6 Smart and Practical New Year’s Resolutions for Homeowners

Most New Year’s resolutions are about self-improvement—learning a new skill or hobby, eating healthier, or hitting the gym. If you’re a homeowner, it’s a no-brainer that you also want to improve your home and keep it in its best shape. Your living space has a much bigger impact on your life than you might realize, so what better way to improve your life than by making your home more appealing and comfortable? 

In the spirit of new beginnings, we’ve come up with a list of goals you can adopt to make a lasting difference in your home and eventually, in your life.

Start an emergency fund. Life is unpredictable, with or without a global pandemic. Many unexpected costs can easily make your finances go awry. This is especially true when it comes to owning a home. If you suddenly need to fix a leaky roof or a broken water heater, an emergency fund can help save you from stress so you can plan your next steps accordingly. To offset the next emergency (house-related or not), experts recommend putting aside three to six months’ worth of living expenses. While that may sound like a big number, you can always start somewhere. Start small by tucking away any extra money you can get. You can also make your emergency fund part of your household budget this new year.

Make a home inventory. After taking countless family holiday photos, it’s time to start taking snapshots of your belongings and creating a home inventory. A home inventory is a record of all your personal possessions along with their approximate financial value. Because it documents all your belongings, you’ll know exactly what’s missing or damaged after an unfortunate event such as a break-in or a natural disaster. Moreso, it can be valuable so you can get your claim settled quickly and more accurately. If you already have a home inventory, just make sure that it’s up to date by removing items you no longer have and adding new items as you acquire them.

Review and update your homeowners insurance. The new year is a great time to get your finances in order, especially in areas in your home where you can save. If you haven’t done it yet, review your homeowners insurance policy to make sure your coverage is up to date with your needs and you’re not overpaying. If you’ve made certain improvements to your home within the last year, you’ll want to check with your insurance agent to see if you qualify for some discounts. On the other hand, if you live in a flood-prone area, it might be time to be strategic and consider flood insurance to protect your property.

Work out a realistic cleaning plan. Who doesn’t dream of living in a house that’s spotless all day long? If you haven’t got any house help, that’s just close to impossible. So to keep yourself from being overwhelmed by cleaning and organization, this year, devise a realistic cleaning plan depending on your habits and lifestyle. Will you devote a portion of your weekends to cleaning? Or will you take some time on select nights to tidy up? You may break up cleaning tasks into small daily activities and enlist the help of your family so you can get the job done quickly and have a lot more time for other leisure activities. 

Address small repairs immediately. Things like clogged gutters, cracking and peeling caulk, leaky faucets, faulty door locks, among others, are often neglected or pushed down the list of other tasks. But small nuisances, when left unchecked, can necessitate big repairs that could cost you a lot of money down the line. Make it a part of your New Year’s resolutions to address such repairs as soon as possible to lessen these pain points around your home.

Set up a home maintenance calendar. Assess your house, and make a list of anything that will eventually need to be repaired or replaced. How old is your roof? How about your water heater? When was the last time you had the air conditioning unit inspected? Your HVAC, furnace, water heater, and other appliances, need to be serviced and cleaned as the seasons change.

Planning for preventative maintenance can help you avoid costly repairs that could result from overlooked wear and tear. Be smart and thorough when plotting out your schedule, and don’t forget to keep your budget in mind when scheduling any repairs. 

And if a move is on the horizon in 2026, give me a call at 832.745.3417 to get a market analysis on your home.