Holiday Hosting: How Americans are Preparing for the Season

The holiday season is nearly upon us and that means getting our homes ready to host gatherings of friends and family. After spending the last holiday with only immediate family or virtually celebrating from afar, this season brings a renewed sense of holiday cheer.

To ensure everyone is ready to make the season merry and bright, we conducted a “Holiday Home Hosting Survey,” to get an inside look at homeowners’ plans and trends ahead of the holiday season. We know that hosting for the holidays requires a lot of planning and preparation and here at Thumbtack, we wanted to know exactly what projects are on to-do lists, and how our pros can help make the transition back into hosting for the holidays even easier.

Here’s what you need to get your home holiday ready — from preparing your home for guests, to the most forgotten items on your to-do list, and even the definitive timeline for putting up and taking down your holiday decor (including what your neighbors think!).

Ho, Ho, Hosting
Across the country, homeowners are preparing to open their doors to family, friends and neighbors, but many this year may not be so seasoned at hosting. In fact, according to our Holiday Home Hosting Survey, among new homeowners, 55% are hosting for the first time this year. Overall, 69% of homeowners plan to host holiday celebrations with family and friends, which can require some help to ensure your home is ready to welcome the people who matter most.

Below are some important projects to complete so you are ready to host for the holidays:

• Make It Nice: Give your rooms some much-needed coat of TLC by tapping a pro for interior painting. The national average cost to paint a room is $917.
• Spread Holiday Cheer: Decorating for the holidays can help guests feel welcome and set the tone for the fun ahead. On average, the cost to hire a pro to hang holiday lights is about $200-$400.
• Prepare For Hungry Guests: Having your kitchen in tip-top shape is a holiday must — no one wants their oven or stove to have issues when they’re trying to cook a holiday feast. On average, kitchen appliance repairs cost $191.

’Twas the Night Before Decorating
The holidays seem to kick off earlier and earlier every year — so we asked the age-old question: when is the appropriate time to actually set up and take down your holiday decor?

Well, according to our Holiday Home Hosting Survey, here is the definitive answer: Thanksgiving is the sweet spot for putting up your holiday decorations with 43% of homeowners reporting that they decorate on the weekend before Thanksgiving or right between Thanksgiving Day and the following Sunday.

Our survey results also show that after spending last year’s holiday season social distancing, 41% of homeowners are ready for the holidays to start early (compared to years past) and 45% of homeowners feel they need to make up for not decorating enough last year. So, there might even be some Santa sightings before Turkey Day this year.

Getting your home holiday ready isn’t always bright lights and mistletoe — it also involves chores and less-festive tasks, like cleaning, organizing, repairing and more. According to our survey, nearly one-third of homeowners (29%) tackle their holiday to-do lists one month or more before the holidays, which means that homeowners have already started getting ready for Thanksgiving. These projects include everything from Painting Kitchen Cabinets (on average $500), to Rug Cleaning (on average $108) and also Home Organizing (on average $117).

Don’t worry, the holiday season isn’t over on December 26. Most homeowners are planning to extend their decorations into the New Year with 59% of homeowners reporting that their decorations will be down between January 1 — January 15.

Decor Faux Pas

The holidays are known as the season of giving and that extends to your neighbors — here’s your cheat sheet so that you can be the favorite home on the block:

• Early birds don’t get the worm: Almost 27% of homeowners would prefer their neighbors put up holiday decorations after Thanksgiving
• Neighbors beware: 42% of homeowners would prefer their neighbors take down their holiday decorations in early January (believe it or not, 6% of homeowners believe that you can leave them up year-round)
• Talk of the town: Despite getting a bad rep, an overwhelming number of homeowners are fine with their neighbors putting up large props such as reindeer, sleighs, etc. (65%), inflatables (60%) and blinking or musical lights (60%)
• Let there be light, all night: Nearly 40% of homeowners don’t mind if their neighbors leave their holiday lights on past midnight. Here are a few tips for saving money on your holiday lights display:
• Buy your holiday lights during the off-season or when they go on sale after the holidays.
• Choose LED lights that will use less electricity and last for more holiday seasons: They may cost more upfront, but save on energy costs over time.
• Be selective: Pick just a few areas to light in the exact way you want, rather than your entire home.
• Schedule your light show: Have a pro put your holiday lights on a timer in order to keep your electricity bill down.
• Making It Merry and Bright: This year, holiday decorating is the top Do It For Me project, and they’re willing to pay up to $500 for a pro to help. On Thumbtack, the average cost for hanging holiday lights is between $200 — $400 depending on the size of the home and amount of lights.

Naughty or Nice List

The holidays can’t be all fun and games, especially when doing work around the house to prepare for guests. The good news is, Thumbtack can help you tackle some of your not so favorite tasks so you can focus on the things that make the holidays magical.

While one-third of homeowners say that their favorite holiday is buying gifts for family and friends, approximately 41% of homeowners say cleaning up after a holiday gathering or party is their least favorite task.

Don’t let the post-party blues ruin your holidays, the national average cost of house cleaning is $165 in the U.S, but varies depending on the size of your home:

• A three-bedroom, 2,000-square-foot home costs $150 to $250 to clean
• A one-bedroom apartment starts at $80 to $110

There are also some items on our never ending to-do lists that can be easily forgotten. Can you guess what some of these might be?

59% of homeowners forget to clean their house (vacuum, clean guests bathrooms, etc.) before hosting, followed by 26% who forget to hang holiday lights, and 26% who don’t de-ice their walkways.

• Vacuuming: On average, professional carpet cleaning costs $150, but prices range anywhere from $80-$299. How much you’ll pay for carpet cleaning services can vary depending on how many rooms need cleaning.
• Hanging Holiday Lights: Most holiday light installations cost between $200 and $400 on average. 26% of homeowners forget to decorate with holiday lights each year.
• De-icing Driveways and Walkways: On average, snow plowing services cost $60. 20% of homeowners forget to shovel snow on their driveways and sidewalks each year and 26% don’t de-ice their driveways.
• Cleaning: Additionally, 59% of homeowners forget to clean their house before hosting guests. On average, having your house cleaned costs $40-$65 per hour. 20% of homeowners forget to clean their home each year.
• Grocery Shopping: 18% of homeowners forget to shop for holiday meals each year. On average, personal chefs cost $70-$90.

These tasks are a great opportunity to call in the pros so that you can spend time with your family and friends worry-free this holiday season.

Ready for some hosting help this holiday season? Find a local pro near you at www.thumbtack.com or download the Thumbtack app (available on iOS and Android).

Project data methodology: All data is based on findings from 10/27/2021. All pricing data is based on national averages, real prices may vary based on city and supply.

Survey data methodology: Thumbtack conducted a survey of the general population on 10/19/2021 of 1,116 U.S. adults aged 18 or higher with a margin of error of +/- 3%.