Holiday Lights and Decor Safety: A December Checklist for Your Massachusetts Home

Decorating your Massachusetts home for the holidays this year? I love this season. After more than 30 years of walking into homes across Massachusetts in December, I can tell you the glow of a well-lit porch never gets old. I can also tell you that a few simple safety habits keep the season merry and keep your home in great shape for whenever you decide to sell.

Here is my practical, neighbor-to-neighbor checklist for decorating safely, inside and out.

Start With a Quick Light Inspection

Before a single strand goes up, plug each one in on the kitchen table and take a good look. Lights that have spent eleven months in a garage or attic can take a beating.

• Toss any strand with cracked sockets, frayed wires or loose connections.
• Check for a testing lab label (such as UL or ETL) and make sure outdoor lights are rated for outdoor use.
• Consider swapping older incandescent strands for LED lights. They run cooler and use less electricity.
• Follow the package directions on how many strands you can safely connect end to end.

Outdoor Lights That Can Handle a New England Winter

Our weather is the real test. Snow, sleet, freezing rain and wind will find any weak spot in an outdoor display.

• Plug outdoor lights into a GFCI-protected outlet. If you are not sure whether yours is, an electrician can tell you quickly.
• Use outdoor-rated extension cords and keep the connections off the ground and out of puddles and snowbanks.
• Hang lights with plastic clips made for gutters and shingles, not nails or staples that can damage trim and roofing.
• Keep cords off walkways and driveways so they are not tripped on or caught by a snow shovel or snowblower.
• Put outdoor displays on a timer so they are not running all night.

Every December I see beautiful homes with gutters pulled loose or shingles dotted with staple holes from holiday lights. Plastic clips cost very little and protect your roof and trim. Your future buyer’s home inspector will thank you.

Rose’s tip

Ladders, Rooflines and Icy Mornings

The safest time to hang exterior lights is on a dry, mild afternoon, ideally before the first real snow. Once ice shows up, ladder work gets risky fast.

• Set your ladder on firm, level ground and have a helper hold it.
• Never lean a metal ladder near overhead power lines.
• Skip climbing onto a snowy or icy roof. If your display needs roof access, consider hiring a pro.
• Plan to take lights down on a clear day too, rather than in the middle of a January freeze.

Trees, Candles and Indoor Decor

Inside the house, heat sources and decorations need a little breathing room. Many of us live in older Massachusetts homes with radiators, baseboard heat or wood stoves, so placement matters.

• Keep your tree and greenery well away from fireplaces, wood stoves, radiators and space heaters.
• If you have a live tree, make a fresh cut at the base and water it every day. A dry tree is a fire risk.
• Turn off tree lights when you go to bed or leave the house.
• Consider battery-operated flameless candles, especially near curtains, garland or on a crowded mantel.
• Do not run extension cords under rugs, where heat can build up unseen.

Check Your Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms

The holidays mean more cooking, more guests and more heating, so this is the perfect month to test every smoke and carbon monoxide alarm in your home. Replace batteries as needed and replace any alarm past the age on its label.

One more Massachusetts note: when you sell a home here, you generally need a smoke and CO compliance certificate from the local fire department before closing. Keeping your alarms current now makes that step much easier later.

Protect Your Home’s Finishes While You Decorate

A little care now protects the features that add value to your home.

• Use removable hooks rated for the weight you are hanging, and test them in a hidden spot first.
• Put a waterproof tray under your tree stand to protect wood floors.
• Use felt pads under heavy decor on painted or wood surfaces.
• Store decorations in labeled bins so next year’s setup is quicker and nothing gets crushed.

Curious how a well-kept home translates into value? You can request a free, no-pressure estimate anytime at What’s My Home Worth?

Your Holiday Decor Safety Checklist

• Inspect every strand of lights and discard damaged ones
• Use outdoor-rated lights and cords outside, plugged into a GFCI outlet
• Hang lights with plastic clips, never nails or staples
• Put indoor and outdoor lights on timers
• Water a live tree daily and keep it away from heat sources
• Test smoke and CO alarms and replace old batteries
• Take lights down on a dry, clear day

Every home and every situation is different. For a more in-depth discussion about yours, call or text Rose at 781-248-6069.