Hosting for the holidays
Prospective homebuyers who truly enjoy entertaining should look for these features
Do you dream of hosting the perfect family holiday celebration? Is it your fantasy to throw a New Year’s party that all of your friends remember?
If you are currently house hunting, these are things you should let your Realtor know.
“Realtors work every day to help their clients find the ideal house that feels like home,” said Bill Ladd, 2014 president of the Arkansas Realtors Association. “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?’” Ladd said. “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. • How big are your parties? When you throw a party, does your invitation list usually consist of three or four people, or do you expect 10 or more people?
If your get-togethers tend to have guests numbering in the double digits, you will want to look for a home with larger living and dining rooms and outdoor spaces. Otherwise, be prepared to move some furniture around to make room for everyone.
Do you want an open kitchen or a closed workspace?
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 or dining room flows directly into the kitchen, so you can still be a part of the party while you prep and cook.
If you tend to make a mess when you cook and would rather keep everything hidden, then a closed kitchen is a better option. What about a kitchen island? If you enjoy making food preparation an aspect of the gathering, an island is a musthave for your dream party house.
“An island is not only an excellent way to add more prep space to your kitchen,” Ladd said. “It’s a place to sit and chat with your guests, decorate cookies or mix drinks.”
What size and type of dining space do you need?
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 will need to seat your desired number of guests,” Ladd said. “It’s always a good idea to bring a measuring tape with you to a showing; that way you can know for sure the table that fits your guests will actually fit the room.”
House to House is distributed by the Arkansas Realtors Association. For more information about homeownership in Arkansas, visit www.ArkansasRealtors.com.