Do you dream of hosting the perfect family Christmas celebration? Is it your fantasy to throw a New Year’s party all of your friends will remember? If you’re house hunting, these are things you should let a Realtor know.
Realtors work every day to help their clients find the ideal house that feels like home. If to you, home is where you invite your friends and family to celebrate the holidays, then your Realtor will help find the perfect home in which to make those memories.
But what exactly is the perfect home for hosting holiday parties? You need to ask yourself, “What kind of parties do I want to host?” and “How do I plan on entertaining my guests?” Once you have a vision, your Realtor can help identify homes to help make it a reality.
Here are a few things to consider when looking for your perfect holiday-hosting home.
Size of parties: When you throw a party, does your invitation list usually consist of three or four people or 10 or more people? If your get-togethers tend to have guests numbering in the double digits, you’ll want to look for a home with larger living and dining rooms or plenty of outdoor space. Otherwise, be prepared to move some furniture around to make more room.
Open or closed kitchen: Do you like the idea of interacting with your guests while you prepare the party food, or do you prefer to keep the cooking behind closed doors? An open kitchen layout means your living room or dining room will flow directly into the kitchen, so you can still be a part of your party while you prep and cook. If you tend to make a mess when you cook and would rather keep it hidden, then a closed kitchen is for you.
Kitchen island: If you enjoy making food preparation an aspect of the gathering, an island is a must-have for your dream party house. An island is not only an excellent way to add more prep space to your kitchen, it’s a place to sit and chat with your guests, decorate cookies or mix drinks.
Dining room: If you envision a sit-down dinner being the main draw of your holiday party, then a formal dining room should be on your list of must-haves. Consider how large a dining room and table you’ll need to seat your desired number of guests. It’s always a good idea to bring a measuring tape with you to a showing so you can know for sure the table that fits your guests will actually fit the room.
Work with a Realtor: Be sure to work with a Realtor, a member of the National Association of Realtor, who can share more tips for listing your home this holiday season.
Greater Chattanooga Realtors is “The Voice for Real Estate in Greater Chattanooga.” A regional organization with more than 2,000 members, Greater Chattanooga Realtors is one of some 1,300 local boards and associations of Realtors nationwide that comprise the National Association of Realtors. Greater Chattanooga Realtors services Hamilton and Sequatchie counties in southeast Tennessee and Catoosa, Dade and Walker counties in northwest Georgia. More information: www.gcar.net; 423 698-8001.