The arrival of January brings the annual tradition of creating New Year’s resolutions like living a healthier lifestyle, spending more time with family or friends, or even acquiring new skills or fun hobbies. No matter what your personal goals are for 2023, don’t forget to set some New Year’s resolutions for your home! Of course, we jotted down some ideas for you to consider!
Conquer Your Clutter!
One of the best and least expensive ways to feel better about your home is to clear it of clutter. Each year (especially after the holidays), we acquire more than enough stuff. Without some regular purging, cabinets and drawers get jam-packed, and it quickly gets hard to find what you need. This year, be resolved to go through every room in your home periodically to purge anything that you don’t use, wear or love, and donate it to charity.
Make Your Home Safer
Every homeowner should ensure that their home does not contain any potential health hazards. First, check your house for radon. January is the perfect time to get this done as it is National Radon Action Month. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, this colorless, odorless gas causes about 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year from the radioactive particles it traps in your lungs as you breathe. Radon tests are inexpensive, so there really isn’t a reason to not jump on that.
In addition to radon, carbon monoxide is another deadly gas you need to be able to detect quickly. Install carbon monoxide detectors on every bedroom floor in addition to fire detectors to safeguard you and your family in case a chimney flue or furnace vent gets blocked or leaks.
Another simple resolution to add to your list is to watch out for dryer lint. More importantly, do not neglect to clean the vents and ducts behind the dryer. Lint is highly combustible and accounts for more than 15,000 building fires a year according to the U.S. Fire Administration.
Shrink Your Bills
Cutting energy usage in your home will not only shrink your bills but also your carbon footprint. While solar panels seem like the green way to go, maybe it doesn’t work well for your region or budget. Take a simpler approach to this resolution with some old-fashioned tips like switching off the lights when you leave a room, installing compact fluorescent bulbs, and adjusting your air conditioner when you leave the house.
Maintain a Clean Home
Nothing is better than a clean home, but keeping it clean can be quite complicated. The best way to combat this problem is to work out a weekly system for keeping your house clean. This will break down your cleaning by day, making it a lot more manageable!
We wish you a happy and healthy New Year! If you have home ownership goals in 2023, we are ready to help you get started!
