and don’t give them an invitation! Instead, bag your boxes or take them to a dumpster instead of leaving them on your curb.
Pups and Poinsettias
Even though poinsettias are a Christmas tradition, some people don’t realize that they are actually poisonous to people and pets. If you enjoy the beautiful plant, place it where your pup (and kids and other pets) can’t get to it. You’ll be glad you did!
SAFE AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM YOUR FAVORITE REAL ESTATE TEAM!
Everyone here at Your Favorite Real Estate Team
wishes you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Our realtors in Lake Ozark hope you find these home
safety tips helpful, and we encourage you to share them with your friends and
family. We love being a part of helping people buy a home at Lake of the Ozarks because we know how much they are going to love life here at the lake, all year long! If you are reading this blog but have not yet found your forever lake home, we can help you get started. Give us a call, today! To stay up to date and aware of all our latest tips and information about real estate at the Lake of the Ozarks, be sure to follow us on our social media channels listed below.
CONTACT ED SCHMIDT FOR ALL YOUR LAKE OF THE OZARK REAL ESTATE NEEDS
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