Decorating your house for the holidays is one of the perks of home ownership, allowing you to express your family’s personality and make the place your own. However, as much fun as it is to cover your home in lights, it’s important to do so safely. Top real estate agent Justyna Johnson – Edina Realty in Woodbury and South Washington County, has some tips to keep your holidays from becoming a tragedy.

5 Holiday Safety Tips

1. Use a Fresh Tree

Real trees are actually much less flammable than an artificial one from the store. However, you should keep it watered throughout the season since the dried-out needs of a dehydrated tree present a fire hazard of their own.

2. Check the Smoke Detectors

Most fire-related deaths occur in homes without smoke detectors, so test your devices before putting up your lights. The holidays can be a great reminder to change the smoke detector’s batteries as well.

3. Examine the Lights

Before putting up the lights, examine each strand, looking for any frayed wires or missing rubber. If you find a problem, it’s better to discard the entire strand rather than risk fixing it.

4. Use the Buddy System

When hanging lights, never stand on a ladder without having someone stabilize it. And no matter how stable the ladder feels, don’t stand above the warning step at the top.

5. Put Lights on a Timer

A fire that breaks out when you’re not home can quickly engulf your home, so turn them off whenever you leave. If you absolutely love the feeling of coming home to a house glowing with holiday cheer, try putting them on a timer.

If you’re looking to build a home, buy a home or list one anywhere in the Greater St. Paul area, Justyna Johnson –  Edina Realty and her TopTrustedTeam has the experience and expertise you need. As one of the area’s leading real estate agents, she’s earned national recognition, from being featured on “House Hunters” to a five-star rating on Zillow. Visit her website to learn more about her background and reputation, follow her on Twitter for more advice, or call (651) 501-2345 to speak to a leading real estate agent today.