New Year, New Home: Resolutions for Homeowners
Have a Happy Home Improvement New Year! Make your 2024 resolution to get things done around your home. If you’ve been thinking about redecorating, now’s the perfect time for a fresh look. If your house needs TLC, maybe you need to plan for renovations, upgrades, or energy efficiency. The key is to set achievable goals and break them down into smaller tasks to get them done.
Find a New Look
If you want to redecorate, first set aside time to declutter and organize. Donate or sell items you don’t use, organize storage, and incorporate organization into your new décor to maintain order.
For instance, use pegboards to organize your garage or laundry room by hanging things like towels, dog leashes, and even a lint bucket. If you like everything hidden, use inside cabinet doors to hang baskets or buckets for stuff that clutters up countertops, like cotton swabs and pens. Plan your redecorating to add solutions so they blend with your new look.
Improve Energy Efficiency
To save money and help our planet:
- Improve energy efficiency by sealing drafts, installing energy-efficient appliances and programmable thermostats, and upgrading to LEDs.
- Check for leaks, inadequate insulation, and ductwork that needs cleaning or repair, and seal drafts in walls, doors, windows, and the attic.
- If necessary, add insulation throughout your home to help regulate temperatures and make sure ducts are aligned, sealed, and clean. You may also consider upgrading appliances and air-conditioning/heating systems if they are old or damaged.
Plan Renovation Projects
Take a good look around and make a list of areas that need improvements and why. Do you want to use your space better, increase home value, or fix things to improve daily life? Rank your projects by importance or ease of completion, set a budget for each, and then make a plan to get them done.
Tackle small, manageable projects that can make a big impact, like replacing broken gutters or repairing fences. Then, break down each project into steps you can accomplish on nights and weekends, and consider delegating some tasks to your kids to speed up completion.
Be More Secure
Enhance home security with a security system, updated locks, or motion lights around the whole house and in walkways. If you don’t have bushes under windows, consider adding some prickly ones like holly, roses, and hawthorn to discourage intruders and install deadbolts on all doors.
Handle the Heat
Finally, start now to plan for the coming heat. If you don’t have enough shade, think about adding awnings or other coverings to help cool the house. Gather fallen leaves to use as mulch, and trim trees now so you don’t have to do it in the heat. As for the inside, consider installing a whole-house fan to help for more efficient cooling and double-paned windows to keep the cool air inside.
Of course, buying a new home offers the opportunity to get the best of modern home construction for energy efficiency and contemporary home décor! An innovative and energy-efficient home in Green Meadows will help you keep your resolutions for years to come. Contact us today to start 2024 in your dream home.