[AD] How to Be a Great Guest for a Housewarming Party
Housewarming parties are a lot of fun. They’re an opportunity to celebrate a major milestone in your friend or family member’s life. This is particularly true for housewarming parties that celebrate the first mortgage, or a first home with a loved one or partner.
However, while many people have been invited to housewarming parties in the past, most of us aren’t 100% sure how we should behave when we’re there. It’s difficult to know whether you’re expected to bring a gift, how long you should stay, and whether you should bring your own food and drinks.
Here are some quick tips to make sure that you’re a better guest for the next housewarming party that you attend.
- Get the Details in Advance
If the invitation that you get for the housewarming party is vague, don’t be afraid to get some clarification. For instance, if your family member tells you that they’re having a quick party on the night they move into their home, ask them when you should arrive. Do they want you to get there early and help with getting things ready? What time are you expected to leave?
There’s nothing wrong with asking for extra details to avoid mistakes. Just like you might need directions to get to the new house, you may also need to ask about parking options, and whether you should expect to eat while you’re there, or you need to eat before you go.
- Be Practical with Gifts
You won’t always have to take a gift to a housewarming party, but it’s a customary thing to consider if you’re close to the person in question. When it comes to picking the right gift, practical items are usually a good choice. Find out what the hosts of the party already have for their new home, and what they need to get started. This can really help them to make some progress in furnishing their property.
If you don’t have a lot of money to spend on fancy gifts, you could consider offering your time and services instead. For instance, moving into a new house is often an exhausting process that requires a lot of decorating work. Maybe you can offer to paint for your friends when they decide to start decorating or take care of their garden work for a few weeks. Sites like UKGifts have great ideas for gifts if you’re finding yourself stuck.
- Don’t Pick Fault
Your friends or loved ones are inviting you to this housewarming party so you can celebrate an important step with them. The chances are that they’re not totally happy with where the house is yet. They may have unpacking to do still, or they might want to rip up the carpets and replace them before they love the look of the house.
It won’t be helpful at this time to tell your loved ones what you dislike about their new property. Wait for them to say that they’re not happy with something and offer your help to deal with it if you can. For instance, if the couple says that they hate the wallpaper in the living room, say you’d be happy to help them strip it. Don’t point out how much you hate that wallpaper first.
- Be Courteous
Many homeowners have unique rules when it comes to their own homes. For instance, during the housewarming party, it’s important not to rush into the house without asking whether you should take your shoes off first. If the family has just purchased some new carpet, they don’t want to spend a fortune cleaning it after your muddy shoes have trampled everywhere.
Don’t sit or lean on any furniture without permission and avoid helping yourself to food that you find around the house, even if you could do that with your friend before. It’s important to wait for the hosts of the housewarming party to let you know what you can and can’t do. This could also apply to parking options. Don’t just assume that you can park in the driveway or on the road unless the homeowner tells you to.
- Know the Rules with Tours
Finally, make sure that you wait to be offered a tour before you take yourself on an adventure around the house. There may be some rooms that the homeowners aren’t comfortable with showing you yet. There could be spaces where boxes are piled high. Homeowners might want to keep you out of those spaces, so you don’t have any unnecessary accidents.
The only time you should go for a look around the house on your own is if the host tells you to do so. Beyond that, follow the host’s lead.
