2015 New Year's Resolutions for your Home

With the New Year already here, you may have created your own set of New Year’s Resolutions.

But did you remember to think of your home when coming up with your list?

Here are 5 suggestions to include on your home’s 2015 New Year’s Resolutions:

1. Save $$$ and Energy

Winter is an important time to consider
your home's energy.

With all of the cold winter that’s already arrived, your home’s heating is probably already on your mind. Fortunately, there are several ways in which homeowners can help cut down on heating costs during the winter.

Windows and doors can be a major source of energy loss if your inefficient windows and doors are letting the heat escape. A switch to energy-efficient, Energy Star-certified windows and doors can help keep your home more insulated, saving you on your energy bills. This isn't just for winter, either – energy-efficient windows and doors will also help during the hot and humid summer months, too.

What other ways can you save energy in your home? Switching to fluorescent lightbulbs can help save energy, and they last longer than traditional incandescent lightbulbs. Make sure you've also switched the direction of your ceiling fans, too. Ceiling fans should run clockwise in winter to circulate warm air and run counter-clockwise in warmer months to create a cool breeze.

2. Protect your Home

One of the questions you need to be asking yourself for 2015: is my home properly protected? It’s an important question every homeowner needs to ask themselves, and it could mean two things for your home:

Is your home safe? Make sure you’re doing routine maintenance and checking on things like your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors. These can often be an afterthought for many homeowners but are incredibly important to keeping your home and family safe.

Is your home properly secured? There are many products and features to make ensure the security of your home. Home security systems aren't the only way of securing your home – products like HMI Doors’ Multi-Point Locking System can further protect your home.

3. Improve your Home’s Value

There are plenty of reasons to complete a home improvement project, and one of the many? Improve your home’s value!

Your home is your number-one investment, and there are many projects you can do to boost its value. According to the 2015 Cost vs. Value Report, replacing your front door with a steel door is the top investment. Other top projects include replacing your windows and siding.

A snow-covered window might look nice, but
it could be a trouble spot for energy loss.

4. Prepare your Home for Winter

The cold weather has certainly hit hard in recent weeks, and if it’s a preview of what’s to come, it’s going to be a long and cold winter season. Make sure your home is ready to take on the cold, bitter weather by checking out your windows and doors.

Don’t forget about other winter maintenance tasks: checking your home’s pipes and home insulation. Checking your roof for damages is also important as heavy snow could present big problems to an already-damaged roof.

5. Stop Procrastinating

Let’s be honest – every homeowner has at least one project that they've been putting off for quite some time. Whether it’s as simple as cleaning out the garage, redecorating a room, or even remodeling a section of your home, make your home project a priority in 2015!

Want to get started on your 2015 Home Improvement Resolutions?

Contact our Home Improvement Specialists for a Free Estimate!