Planning to have guests over for the holidays and want your Albany or Corvallis home to be at its best? The holiday season can be a great time of year for home improvement projects, and it's always helpful to plan ahead in order to ensure you can finish your project on time. Our real estate agents have the details on home improvement projects that you can try in time for the holiday season this year.

• Give Your Home a Deep Cleaning
  From getting rid of allergens to simply ensuring that your home looks its best for your guests, this time of year is perfect for a deep cleaning of your home before the holidays arrive. Take care of all the usual cleaning tasks, as well as ones that you might have put off at other times of the year. Consider going the extra mile by renting equipment for deep cleaning carpets, furniture, and upholstery in order to give your home that extra shine for the holidays.

• Get Your Yard Ready for Decorating
  Do you love decorating your yard for the holidays? Before you get busy stringing up lights and inflating lawn characters, it's worth taking care of some outdoor maintenance to ensure your yard looks its best once it's all lit up. Clear out debris that's built up during the fall, prune trees/shrubs as needed, clear any clutter that doesn't fit with holiday décor, and create a beautiful blank slate for your holiday decorating.

• Inspect Your Fireplace and Chimney
  There's nothing like getting cozy around a crackling fire during the holidays, so why not take this time to make sure your chimney and fireplace are good to go? If you haven't already had them cleaned and serviced for the season, now is the time.

• Service Your HVAC System
  Your HVAC system is another key area of the home that you want to be ready for this time of year so that you and your guests stay comfortable. Your HVAC pro can give your system a checkup, and you can also replace filters as needed according to the manufacturer's instructions.

• Seal Drafts for Comfort and Energy Efficiency
  Of course, you also want your heating system to work as efficiently as possible during the winter. Sealing drafts is an important step in making that happen, and it also makes your home more comfortable during the coldest months of the year. Focus on openings like doors, windows, and vents, using either caulk or weather stripping to seal drafts as appropriate.

Searching for a home where you can make holiday memories for many years to come? Our local team is here to help you achieve your real estate goals. Contact us to buy and sell homes throughout the Albany and Corvallis, OR, area.