Each January, many of us make one or several New Year’s resolutions. Sometimes these new habits involve our health, and sometimes they involve personal habits or finances. Why not include your home in the list? Caring for your home equals caring for your most substantial investment, and in many cases it can be good for your health and safety as well. Here are five suggested resolutions to help you get your home in order.
Establish a schedule for home care chores. We all mean to perform these tasks on time, but forgetfulness or procrastination often takes over. Take an hour or so to schedule tasks for the year, using a calendar or smartphone app, and you can receive reminders for the next twelve months or more. Add items like changing air filters, testing smoke alarms, removing mineral deposits from faucets and showerheads, checking air vents for blockages, cleaning the garbage disposal, cleaning out drains, and so on.
Renovate your home’s energy efficiency. Lower your power bills for the entire year by sealing holes, winterizing doors, and checking for gaps in windows.
Check your plumbing for leaks. Turn off faucets and any appliances that use water. Check your water meter, wait for an hour or so, and then check it again. If the meter readout has changed, you might have a hidden leak somewhere in your home. Not only can water damage result; your water bills might suffer too.
Dedicate yourself to more disciplined lawn care. It’s easy to let your lawn or garden get out of control. After all, you don’t live out there! But taking only a few preventive care steps can lead to a much more beautiful home exterior, and prevent more serious landscaping issues in the future.
Inspect your home for termites and make sure you’re protected. Termite infestations can go unnoticed in their early phases, and result in significant unseen damages by the time you realize there’s a problem. Call us to schedule a termite inspection, and we will also discuss ongoing protection via a termite bond or other pest control measures that might be appropriate for your situation.