Prep your home now to make sure you get a visit this Christmas

Media release - 12 December 2016 

·        Organise the kids to create some signs for your front yard that will ensure the Santa convoy doesn’t miss your home

·        The right festive lights can illuminate your roof or garden just like a landing strip, to help Santa and the reindeers arrive safely at your home.

·        With summer storms affecting many homeowners, this is also a good time of year to make sure your gutters are clean and to check your roof to see if it needs any repairs.

North Pole, Arctic Circle. Australian homeowners can do their bit to make sure Santa finds them this Christmas Eve, his busiest night of the year.

For starters, organise the kids to create some signs for your front yard that will ensure the Santa convoy doesn’t miss your home, advises David Cotton, Co-Principal Raine & Horne Port Douglas and Mossman, in Queensland’s tropical north.

“A ‘Santa, stop here’ sign will ensure the jolly man in the red suit delivers his gifts on time,” said Mr Cotton.

“Moreover, the signs act as a constant reminder to children that Santa isn’t far away – and that his ‘naughty or nice’ rule will dictate who will, or won’t, take delivery of some prized gifts this year,” said Mr Cotton.

Given the intense heat and humidity that Santa will encounter in northern Australia, Mr Cotton advises that now is the perfect time for checking that air-conditioners are in perfect working order.

“Cleaning your air-conditioner filters helps improve the air quality in your home and makes the machine run more efficiently to ensure that your home will provide a cool escape as Santa delivers gifts to the children of North Queensland,” said Mr Cotton.

Santa delivers presents to billions of boys and girls all over the world in a single night, which makes finding every home quite complicated.

“Fortunately, in Rudolph’s red nose, Santa has his very own Google Maps. However, even the old reindeer needs some directions occasionally,” said Vince Labbozzetta, Co-Principal Raine & Horne Liverpool, in Sydney’s west.

“And this is where plenty of Christmas lighting can be useful. The right festive lights can illuminate your roof or garden just like a landing strip to help Santa and the reindeers arrive safely at your home.”

Even if you don’t have a chimney, Santa will find a way to deliver his presents, according to Mr Labbozzetta.

“That said, if you do have a chimney, Christmas is a great time to clean it out,” said Mr Labbozzetta.

If you used a wood fire in winter, then you should arrange to have the chimney swept at least once a year to ensure it isn’t choked with soot, according to Mathew Ivanoff, Principal of Raine & Horne Wollongong.

“For gas fires, make sure the flue outlet isn’t blocked or obstructed as this can prevent dangerous carbon monoxide from escaping your home,” Mr Ivanoff said.

Pool maintenance is also a must in the run-up to Christmas, according to Mr Ivanoff.

“Ensure the water is clean and the correct chemicals are being used to ensure there are no nasty bugs that pollute the water. I mean, have a heart for the reindeer—they might be thirsty!” said Mr Ivanoff.

With summer storms affecting many homeowners, this is also a good time of year to make sure your gutters are clean and to check your roof to see if it needs any repairs.

“Your kids might not mind Santa crashing down and spilling all his presents when your roof can’t hold the weight of his sleigh, but a bunch of startled reindeer in the lounge room is the last thing you want to wake up to on Christmas morning,” said Mr Ivanoff.

–ENDS–

For further media information contact:

Raine & Horne Media on 02 9258 5400