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Holiday Home Safety Tips: Protecting Your Florida Property
The holidays are a time for joy, relaxation, and quality time with friends and family, but it's also important to stay safe. With all of the celebrating this time of year, it's worth taking a few minutes to brush up on common household risks and how you can best protect your home and your family. December is a peak month for fires and winter months can pose unique challenges for our homes. Our real estate agents created this one-stop checklist to help you minimize risk around the holiday season.
- Don't Leave Cooking Food Unattended
With so much going on, it's easy to get distracted when preparing a holiday dinner, but don't walk away from your stove or oven while food is cooking. Unattended food is the most common cause of cooking-related fires. - Keep Your Candles On Sturdy Surfaces
Fires often start when a candle unexpectedly tips over. Make sure to only use reliable, heavy candleholders and only place them on sturdy surfaces where they can't be reached by pets or children. Avoid wobbly tables. - Clean Your Chimney
Some of our favorite Sarasota homes for sale have nice fireplaces that make for great statement pieces. If your home does, make sure to have the chimney cleaned before lighting a fire. Dirty chimneys are a leading cause of house fires. - Install A Security System
If you're traveling for the holidays, you may want to install a professional security system for extra peace of mind. Some of these Bradenton homes for sale are equipped with state-of-the-art security systems and many trigger notifications to your phone so you can monitor your property on the go. Be careful to avoid posting details about your travel plans online! - Check Your Detectors
The holidays can introduce an elevated risk of house fires, so make sure your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are working. It's always a good idea to test and replace the batteries once a year. Consider the holiday season your annual reminder to check the batteries on these devices. - Don't Overload Electrical Outlets
While you might be tempted to channel your inner Clark Griswold and out-do your neighbors on a light display, be mindful of the electrical load you're placing on your outlets. Issues with electrical distributions account for a significant number of fires every year. - Inspect Your Lights
Old Christmas lights with frayed wiring or broken bulbs can actually be a fire hazard. Before you wrap your tree or line your facade, inspect your lines to make sure your lights are in good condition.
Don't let an accident ruin your holiday joy this year. When you have a home you love, you want to ensure it's taken care of in every season. Our team can help you find that house. Contact us today for more home improvement tips or for helpful tips searching properties for sale throughout the Sarasota and Bradenton areas.