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The Not-Boring Housewarming: 4 Tips on Throwing an Epic Open House

Written by Realty Times Staff Posted On Wednesday, 17 February 2016 14:02

Let's warm this house up with a few dozen (or more) of your best friends and family who are no doubt dying to see your new place. Reduce the stress by pre-making passable appetizers, have a plethora of old school entertainment on hand and keep the libations flowing responsibly to make new memories in your new home that no one is soon to forget.

Don’t Wait: You Made the Move, so Have the Party Already!

Maybe you bought a fixer upper. Maybe all the unopened boxes are still stuffed in the spare room. It doesn’t matter. Your friends and family want to see the new digs, so don’t wait for months or even a year to have your housewarming. Your place is perfect for a housewarming party just how it is. Whether you are planning some major renovations or just buying a new couch off of Craigslist, your guests will enjoy seeing the "before" version of your new spot, plus they can give you feedback on your plans for the place. So send out the email, mass text or handwritten invite, as long as you have good food, drink and company, you’re sure to make some new memories.

Let’s Play: Outdoor and Indoor Entertainment for All

Board games are the new corn hole, which is good news if your new home doesn't have a backyard. Beware of games like Monopoly or Life, though. They are long, drawn out and not very inclusive. Games like Pictionary, Charades and the always epic (but R-rated) Cards Against Humanity will get everyone in on the fun and make some serious memories.

Our favorite idea is popular at weddings, but works perfectly for a housewarming party too: buy a Jenga set and have guests sign and customize a piece of the game. Throw a few pens out on the table, ask friends to write their favorite memory of your old place on one side and the fave moment from the housewarming on the other for a timeless keepsake. Or better yet, get a set of colorful fine tip sharpie markers and turn this game into an art project. Either way, you’ll end up with a fun game that doubles as a memory bank and conversation starter you’ll want to pull out of the closet for every party in the future.

The Eats: Get Your Finger Foods On

Finger foods encourage mingling and are often a lot cheaper (and less stressful) to do yourself than a full-on sit down meal, and buffet-style offerings often leave latecomers with picked-over troughs of the less desirable dishes. But finger foods don’t have to be boring chips and dip. A quick Pinterest search can help you get creative with simple appetizers to pre-make and pass around the room throughout the evening to keep everyone satiated. We love this amazingly creamy, easy and cheap corn jalapeno dip you can make in the crock pot. These healthy, but hearty zucchini pizza bites will have your guests’ mouths watering.

Drink Up: Don't Forget to Keep It Classy

Offering a full bar at your housewarming shindig can be tricky and expensive. You always run out of everyone’s favorite mixer or guests simply don’t know what they want. So make a signature cocktail, something you can prep ahead of time, that’s creative, refreshing and not too boozy. Remember, guests can always add a little more booze to their cocktail, but once it’s in there, it’s in there, and you don’t want anyone getting too sloshed and driving home (be sure to offer the couch or an Uber to anyone too tipsy).

You should also have beer and a non-alcoholic option besides bottled water. Cucumber lemon water is a refreshing fave, but any pitcher filled with a little fresh fruit and or herbs will encourage guests to stay hydrated and happy. And you don’t need to buy boring beer or an obscure craft beer to keep your hoppy friends happy. We love big, trusted name brands like Guinness getting creative with new brewing techniques and flavor profiles that are innovative but not too crazy.

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