New Year’s Resolutions For Homeowners

The New Year is a time to start fresh, to set goals, and make improvements. What better place to make improvements than your home that you live in and make memories in daily? Home is where your heart is, after all, so why not dedicate some time and invest in some repairs to give your home its best year yet? In this post, we will go over some of the best new years resolutions homeowners can make to make the most out of their living space and increase the resell value.

This resolution is twofold: improve your home’s efficiency, thus reducing how much you spend on your energy bill while also saving the planet. These fixes can be done a lot easier than you may expect and don’t require installing solar panels or doling out thousands of dollars for a Tesla. Instead, start small.

• Learn how to properly recycle and get your whole family on board and participating
• Turn off the lights, TV, and any other electronics every time you leave a room
• Get your ductwork sealed and insulated to increase your home’s heating and cooling system’s efficiency by nearly 20 percent

Most people include health in their new year’s resolutions. This next one will improve your home and your family’s health. Did you know that indoor air quality is one of the most important indicators of the quality of the environment you and your family live in? Prolonged exposure to contaminated air leads to serious complications, including chronic respiratory disease, heart disease, and lung cancer. Indoor air can be chock-full of dangerous contaminants, including dust, mold spores, and pollen. This problem becomes even worse in the winter months as we spend more time inside without any open windows or doors. The good news is, you can eliminate the harmful irritants circulating in your home by doing the following:

• Maintaining your HVAC system
• Changing your furnace’s filters regularly
• Using low-VOC paint0
• Using localized ventilation in bathrooms and kitchens to get rid of smoke, cooking fumes, and extra humidity

When you use low maintenance, durable materials, you ensure hassle-free service that is long-lasting without constantly worrying about having to do repairs and maintenance. Here are some examples of low-maintenance, durable materials that are easy-to-install:

• Fiber-cement siding, which is weather-proof, extremely stable and fire, dent, and rot-resistant. This material can last for as long as 50 years.
• LED lightbulbs, which last between 18-46 years.
• Artificial plants provide beauty and decoration without the hassle of spending hours each week tending to your garden.
• Ceramic tiles look beautiful and last for decades.

Safety is at the top of mind for most homeowners. After all, your home is your safe place and escape from the world. So, dedicate some extra time to making sure your home is safe and sound in the new year.

• Make sure you have adequate fire detectors installed and that the batteries are working.
• Install carbon monoxide detectors.
• Make sure you remove the lint from your dryer after every use to avoid a fire hazard.
• Make sure your home is properly ventilated.
• Install door and window alarms.
• Ensure your home is up-to-date with the latest safety standards.

Losing weight is at the top of the new year’s resolution list every year. This year, focus on cutting the excess weight from your home and transforming it into a clutter-free space.

• Get the whole family involved and give each family member a room to organize and, most importantly, to maintain through weekly or monthly organization and cleanings.
• Keep the holiday spirit going into the New Year by having your family donate clothes and toys they no longer love.
• Purge your home of things you no longer use or need.
• Create extra space for storage to keep things organized year-round.

What better way to spend some quality time with the kids than by fixing up your family home? In addition to some QT, you will teach your kids lifelong skills.

• Has your daughter been begging for a new paint color in her room? DIY it!
• Get outside and plant trees or a garden with your family.
• Prepare a home emergency preparedness kit together.

Household debt in the U.S. was a record $14.20 trillion for the first quarter of 2020; it’s no secret that many Americans struggle to get ahold of their finances, which is why another popular New Year’s resolution is getting your finances in order. Start by setting a family budget for the new year. This will prevent you from overspending while also teaching the kids another valuable life skill. Allocate some room in the budget for home improvement and maintenance projects. Some simple ways to cut costs around the house include:

• Turn down the air conditioner or heat when you are going to be away from home.
• Aim to eat 90 percent of your meals at home instead of dining out several times per week.
• Re-evaluate your subscriptions. Do you really need to be scripted to Netflix, Hulu, Disney Plus, Peacock, and cable? Cut where you can.
• If the kids are asking for a trip to Disney or another big-ticket item, have them work on figuring out the cost and getting it to work with the family budget.

In 2020, we spent record amounts of time at home in the wake of the COVID-19 global pandemic. Though we’re still uncertain what 2021 will bring, we can bet on a spruced up entryway leading to more quality time spent at home with friends and family.

• Add a new rug in the living room to add an element of coziness.
• Add some plants or flowers to the front porch or entryway in the home for a bright welcome.
• Some cushions or a big, soft throw blanket on the couch will instantly transform the living room into a relaxing oasis.

With a few tweaks and some maintenance, you and your family can live their best year yet without spending too much money. Put the "sweet" in "home sweet home" by trying as many tips on our list as possible.