Your Home’s December Honey Do List

December may be the busiest time of year, but this list of home to do’s will have you ready for the holidays in time to actually enjoy them!

December is arguably the busiest month of the year, so it’s important to get started on your home’s to do list early. Follow this guide to prepping your home for the holidays, so that you can actually enjoy them!

1. Clean out your fridge – While you may still be eating your way through Thanksgiving leftovers, it’s prime time to make room for more holiday goodies. Before the next big holiday grocery shop, take 20 minutes to clean out your fridge. If you’re feeling really ambitious, tackle the pantry while you’re at it.

2. Deck the Halls – Before December gets away from you, reserve an afternoon to put the holiday decorations up. Make it fun by turning on some holiday tunes, invite some friends over and serve up cups of hot cocoa or eggnog. For light-up decorations, be sure to test them before you hang them and find out a bulb is missing.  For convenience and safety, consider putting your light-up holiday decorations on a timer.

3. Clean your oven – Holiday cooking doesn’t stop after Thanksgiving. To prep your kitchen for cookies and that holiday roast, take a few hours to clean your oven of leftover turkey grease. If you’re looking for a non-toxic method, we have you covered.

4. Stock up on firewood – There’s no denying that the colder months are upon us. For those with a wood burning fireplace, stock up on wood now and store to keep the logs covered and dry.

5. Insulate exposed pipes – Cold weather and holiday travel can spell trouble if you don’t take measures to protect your home. To prevent pipes from freezing, clean and insulate exposed pipes. For a complete DIY tutorial, check out this helpful how-to guide.

6. Clear any lingering leaves – Before the snow and ice arrive, be sure to rake and remove leftover fall leaves. Fall foliage forgotten under a layer snow all winter can wreak havoc on your lawn next spring. And in case you’re not up on the best way to rake your lawn, check this out.

7. Put together a winter storm kit – In the event that a winter storm hits and your home loses power, you should be prepared with an emergency kit. Collect extra candles, matches and batteries along with extra blankets and a car charger for your cell phone.

8.  Create a gift wrap station – To avoid scrambling for the Scotch tape with every last minute gift purchase, set up a gift wrap station with extra wrapping paper, scissors, tape, ribbons and bows.  Also keep a stash of neutral gifts on hand, like candles or boxed chocolate, for unexpected gift exchanges.

9. Start working on your home resolutions – Have an idea for a home renovation project? Create an inspiration board on pinterest, or start by browsing ours. Do your research on products and vendors, and start booking specialists now before their calendars book up for spring.

There’s nothing quite like being home for the holidays, so take time to relax and enjoy being with family and friends.  We’ll be back next month with a January Honey Do List to kick off the new year!

Victoria Keichinger is the Vice President, Brand Marketing for Coldwell Banker Real Estate. When she's not managing national media and advertising for the Coldwell Banker brand at work, she finds herself most at home in Jersey City, NJ with her pre-school crush turned spouse and son. A true Francophile, she loves to travel and will go anywhere there are ski slopes.

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58 Comments

  1. Prep Your Home For The Holidays | Chapel Hill Real Estate Blog
    December 2, 2014

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    December 2, 2014

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    December 2, 2014

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    December 2, 2014

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    December 2, 2014

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  12. Prep Your Home For The Holidays | Chapel Hill, Durham, Chatham County Real Estate Blog
    December 3, 2014

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  13. Prep Your Home For The Holidays | Raleigh, Cary Real Estate Blog
    December 3, 2014

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  14. Prep Your Home For The Holidays | Durham Real Estate Blog
    December 3, 2014

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  15. Prep Your Home For The Holidays | Holly Springs, Apex, Cary, Fuquay Varina Real Estate Blog
    December 3, 2014

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  16. Prep Your Home For The Holidays | Cary, Raleigh, Apex, Holly Springs Real Estate Blog
    December 3, 2014

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  17. Prep Your Home For The Holidays | Raleigh, Cary, Garner, Smithfield, Clayton, Real Estate Blog
    December 3, 2014

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  18. Your Home’s December Honey Do List
    December 4, 2014

    […] From the Coldwell Banker Blue Matter Blog […]

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  19. Friday Favorites | Tammy Knows Real Estate
    December 5, 2014

    […] Have you done everything on your home’s December Honey-Do list? […]

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  20. Prep Your Home For The Holidays | Raleigh, Wake Forest, Cary Real Estate Blog
    December 8, 2014

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  21. Prep Your Home For The Holidays | HPW Blog
    December 10, 2014

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  22. Prep Your Home For The Holidays | Triangle Real Estate Blog
    December 15, 2014

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  23. Prep Your Home For The Holidays | Triangle Area Real Estate Blog
    December 17, 2014

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  24. Prep Your Home For The Holidays | Wake,Durham, Chapel Hill Real Estate Blog
    January 7, 2015

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  25. Prep Your Home For The Holidays | Orange County Real Estate Blog
    January 7, 2015

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  26. Prep Your Home For The Holidays | Triangle Region Real Estate Blog
    January 9, 2015

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  27. Prep Your Home For The Holidays | Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill Real Estate Blog
    January 9, 2015

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  28. Prep Your Home For The Holidays | Hillsborough, Mebane, Durham, Chapel Hill Real Estate Blog
    January 14, 2015

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  29. Prep Your Home For The Holidays | Raleigh or Wake Forest Real Estate Blog
    January 15, 2015

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  30. Prep Your Home For The Holidays | Chapel Hill, Carrboro, Durham, Pittsboro Real Estate Blog
    January 15, 2015

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  31. Prep Your Home For The Holidays | Wake, Franklin and Nash Counties Real Estate Blog
    January 20, 2015

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  32. Prep Your Home For The Holidays | Chapel Hill, Durham, Raleigh Real Estate Blog
    January 21, 2015

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    January 22, 2015

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  34. Prep Your Home For The Holidays | Chapel Hill, Cary, Durham, Pittsboro Real Estate Blog
    January 23, 2015

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  35. Prep Your Home For The Holidays | Cary, Apex, Morrisville Real Estate Blog
    January 24, 2015

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  36. Prep Your Home For The Holidays | Chapel Hill/Orange County/Chatam County Real Estate Blog
    January 27, 2015

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  37. Prep Your Home For The Holidays | Raleigh Real Estate Blog
    February 2, 2015

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  38. Prep Your Home For The Holidays | Goldsboro and Surrounding Area Real Estate Blog
    February 4, 2015

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  39. Prep Your Home For The Holidays | Raleigh, Cary, Wake Forest, Durham Real Estate Blog
    February 9, 2015

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  40. Your Home’s December Honey Do List | Trisha Muska's Blog
    December 2, 2015

    […] post Your Home’s December Honey Do List appeared first on Coldwell Banker Blue […]

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  41. December Honey-Do List for Your Home | Tammy Knows Real Estate
    December 4, 2015

    […] Coldwell Banker Blue Matter recently published a great December Honey-Do List. A few of my favorites are: […]

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  42. f.leemorey
    December 7, 2015

    Get Husband to:

    Leaves from gutter;
    get ornaments from attic;
    find a tree;
    Get in the Holiday Spirit
    🙂

    Reply
  43. Wanda Harris
    December 15, 2015

    This is great December list! I just finished with all that thorough cleaning of each room and started with decoration. It’s good to find a good advise exactly when you need it, just like your list – exactly on time. I got some very good ideas from it. Thank you for sharing!

    Reply

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