Happy New Year! Here are our top New Year’s Resolutions for homeowners!

The New Year is the perfect time for a fresh start and, if you’re like me, you’re going to have a list as long as your arm about all the things you want to achieve in 2019. When it comes to New Year’s Resolutions, it’s all about thinking outside the box and creating balance, so be sure to focus on what will really help you live a better and happier life! If you’re a homeowner, here are some suggestions that you might want to add to your list.

• Commit to decluttering: Nothing stays “fresh start” better than a clean, tidy and chaos-free home, so start with a plan to organize problem areas like the garage and closets. Getting rid of clutter – and keeping it away – has been shown to have a calming and focusing effect, transforming your home into a more peaceful and productive space. Prioritize getting rid of things that are broken, that you don’t use or that you keep out of obligation, and keep things that you use, that bring you joy or are of sentimental value. It’s also a great feel-good opportunity, as much of our clutter can be donated to good causes to support those in need.
• Make sure it’s safe and sound: Your home should be a safe and secure space for you and your loved ones, and there are a few things homeowners should check each year to make sure you’re not at risk. This means checking your house for radon, installing carbon monoxide detectors and testing them each year, checking that chimney flues and furnace vents are kept clear, that dryer vents are free of lint, and that your HVAC filters are regularly cleaned or replaced.
• Save money in your home: As homeowners know, it takes a lot of money to keep your investment in great shape and to live comfortably in your home. There are a few things you can do to help reduce your everyday running costs, however, and even make your home a more valuable investment. Depending on your budget, this can mean replacing your lights with energy-saving bulbs, replacing your faucets with water-saving faucets, investing in a high-efficiency HVAC system or furnace, installing a solar energy system, turning off your air conditioning and lights when you’re out of the house, or having your home properly insulated and sealed to prevent heat or cooling loss.
• Commit to quality: This is a great resolution for any budget, and it will help you save in the long run. Buy buying investment pieces rather than fashion pieces, they’ll last longer and give you more enjoyment even if you have to spend a little more. While cute little fashion items are great and add character to your home, when it comes to sofas, dining room tables, beds and other big items, it pays to save up for a bit longer and go for a great quality piece that will be a lasting investment. Little luxuries can be a fantastic investment and a lovely way to treat yourself too! This can mean upgrading your old sheets to high thread-count ones, buying beautiful wine glasses for entertaining, some high-quality knives if you love to cook, or even investing in a cozy, high-quality blanket for those nights in on the sofa.
• Add a little curb appeal: Creating a little curb appeal, whether it’s fixing fences, planting a few pretty flowers, painting your door or pulling weeds, is a great way to increase the value of your home. Even if you’re not planning on selling soon, it’s a great way to improve the look of your neighborhood and it will give you that extra lift every time you come home!
• Check out your insurance: As homeowners, we all know insurance is important but most of us don’t really have a great idea of our coverage. Unfortunately, this means that many people get a nasty shock when the worst happens! The best way to avoid this is to take the time to really go through your insurance with your broker and ask lots of questions about your policy’s coverage for the structure and your belongings in the event of different issues. Your home is your biggest asset and you deserve to have more control over your coverage and exclusions.
• Start saving: There are always surprise expenses when you’re a homeowner and putting aside some money each month from the beginning of the year will help make these much easier to bounce back from. If you are lucky and don’t need to use it this year, you have a little bonus at the end of the year, ideal for doing that remodel you’ve been dreaming of, to do a big repair or maintenance issue that will increase your home’s value, or even to help pay off your mortgage faster.

At Shiny Key Properties, we hope these New Year’s Resolutions help you make 2019 the best year yet!