A very NYC holiday letter from your (slightly tired but still cheerful) contractor

Dear Building Managers (and Our Favorite Festive New Yorkers),

Ah yes, the holidays in New York. Lights twinkle, pumpkins appear, menorahs glow, and Amazon drivers develop Olympic-level stamina. As your loyal construction team—the ones who patch, paint, scrape, and buff after the magic fades—we’re here with a few holiday survival tips to keep your building beautiful, safe, and lawsuit-free.

Let’s Start with the Walls

That cute little jack-o’-lantern sticker? It’s not so cute when it takes half the paint with it. Eco-friendly paint doesn’t “touch up” anymore—it repaints. So please, stick to Command™ strips or removable hooks. One pumpkin today = one big paint job tomorrow.

Decorative Doormats & Fire Inspectors Don’t Mix

We love your style. But NYC fire inspectors don’t. Those adorable mats outside your door? Violations waiting to happen. Plus, nothing kills holiday cheer faster than a trip-and-fall lawsuit.

Pumpkins Belong on Trays, Not Floors

Real pumpkins + wood floors = stains that last longer than Mariah Carey’s holiday playlist. Put them on trays. We’ll all sleep better.

Tree Tips from the People Who’ve Seen It All

Live Christmas trees make the city sparkle—right up until they scratch your lobby, shed needles in the elevator, and leave a trail of sap worthy of a crime scene.

• Bag your tree before bringing it in (your super will love you).
• Put a basin under it to catch needles and sap.
• Don’t drag it down the hallway like you’re in a Hallmark movie.

Menorahs & Candles — Keep the Fire Department Off Your Guest List

Live flames are beautiful but risky. Never leave them unattended, and if you can, go LED. Fake candles don’t drip wax on windows, burn sills, or set off building alarms at 2 a.m.

And Now… The Packages

Yes, we know. The holiday package avalanche is real. Lobby storage turns into a cardboard jungle, door staff become unofficial postal workers, and everyone’s patience runs on fumes.

• Please pick up packages promptly to keep exits clear.
• Don’t store boxes in hallways—it’s a fire hazard and a tripping Olympics no one wants to host.
• And maybe… say a kind word to your doorman. He’s not Santa, but he deserves hazard pay in December.

After the Holidays

All decorations should be cleaned up within 10 days. Old pumpkins grow mold, old trees shed needles, and abandoned décor turns into kindling. Let’s end the season with champagne, not citations.

From all of us at The Alban Group: thank you for helping us keep your NYC building safe, spotless, and standing strong. We love the holidays as much as anyone—especially when we don’t have to repaint, refinish, or re-floor afterward.

By Tammy Craig-Smith, president of The Alban Group, Newark, NJ.