Most people look at January 1 on the calendar and see an opportunity to improve themselves for the new year. New Year’s resolutions are a way to start fresh, and change for the better. But why should resolutions be limited to our personal lives? Why not make some resolutions for the new year in home ownership and maintenance? Whether you are thinking about selling soon and staying for a while, check out some of these tips for making your home better this coming year:
* Test your smoke alarms. Some people use the change in the clock at Daylight Savings Time as the marker for this, but if you haven’t tested them, do it now. Change the batteries and install new smoke alarms where necessary. Familiarize yourself with requirements for your area – how many should you have, and where they should be placed in your home? It’s also a good time to make sure your carbon monoxide alarms are in proper working order.
* As the Boy Scout motto says, “Be Prepared”. You never know what kind of weather disaster is around the corner. With winter coming on, you could be without power with roads closed to a snow or ice storm. Now is a great time to prepare a household emergency kit. This is also a good time to check that your first aid kit is in order, and your spare flashlight batteries are adequate and charged.
* It’s likely you have new appliances, electronics or equipment from the holiday season, Now is a perfect opportunity to get those new products registered and make an inventory of household assets for insurance purposes. File new product parts lists and warranty information for future reference. Send for any of the product rebates available.
* Review energy-saving tips for appliances. Check to see if you are operating your heating and air conditional system at it’s optimum level. If you plan on replacing any large appliances, look for the Energy Star-qualified rating for maximum savings.
* Take stock of your appliances and household needs. If you aren’t using an appliance, and you don’t think you will in the future, consider donating it to a shelter or charitable organization. Extra appliances take up space and gather dust. There are plenty of people who can use these items.
* Optimize your appliance features and use them to their full potential. Most people use only a fraction of the features on their appliances. Programmable and preset controls on your oven range or coffee maker can be great-time savers. the pre-soak option on your washer may save you having to re-wash stained clothing, And the ‘moisture sensor’ option on your dryer can cut drying time. Get the most out of your appliances.
* Are you planning for retirement. remember to include a plan to update or replace aging appliances or household items. On a limited budget, this might be difficult, especially if your large appliances are all aging and will require replacing in the next few years. So begin now to slowly replace or update your appliances and kitchenware. If planning on downsizing your home, choose housewares carefully to minimize on space, maximize on quality, and meet your specific needs for the future, while you can still manage the expense.
* Set up a plan for care and maintenance, to ensure improved and cost-effective appliance performance. There is no better time to change your filters on furnaces, vacuums and air cleaners. Check electrical cords on any appliances for fraying and make sure all safety issues are addressed. Clean out your fridge and defrost your freezer and vacuum condenser coils on the back of refrigerators.