If you are a family man or woman, you might already be excited about meeting your long distance relatives and friends and spending some quality time together. However, according to Murphy’s Law, if something can go wrong, it will happen at the worst possible time. If you would like to avoid disasters and make sure that you are relaxed and worry-free during the Christmas and New Year period, pay attention to these risks.

Safety

In case you are planning on spending a couple of days or even a week at your relatives, you will leave the house vulnerable to people with bad intentions. This is why you need to upgrade your security and safety around your home. It might be a good idea to ask one of your neighbors to collect the mail, or even park their car in your drive, so you being away is less obvious. Set up timers for your TV and your lights, so your home doesn’t look abandoned at all.

Appliances  

Next, if you are expecting guests over the Christmas period, you will need to make sure that your heating, air conditioning, and appliances are working correctly. There is nothing worse than having a broken heater or an oven that is only working when it feels like. You might want to get in touch with a hvac contractor before the holidays and get your appliances and heating system a good servicing and checkup.

Insulation

You are likely to spend more time at your home, which means that you will use your heating and your rooms more. If there are cold patches in your living room, this might be the time to get them fixed, so you don’t end up paying a fortune for heating your home for the couple of days you are spending there enjoying the company of your loved ones.

Trees and Branches

It is great to have a winter wonderland, but if you will have friends and family members visiting, you will need to tidy up your front yard and your driveway. Get rid of the fallen branches and the leaves that can get slippery when wet, so you can avoid accidents that will land you at the emergency services. If you haven’t had your trees and shrubs cut back or your old branches inspected, you can get in touch with a tree surgeon.

Weather

Before you plan any programs holiday fun, nights out, or visits to the local church, you should always check the weather. If you live in an area that has loads of snow, chances are that you will need to have the shovel and the snow chains ready, so you will not end up stuck in the middle of nowhere. Those in remote areas should always check the weather forecast and have enough food stored in the cupboards as well as a fully functional generator.

We all want a pleasant and carefree holiday season. Make sure that you check the risks and address them before it is too late.