Hosting during the holidays can be a wonderful way to create memorable moments in your home. Particularly if your Niagara or St. Catharines home is for sale and you’re still planning to host Christmas celebrations this year, the right preparation can help make your Christmas events some of the best ones yet, while still having your home ready for showings if they arise! Here are some of our favourite tips for getting ready to entertain family and friends during this special season.

Prep Ahead of Time

Like most things in life, a little preparation can go a long way. While preparing ahead for your get-together does require some work, it will make all the difference on the day company arrives. And you’ll be able to enjoy quality time with your guests without the stress of having to stay on top of cooking and hosting.

Prepare your menu ahead of time. This will give you more time to get everything on your list without having to rush out to do last-minute shopping. It also helps reduce the mess in the kitchen in case any last-minute showing requests come through from potential homebuyers. Also, take a look at what you foods you can make ahead of time and freeze. Many foods freeze well like appetizers and cookies, which can help free up more of your time

Opt for those tried and true recipes that you know well, rather than attempting a new recipe on the day of your event. The last thing you need is a recipe disaster that leaves you scrambling to make something new. 

Organize Your Space

There is beauty in simplicity. Organizing the rooms in your home will give you more space to entertain and create a more relaxing environment that’s free of clutter. Declutter all the spaces you’ll use for entertaining - from the kitchen to the dining room to the family room. There may be appliances and kitchen items that don’t need to be out, such as blenders and juicers. Removing these items will give you more space for food prep, especially if guests offer to help in the kitchen. It also helps with home staging purposes.

When it comes to decorating your space, pick decorations that accent the colours of your home. Selecting decorations that complement rather than clash will help you create an inviting and cozy environment for your family, friends and prospective homebuyers. Too many decorations can make your home feel small and make guests feel cramped. Having a keen eye that’s not afraid to edit adds a professional touch to your holiday decor. Simple seasonal items like greenery and candles can be just the right touch to keep your decor clean but festive.

Entertain Your Guests

With all the preparations that come with hosting an event, it can be easy to forget about planning entertainment for your guests. After all, most of us assume that conversations will be enough to make our events enjoyable. If hosting larger groups, you may want to have a few activities handy to encourage everyone to have a good time.

Playing your favourite holiday movies is an easy way to entertain your guests when you need to sneak away for hosting duties. Pulling out some old classic board games can also be fun and bring out the inner kids in your guests! If you’re hosting a family-friendly get-together, you can set up a craft table where kids can get creative and decorate cookies and treats (plus now you will have one less thing to do yourself!). 

Enjoy Being a Host!

But our most important tip to remember is that even though your house is for sale, don’t miss out on the experience of being a host! The holiday season comes and goes in a flash, and before you know it, all of it will be over. So enjoy your time with family and friends and make those memories you’ll have for years to come!

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Dreaming of the perfect place to host your future holiday get-togethers? Let’s make your homebuying checklist a wish come true! Our expert team at McGarr Realty has over 30 years of real estate experience in St. Catharines and the Niagara region.


Call our office at 905-687-9229 in St. Catharines, or 905-468-9229 in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Or send us a message via our contact page, HERE.

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