New Year's Resolutions for Your Home

There’s something about a fresh start that gives each of us a bit of unbridled hope, so when it comes to beginning anew, there’s nothing like January 1st to get us motivated with a little bit of can-do attitude. While many of us create resolutions that involve things like losing weight or keeping better track of our finances, there’s something to be said for sticking close to the home front and tackling all of those nagging property issues.

With this in mind, I’ve put together a list of home improvement resolutions that, whether you’re looking to market your home in the spring or you just want to maintain your property value, will go a long way towards keeping your home in great shape.

1.) SAVE FOR IMPROVEMENTS – Yes, most of us have been taught that maintaining a healthy emergency fund is important, but you’ll save yourself a lot of future trouble if you make a point to create a yearly budget for home improvement and maintenance projects. While having the foresight to anticipate major replacements such as a new roof or kitchen appliance takes discipline, you’ll save yourself a lot of stress if you simply have to tap into your pre-planned home savings when the time for an update arrives.

In order to estimate how much you’ll probably spend per year, the U.S. Census Bureau states that the average annual home improvement expenditures are generally 1-3% of your home’s initial price. Therefore, if you live in a $250,000 home, you should try to budget between $2,500 and $7,500 for maintenance each year.

2.) STICK TO AN ORGANIZATION SCHEDULE – If you’ve always found yourself to be a little bit of a pack rat, this resolution is perfect for you because it’s all about no-excuses organization. If clutter has taken up residence in your home, start the process by creating more areas for storage where things can be put away with ease.

If your home is small to begin with and you simply feel like there’s not enough room for all of your things, make a point to clean out your closets and with a bit of tough self-love, ask yourself whether you would even miss half of the things you’re hanging on to. If you haven’t used it in six months and you have no plans to use it in the next six, it may be time to part ways. From there, invest in a few smaller solutions such as shoe organizers and drawer dividers, and install shelves in out-of-the-way nooks, such as under the stairs or in between wall studs.

3.) CUT YOUR ENERGY USE – Whether your home was recently built or has more than a few decades under its belt, it’s important to trim your energy use. Plain and simple, making your home more green can save you a lot of money each month, but it’s also a great way to attract interested buyers who will be looking to save on energy costs if they decide to purchase your home.

Therefore, a good place to start is by sealing and insulating your HVAC ductwork, which can be an abyss of loose connections and holes. By taking the initiative to remedy any leaks, you can wind up improving the efficiency of your heating and cooling system by as much as 20%.

4.) OPT FOR MAINTENANCE-FREE MATERIALS – If some of the responsibilities of homeownership creates a bit of stress and anxiety for you, make a point to install low-maintenance products which are designed with durability and sustainability in mind.

For every day wear, LED light bulbs are a great purchase because they are said to last anywhere from 20,000-50,000 hours, and for larger projects, durable products such as ceramic tile and fiber-cement siding will keep your home looking well-kept for years to come.

5.) DO-IT-YOURSELF – Sure, most of us aren’t like Bob Vila or Martha Stewart, but tackling a few projects on your own can save you a great deal of money. Plain and simple, routine home maintenance and repair is important, so instead of dropping the cash to hire someone, do some research or ask a friend to help you get it done in your spare time. Things like building a fence, caulking windows and doors, cleaning your gutters, and painting a few rooms are relatively easy tasks that will go a long way towards keeping your home looking beautiful.

CONCLUSION

Even if you’re not someone who truly believes in setting resolutions, appreciating the importance of yearly home maintenance will go a long way towards making sure your home avoids the larger issues that stem from neglect.

If you would like to know more or you’re interested in getting your home ready for the spring market, feel free to contact me.

Pam Evans | Hello Pam Evans Real Estate | www.HelloPamEvans.com | 678-778-6551