Every year, the New Year arrives on our front doorstep brimming with possibilities. With the New Year comes new beginnings. It’s a time to start fresh and leave the past behind. Like most people, it’s a common practice to write down your New Year’s resolutions every year—your goals, dreams, and passions for the upcoming twelve months. So who made the rule you only had to write resolutions about your personal life—why not make resolutions for your home, too? This year, make it your priority to move through your house like a hurricane of can-do, fixing, painting, and organizing. Don’t let anything get in your way.
Here are our top eight best home improvement resolutions for the New Year and how to achieve them:
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Clean Weekly
Cleaning your house on a once-a-week basis is most likely already on your weekly to-do list. But how often does that actually happen? Make an effort to never leave dishes in the sink and put clean clothes directly back into the closet! Also, try and focus on one type of cleaning at a time—it’s proven to be faster and more efficient. Want to maximize efficiency? Enlist the help of your family and assign weekly chores. A clean home is a happy home.
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Clear Clutter
De-cluttering your life is key when entering the New Year with a fresh start. In fact, it’s the best and cheapest way to feel better about your home. It may be overwhelming attacking those closets you haven’t opened in a while or those drawers that have never seen the light of day, but it’s time to face your fears and take away all of the unnecessary things in your life. By clearing out your clutter, it will create extra storage space where you can store your more prized-possessions easily without the room looking messy.
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Create A Healthy Kitchen
The kitchen is the heart of any house. It’s where everyone gathers to talk, cook, and eat together. So why not make your kitchen the most healthy and family-friendly place in the house? Make your kitchen clean, healthy, and organized by keeping healthy recipes on hand, nutritious snacks in the pantry, and throwing out anything that has overstayed its time in your refrigerator. Like a healthy heart, your kitchen will beam of health and happiness in the New Year.
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Make That Repair
Small home improvement projects not only upgrade your living space but also can be made into a fun activity to do with the family. Try out some D-I-Y projects—they’re a fun and creative way to spend time with the family. Plus, when it’s all done you feel a sense of accomplishment. Need some ideas? Re-paint that room you’ve been putting off or try installing shelves in your closets. Hey, you might even increase your home value, too!
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Make An Emergency Preparedness Kit
The saying goes, it’s better to be safe than sorry. That saying applies to the home, too. Although we hope it never happens, preparing for an emergency is a smart way to be ready in the event. Create a list of supplies that you and your family will need, and store it in a safe, yet accessible place in your house. In the event of an emergency, you’ll have your supplies and be prepared. Some things we suggest are first aid kits, water, flashlights, batteries, and non-perishable food items.
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Spend Time Together
We are always looking for excuses to spend more time with our family. Keep those boardgames in the cupboard and create a small garden with your family. Teaching your children how to take care of a living thing is an invaluable lesson. While you’re at it, why not name your plants? They’re part of the family, too! A bonus: once your plants grow big enough, their leaves will protect your house from the summer sun, which will help cut your energy bill.
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Slash Your Bills
Our homes cost a lot of money. Outside of the purchase price, we have monthly expenses including water, electric, and gas. Making a few simple changes such as installing energy-saving lightbulbs, EPA-certified WaterSense products, and low-flow shower heads will make a dent in those big bills. Don’t forget to turn off the lights when leaving a room, and lowering the heat or A/C when going out of the house. Simple and small changes make a large difference in the long term.
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Make It Safe And Sound
Your home may look beautiful on the inside and out, but is it safe? There are a few things homeowners need to check every year regarding safety and prevention, so the New Year is the perfect time to complete your checklist. Your list should include the following: check for radon, change out your old air filters with new ones, replace smoke detector batteries, and install carbon monoxide detectors. These simple checks are important in preventing an emergency for your family.
The New Year is the perfect time to start thinking about your goals for the future—it’s a time of possibility and excitement. Thinking about selling your home in Toledo? After the holidays is a great time to start prepping your home for sale. For the most professional and knowledgeable realtors in the area, contact The Degnan Group at Key Realty.