5 Bar Strategies for a Fabulous NYE Party
For the past few years, Covid has stopped many from celebrating New Year’s Eve like we used to. This year, we predict parties on parties. Ring in the New Year by hosting your own! Follow these tips to make sure your bar is stocked and the drinks keep flowing all party long. Stock up. It’s going to be a long night ahead if you want to make it to see the ball drop! Make sure you have more than enough drinks, straws, lemons, limes, chasers, etc. for everyone to last the entire night, or ask your guests to bring something! Streamline. Offer a single house cocktail. Supplement with wine, beer, and sparkling water. *Being in the real estate industry, we always lean towards lighter-colored drinks, so save your interiors and opt for perhaps a champagne cocktail or winter white sangria. Uncork the Wine Ahead of Time. The first thing guests do is head for the drinks. Uncork wine before the party starts to eliminate the kiss-Larry-on-the-cheek-while-struggling-with-the-bottle two-step, and to let the wine breathe. Put wine and beer in an ice bath a half hour before guests arrive. Fill a pretty galvanized bucket with ice, water, and a handful of salt. Stock up on ice. In addition to the ice for the bucket, “you’ll need at least one 10-pound bag for every four guests,” says Mindy Kobrin, the founder of Mindy’s Meals on Heels, an event-planning company in New York City. Make enough to drink. When whipping up batches of your house drink, “assume guests will consume two cocktails in the first hour and one drink an hour after that,” says Meghan Andalman, the owner of Lovebird Events, in Chicago. Have a variety of glasses on hand. Mismatched vessels look great. Figure each guest will use at least three glasses.*If you're worried about glassware breaking, opt for plastic champagne flutes, like these from Amazon.
7 Essential Renovations to Maximize Your Profit
Maximizing your return on investment begins with determining the estimated value of your house in today’s market. There are two free, quick, and easy ways to get this answer within the next 24 hours. Before you start tackling updates, additions, or renovations, take a look at our guide that outlines 7 essential renovations to maximize your profit.
Winter Money Saving Hacks Around the House
‘Tis the season to start saving! Temperatures are dropping more and more everyday as fall quickly passes by. Between the rising heat bill and future gift shopping, now is a great time to start saving some cold hard cash. Luckily, it only takes a few simple tweaks to your home to start making an impact on savings! Follow these 10 easy hacks you can do around the house to cut costs this winter: Program your thermostat to go up or down a few degrees when no one is home, and/or during the midnight hours when everyone is asleep. Keep your closet doors closed. Heating or cooling these areas is unnecessary. Use a clothesline to naturally dry clothes to reduce energy costs (if your climate allows). Wash your clothes in cold water. This will get your clothes just as clean and for half the energy of hot water. Check/install weather stripping on all doorways and windows to keep the warmth inside. Plug your electronics into power strips and unplug the power strips at night. Install low-flow fixtures to reduce water usage and save on your utility bill. Use fewer lights, energy-efficient light bulbs, and dust your light bulbs so they are brighter. Make your own household cleaners to save money and reduce chemical exposure. Insulate your hot water heater to keep heat from escaping and wasting money. It’s only going to get colder as we transition from fall to winter, so take advantage of these hacks now and watch the savings pile up this winter!
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