Everyone knows New Year’s resolutions are hard to keep. Instead of going the traditional route of resolving to lose weight or save money, resolve to improve your home! With a few simple commitments, you can increase your home’s value and keep your home in tip-top shape all year long!
Here are our top New Year’s resolutions for your home.
1. Cut Energy
On average homes in the U.S. spend about 41% of their energy costs on heating and cooling. For older homes, or those with inefficient windows and insulation that number is even higher! One way to save energy (and money!) is to ensure your home has enough attic insulation.
Proper insulation keeps warm air inside your home in the winter and prevents cold air from escaping in the summer. According to the EnergyStar website, homeowner’s can expect to save $200+ or more per year on energy costs with the proper level of attic insulation.
2. Budget For Maintenance
Owning a home can be expensive! One way to offset the cost of home repairs is to budget for home repairs every month. Experts suggest that around 1% of your home’s overall should be put back into your home each year through improvement projects. Take the 1% total amount and divide by 12 to get a total monthly home maintenance budget
3. Get Regular Roof Inspections
A home’s roof is often the last thing that homeowners think about when it comes to home maintenance, but it’s one thing you need to keep your eye on to provide the best protection to your home. It’s also one area that homeowners should not inspect themselves. Due to safety concerns, it’s best to have a trained professional climb up on a roof.
Regular, routine inspections should be done at least twice a year to spot potential problems and prevent costly repairs. A roof inspection should also be completed after a significant storm to check for loose or missing shingles or hail damage.
4. Upgrade To Maintenance Free Materials
Home maintenance is not something most look forward to doing on the weekends. By updating your home with maintenance-free materials like fiber-cement siding, LED light bulbs and ceramic tile you can save time and reduce stress. Depending on the project, you may even save money on energy costs and live with less stress because you won’t need to replace and repair as often.
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