Happy Holidays Blog PostAhh the holidays, isn’t this time of the year so relaxing?

Not even close! However, that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be. The holiday season is meant to be a time for togetherness, spreading joy, extending a helping hand to those in need, and appreciating the importance of family and friends. Whether you plan to travel far or you’ve found yourself hosting guests this year, here are some tips for making the season a little less stressful and a little more enjoyable for everyone.

Planning for Guests’ Arrival

 Check your HOA’s parking policy to make sure that you can provide your visitors with the proper parking/guest pass if they will be parking on Association property.

 Ask guests to carpool. Many homeowners will have visiting guests, be a courteous neighbor and do your part to make sure there is ample guest parking for all owners’ visitors.

 Check your HOA’s parking policy to determine if security needs to be notified of overnight guests or if a special pass is needed.

 Make sure you have gone through the tips above and are prepared for visitors before 12:30pm on Wednesday, December 24, 2014 in case you need to contact management for a permit. Compass Management Group, Inc. will be closing at 12:30pm on Wednesday, December 24, and will be closed Thursday and Friday, December 25 and 26, 2014. Compass Management will also be closing at 12:30pm on December 31, and will be closed Thursday and Friday, January 1 and 2, 2015. Only emergencies causing property damage will be addressed on these days.

 If your Association has a gated entry, make sure guests have instructions on how to contact you to open the gate.

 If guest parking is limited at your Association, make sure guests have directions to a nearby location with ample legal parking. This will help avoid last minute phone calls and confusion that may lead to accidental illegal parking that could result in your guest’s car being towed.

If you plan on renting your Association’s clubhouse for a holiday event, be sure to book it well in advance to ensure the date you are planning on is still available.

 

Planning to Leave Town

 Call your post office and have your mail held there if you will be gone for more than a few days. Mail theft is on the rise, especially during the holiday season.

 Set up timers on various lights throughout your home to turn on and off throughout the evening to give the appearance that someone is home.

 Notify a trusted neighbor that you will be out of town and have them keep an eye on your home while you are gone.

 Double check that all windows are closed and locked, including any bathroom windows that are often left cracked open.

 Double check that appliances such as coffee makers and toasters are unplugged before leaving.

 Make sure your porch light bulb is working and comes on each night.

 Have packages sent to your work place if possible, or make sure all packages require a signature for delivery to avoid having them left at your front door.

 

Planning a Large Meal

 Acknowledge offers from guests that want to bring something. It’s easy to assign simple things to those who want to help. Stick to asking for things that travel well and won’t need much preparation once the guest arrives. Salads, pre-made rolls or French bread, appetizers, pies, or drinks are all great options.

Consider having a large spread of appetizers for guests to munch on instead of planning a large meal. As long as there are a few hearty selections, most guests will be delighted to be able to snack throughout the evening instead of sitting down to a formal meal.

  Use your slow cooker! What could be better than throwing a few ingredients together and forgetting about it all day, only to uncover the lid at mealtime and reveal a delicious dish? A simple internet search will give you countless great ideas for your slow cooker, like a cheese fondue that’s easy to keep warm all evening!

 It’s important to make sure the dietary restrictions of your guests are taken into consideration. While it’s unrealistic to please everyone with each dish you serve, you do want to make sure there is enough of a selection to please all palates and make everyone comfortable. Be sure to ask your guests ahead of time if they have any specific restrictions. With some thought, most dietary needs can be accommodated with the preparation of just a few dishes. For example, a butternut squash soup that can be made in the slow cooker, or even the day before and just reheated, would please vegetarians as well as diabetic, or gluten-free guests. Salads and roasted vegetables are also great options. Be sure to leave dressings, cheese, and croutons on the side for guests to add themselves.

 

With just a little pre-planning, this holiday season can be a time for all to relax, enjoy and celebrate.

Compass Management Group, Inc. would like to wish you and your family the happiest of holidays and a wonderful new year!