METAIRIE, LA, Mar 28, 2024—The holidays are a joyous time to be at home with family and friends. If you celebrate Christmas, you may enjoy decorating a tree on your own or with your loved ones. However, it's important to be mindful of safety with a real tree in your home, says Glenn "Chip" Gardner, Vice President of Operations of GARDNER. Consider the following tips.
Find a fresh tree. A fresh christmas tree with bright green needles is less likely to catch fire, according to Gardner. The tree shouldn’t be shedding its needles before you bring it home.
Light it right. Not all holiday lights are built the same. Before purchasing lights or stringing your tree, check the box to make sure all your Christmas lights have been tested in a lab by the UL or ETL/ITSNA. If a string of lights is damaged, toss it out.
Safe setting. Of course, to avoid a fire, set your tree in a safe spot away from radiators, candles, fireplaces,vents or lights. "Always keep the tree base filled with water to keep your tree healthy and a fire at bay," says Gardner.
Don't over-decorate. While it can be tempting to load your tree with every decoration, an overloaded tree is more likely to come crashing down. Decorate lightly if possible, especially if you have small children or playful pets in the house.
Power down at night. Even though it can seem appealing to leave your tree lights on all night, power them down when you turn in for the night to ensure safety.
For information on real estate, please contact GARDNER at E-News@GardnerRealtors.com, 504-887-7588, or GARDNER.
Since 1943, GARDNER REALTORS continues our tradition of excellence as the leading full-service real estate company in the Southeast Louisiana and Southern Mississippi Region. Given our experience and resources, we uphold this legacy by empowering our real estate professionals with the best support and services in the business, which allows us to consistently deliver outstanding service to clients. The GARDNER Real Estate Family includes over 800 real estate professionals in 24 neighborhood offices that serve over 100 communities. Our professional services include residential and commercial sales & leasing, relocation and corporate services, asset management/REO, and property management; plus, the convenience and added value of one-stop shopping for mortgage, title, insurance and home warranty services. We are proud to be home grown, locally owned and internationally known. Also, we love to give back to the communities we serve through GARDNER LOVE, which is the philanthropic arm of GARDNER REALTORS and The Gertrude Gardner Foundation..