How to Throw a Housewarming

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By eHow Contributing Writer

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If you have your housewarming well-planned, everything should fall into place when it's time for the party.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Plastic Flatware
Candles
Flowers
Appetizers
Beverages
Food
Nonalcoholic Drinks
Napkins
Paper Plates
CDs
Name Tags
Paper plates
Napkins
Candles

Step 1

Keep the checklist you made when planning the party at hand as the party approaches.
Step 2

Clean your house the day before the party. Remember that guests at a housewarming will expect a tour of your new home.
Step 3

Prepare the food the day of the party. Make sure the bar is stocked and that you have enough ice. Organize serving pieces and platters as necessary.
Step 4

Do last-minute things such as light candles, turn on music or set out appetizers just before guests arrive.
Step 5

Give each guest a name tag if people at the party don't know each other. Be conscious of seeing that everyone is introduced with a brief explanation of his or her relationship to you ("our new neighbor, Pat;" "John's business partner, Bill;" "our friends from the old neighborhood, Sue and Jack").
Step 6

Pour wine, make drinks or offer other beverages while guests are eating appetizers or snack foods (depending on the kind of party you are hosting).
Step 7

Offer informal tours of your new house. Show people around yourself, or, if you are too busy to do so, invite people to explore the home on their own. Try to be available to answer questions about the house or neighborhood.
Step 8

Serve the main meal, if you are having one, or be sure finger foods are replenished as needed throughout the party.
Step 9

Express thanks to the guests for coming, and let them know you appreciate their relationship with you and your family.

Comments

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on 11/22/2005 My sister is moving in the day before her daughter's birthday party; all the same invitees as the housewarming party. The goal is to set my sister up with necessities, but double gifting can get expensive for the guests. Not only was that timing off, but I (the party thrower) am going to be out of town the following weekend! So having it at her house 3 weeks later leaves her unprepared for the new home. So we are having it two weeks before she moves in. This will get her prepared for the move, be financially easy on the gift givers for both events, and then later she can invite them over at her leisure to show off her new pad.

For this event I think it may be appropriate to have at a restaurant, since there is no home to show off. A night out with friends and presents sounds good to me.

on 11/22/2005 Try fresh flowers and candy in every room. You don't want to "take away" from the new house.

on 11/22/2005 You may want to set this up before your guests arrive and a couple of small card tables in another room or corner of your house if you have the room.
Have games or other such as cherades or trivia & board games available for your guests. To decide which game{s) will be played first write the names of the games available in your home on several pieces of paper and toss them in a hat or small dark container and have each guest pick one. If you only have a few gusets over movie videos are also good and just for fun have them pick a movie title out of a hat to decide which one they will watch first.

on 10/1/2007 We had 45 people at our housewarming. The biggest thing to remember? Don't run out of food or beverages! Guests aren't there to give the "white glove" test. Also, you'll be amazed at the groups who are chatting and happily participating in the party.