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From a big family Christmas to a New Year’s bash, you want to make sure you're completely party-proofed, right? Well, we've got your home covered!
- How to plan the perfect party
- 12 top tips for hosting the ultimate Christmas dinner
- Remember to party-proof your home
The festive season involves parties and planning on a scale unlike any other time of year. With big expectations, serving up a tasty variety of food and hosting friends and family, Christmas parties are notoriously stressful to plan… No matter how organised you may be, you’ll always find obstacles along the way.
Our LV= team have put together some top tips for hosting the ultimate Christmas dinner, considering all the things you might overlook, but need to remember, to make sure nothing goes wrong. Don’t forget, having the right home and contents insurance will help you enjoy the festivities stress-free, and with peace of mind.
How to plan the perfect party
Step 1: Make a game plan
The key to a successful and stress-free party is efficient planning. Being well organised can save you a lot of hassle. Theme, guestlist, dress code, menu, playlist... oh, and party-proofing of course! But we'll get to that.
Step 2: Game-changing party decorations
Creating your own decorations, signs, and baubles is a great way to get the kids involved with party prep. Making your own also means they’re more environmentally friendly, reusable, and recyclable!
Step 3: Keep your guests happy: food & drink
One of the best bits of any party is the food. Make your party memorable with plenty of finger food, snacks and festive treats. Remember to cater for all, especially keeping in mind any dietary requirements, so the whole family is well fed. Drinks and food go hand in hand so don't forget to have drinks at the ready and make sure there’s plenty to choose from.
Step 4: A little bit of ambiance.
There’s nothing like music to get people in the party spirit! You could create your own playlist, tune into one of the Christmas radio stations or even ask your smart speaker to “play Christmas music.” Using a wireless radio or Bluetooth speaker means you can move the music wherever you need to.
How to party-proof your home?
We’ve put together 12 top tips for hosting the ultimate Christmas dinner in your home. Better safe than sorry!
Our 12 tips of party planning
1. Check your cover:
Review your insurance policy to make sure you’re covered for potential holiday-related incidents, like kitchen fires or accidental damage. It’s important to know what you’re covered for. If disaster strikes, you’ll know what you can claim for and how much, without the pressure of finding paperwork or worrying about your damages or losses. It’s also a good idea to have an emergency plan in place, so you know how to contact your insurer and provide documents promptly.
2. Insurance ‘Claus’:
Have you thought about doing an inventory on valuables in case of loss or damage? Having an up-to-date list can speed up the insurance claim process and reassure you that all your most cherished and important valuables are covered. Don’t forget to let your insurer know if you have any new festive purchases over the single article limit on your contents cover, so you can have peace of mind it’ll be covered if the worst happens.
3. Assess risks:
Identify any potential hazards where you’re expecting to host guests and carry out party prep, particularly in the kitchen and dining area, so you can prevent accidents or damage. With more utensils out than your standard dinner, be sure you have enough space to work (and stuff) in the kitchen, without posing risks to yourself, others or the turkey!
4. Decorate safely:
Hanging lights and decorations is an art, but they're not worth a claim for broken windows. When decorating for Christmas dinner or a New Year’s celebration, prioritise safety to avoid accidents. Make sure your decorations don't pose any fire or injury risks, double check the materials and placements to avoid them falling on, or near, lit flames. And always remember to switch off lights and blow out candles after a party.
5. Talk to neighbours:
Let your neighbours know if you plan to have more guests over than usual so they’re not alarmed by more cars in the area and are aware of any potential noise. Alternatively, be sure to let them know if you plan to be away over the festive period, so they can keep an eye on your property and notify you of any suspicious activity.
6. Reindeer-proof your roof:
Santa might be magical, but his reindeer aren't covered by insurance for roof-related accidents. Review your insurance and stay informed about any updates or changes in coverage that may affect your roof this winter.
7. Home security:
Make sure your home security system is on and working, especially if you're away during the holidays (or home alone!). Christmas is a great opportunity for potential thefts and home break-ins, and you don’t want to be left exposed to burglars who are looking for a big payday this Christmas. Avoid taking tips from Kevin McCallister and read more about how to keep your home secure over the festive season here.
8. Seasonal maintenance:
Carry out maintenance to prepare your home for winter. Identify and address potential issues before they become major problems, such as checking the heating system, insulating pipes and outdoor drainage. It may be worth buying some tools in case disaster strikes, so nothing stops you having a merry Christmas.
9. Keep receipts:
Remember to keep all your receipts for expensive holiday purchases. They can be crucial when filing a claim for lost, stolen or damaged items.
10. Liability coverage:
If guests are coming over, be aware of liability issues. Review your liability coverage to make sure it's sufficient for potential accidents during gatherings in your home. You can't claim for a twisted ankle under the mistletoe!
11. Flaming hot:
Avoid leaving candles or open flames unattended to help prevent fire hazards during the festive season. We know everyone likes to decorate in and around their homes, particularly with candles as part of table decor. Look for alternatives, like a faux flame, to set the right ambiance and also stay safe. If you’re using real candles, remember to blow them out when you leave the room and keep them covered to stop them catching again.
12. Outdoor decorations:
Keep outdoor decorations well secured to prevent damage from wind, rain, and even theft. This should help you avoid claiming for damages due to a blow-up Santa knocking objects into windows or light-up reindeer catching fire! Be sure to pack them away safely once your events are finished and when the festivities are over, particularly if you’re away from home for a long stretch of time, to avoid unwanted attention from thieves.
Enjoy the party with a relaxed mind
Now that you’ve planned an amazing Christmas dinner party, you're almost ready. There’s one last thing to do if you want to enjoy your party stress-free... burglar-proof your home! To avoid ruining your fun and to keep your mind worry-free, make sure you’re covered by home and contents insurance and check out our guide to securing your home this festive season.
Already have home insurance? Check what it covers and consider purchasing additional accidental damage insurance, if needed. And rest assured that this, coupled with our guide, will (almost) guarantee a stress-free festive season.
If you don’t already own home insurance, what are you waiting for? Finding the right home and contents insurance is the ultimate move to make sure you can celebrate Christmas and ’rein’ in the new year with no stress. Get a contents, buildings or combined home insurance quote with LV=.