It doesn’t matter if you’ve done it for the past 10 years or it’s your first time, hosting a Thanksgiving celebration with family and friends can give even the most experienced host a hot surge of anxiety.

From shopping for and prepping the food to cleaning – before, during and after – to decorations to the actual cooking, you may want to keep a paper bag handy to help you remember to breathe without falling over from a healthy mix of stress and hyperventilation.

So here, we offer 10 helpful home tips to make sure you can enjoy Thanksgiving for what it really is – an opportunity to be with the ones we love most. Oh, and eat all the delicious food, too.

1. Thermostat

Many heartbeats under one roof can make a home feel much warmer, and so can that hot oven. But turning your AC too far down could cause your system to crash. So just drop the temperature 2-3 degrees every couple of hours.

2.  Hominess 

From crisp linens to plush bedding to extra blankets and pillows in a decorative basket at the foot of the bed for guests to grab as needed, a little attention to the details will make guests feel right at home.

3. Filters

Not that we need to tell you but … make sure you check your air filters once a month to save you money on your energy bill and keep your system from working as hard to keep your home cool while you host.

4. Outlets

Make sure to have plenty of available – and unused – outlets guests can access without moving furniture or unplugging anything. If you’re short on outlets or they’re inaccessible, buy power strips.

5. HVAC

Having a full HVAC inspection can prevent any unwanted – and hot – issues on the big day, as well as save you money and reduce stress, especially when it’s in high demand.

6. Entertainment

Have a nice variety of good books and magazines – and maybe even some family albums for family to flip through – to give everyone a quiet activity when they need a moment of respite or solitude.

7. Plumbing

At all costs, avoid the temptation to dump grease down your drains – even before hosting. All that grease can clog over time – no one wants to spend their Thanksgiving snaking the sink or plunging a toilet.

8. Snacks

Sure, a big meal is on the horizon but guests came to eat – and eat they will. All day, too. So offer a variety of snacks, like cheese and crackers, fresh fruit, chips, dips, charcuterie, mixed nuts and more.

9. Electric

Lots of guests means lots of stress on your outlets, so make sure you haven’t overloaded your outlets. From loose wires to faulty sockets, fire hazards are a real danger. Consider some surge protectors to avoid issues.

10. Bathroom

Keep your bathroom stocked beyond the travel essentials. Think of anything a guest might need but may be too embarrassed to ask for, like a plunger, matches, room deodorizer, extra toilet paper and more. 

Just a few thoughtful and proactive touches can ensure that your big day goes off without a hitch and that your guests leave happy, satisfied and filled to the brim with amazing memories of time spent with loved ones. Just don’t forget to save us a seat!

Because at DeLeon Sheffield Company, ‘We’re More Than Realty; We’re Family.’