
Owning a home can mean a constant stream of projects, but it's important not to overload yourself to the point where you get overwhelmed and put off doing any of it. If you are falling behind on home improvement and maintenance, take advantage of the boost in motivation that can come from making goals for the new year. If you only focus on a few projects this year, here are the ones our real estate agents recommend.
- Clean up your home, one room at a time.
It's easy to let a little bit of disorganization here and there slide, but after a while, you've got a completely disorganized mess that needs a major overhaul in order to feel right again. Having a lot of clutter can affect our moods and motivation negatively, so do yourself a favor and make this year all about cleaning your house! Looking at it as a single big project can be overwhelming, though, so focus each month out of the year on a different room in the house. Break up the cleaning and organizing into an hour, half-hour, or even ten minutes a day, whatever you have time for, and then spend more time on it when you have a weekend, day, or afternoon available. Besides purging and decluttering, use the month to do deep-cleaning projects that you wouldn't normally think about, or completely overhaul your organization system.
- Redecorate or change up spaces you're not happy with.
If you're not happy with certain spaces in your home, now is the perfect time to tackle them. New year, new decor! Take a space you're not fond of, and look at it from a stranger's point of view. What does it need? Would it benefit from better organization, like a mudroom or entryway system? Or is it time to refresh tired color schemes and decor with new paint and a refreshed layout? If you're cleaning and organizing one room a month, add "decorating" to your to-do list for the month, and finish up by making the space something you love.
- Go green(er).
You may already have taken steps to save energy, and therefore money, but there is always room for improvement. Going green can be as simple as switching out all your light bulbs for LED bulbs, which require less energy and last much longer than traditional bulbs. You may also consider switching out your window treatments for insulating curtains as you redecorate each room, or make this the year in which you tackle bigger projects such as replacing your windows or installing a smart thermostat.
- Boost your home's curb appeal.
It may still be winter, but it's not too soon to start planning how you'll improve your home's curb appeal, especially if you're planning on selling your home later this year. South Bend homes for sale get more attention and sell faster when they look nicer from the outside. Refresh the paint on your door and trim around the entrance, add potted plants, and plan your landscaping for spring. As an added bonus, consider adding an outdoor living space, even if it can't be seen from the curb, as that'll help to add value to your home.
Sometimes keeping up with all your plans for your home can be hard, but New Year's goals can help to add momentum when it's needed. For more ideas on what projects you should focus on before selling your home, contact us today.