You’ve just moved into your new house, and you want to share the newfound experience of home ownership with others. This is a great opportunity to throw a housewarming party. You can show off your new place to others, and it’s the perfect opportunity to get together with people that you care about, or even make new friends. But, like all parties, you need to plan so that your party is a success, and there are pitfalls to avoid so that your party goes off without a hitch. Here are four mistakes that you can avoid when planning for a housewarming party.
Don’t Host Too Early
You’re excited when you first move into a new house, and you might be tempted to show it off, but give yourself some time. Don’t be afraid to give yourself time to unpack and get settled in. You won’t want your guests tripping over boxes in the hallways, and cooking a meal is more difficult when you don’t remember where you’ve put your pots and pans. Although it’s tempting to have people over right away, you’ll be able to present your new house looking its best if you wait until you’re settled in to send out the invitations. If you want to wait several weeks or even a couple of months, your friends, family, and neighbors will likely understand.
Don’t Overspend
If you just bought a house, it’s likely that you’ve recently paid out quite a bit of extra cash. Don’t feel as though you need to spend thousands of dollars on an elaborate party. Having a cookout in the backyard is a great idea. If you moved in the winter and you live in a cold region, bake something quick, easy, and inexpensive in your kitchen. Your money is better spent on projects for the house that you’ll be able to enjoy for years.
Don’t Forget to Invite Your New Neighbors
While you want to show off your new place to your friends and family, don’t miss out on the opportunity to make friends with your new neighbors. Send out invites to the people on your block. After all, it’s nice having a support system close by. And your neighbors will likely want to get to know you, as well. A housewarming is the perfect opportunity to break the ice.
Don’t Forget to Ensure That Your HVAC and Plumbing Systems Are Working
When you’re planning a party, don’t fail to take into account Murphy’s Law. This holds true especially for housewarming parties, given that it’s a new home and you may not have tested all systems thoroughly yet. If the air conditioner is going to go out, of course it will go out when you have several dozen people over on a hot day. Have an HVAC repair person come out to your house and perform air conditioning services before you’re caught without cooling when you have a house full of guests.
Moving into a new house is exciting, but the party will be even more fun if you take the time to plan it well. Make sure that you’re ready so that you can enjoy the day with friends and family.