These tips are also great advice for maintaining your home's value for when the time comes to sell your property.
1. Energy Efficient Homes
You can start by getting rid of all
the old appliances and replacing them with new energy efficient ones keeping in
mind that leaving them plugged 24/7 constitutes 5 to 10% of unnecessary
payment on your energy bill. You can also replace old fashion
light bulbs with led bulbs which last longer and consume less energy. Other modifications include going back to the old ways, like using fan ceilings instead of turning on the cooling air
systems for warm summer days or placing a water filter system so you don't have
to buy so many water bottles. Both are eco-friendly and cost effective
improvements.
2. Air quality home improvements.
There are many sorts of unwanted household
contaminants like mold or viruses hazardous to our health according
to the EPA. Some like carpet floors even retain bad odors making living in your
home unbearable.
Here are a few things you can do:
- Change furnace filters regularly should cost around $10
to $20 USD every month.
- Keep your kitchen or bathroom windows open to let the
fumes and excess humidity out.
- Use natural firewood for your fireplace rather than press
wood which contains a hazardous substance called formaldehyde.
- Use low-VOC paints when redecorating your walls.
- Portable air cleaners like ultraviolet lamps, ion
generators or electrostatic precipitators help cleanse the air as
well.
3.Bathroom
Old fashioned 1994 toilets use 8
gallons of water every time you flush as opposed to new $90 dll
low-flow toilets which only use 1 gallon.
low-flow toilets which only use 1 gallon.
4.Hire the professionals
From energy auditors, real estate
agents or interior design professionals, they all have words of expertise
on home improvement. Realtors evaluate your home repair priorities to raise
value when you decide to sell. Energy auditors provide a comprehensive
energy plan that reduces costs and will attract more homebuyers
that are looking to save money. Lastly, an interior designer organizes and beautifys your
home into a clean and spacious living environment you can enjoy.
5. Maintenance and Repair
Start this year by making a list of
all that needs repairing and really be realistic of the things you will get
done by yourself and what a professional handyman will need to do. Setting
aside 3% of your home's value, for example between 3,000 to 7,000 USD a year
will lessen future expenses because your home is up-to-date.
The do- it-yourself activities can
provide extra motivation if you think of two-in-one burning calories
opportunity. Also you can make a family activity out of it and have fun while
you are doing it
These are all great ways for making
New Year's resolution for home improvement possible.
Happy New Year!!!
