MAKE YOUR HOME MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT
As an average homeowner, you can expect to pay around $3,500 a year in home energy costs. There are many ways in which you can cut down on this expense. One easy way to cut energy bills is by installing a programmable thermostat.
From there, you can swap out your current light bulbs with LEDs. There are other ways you can save energy including getting new windows, adding more insulation and recaulking around your doors and windows.
INCREASE MONTHLY PAYMENTS
Increasing your monthly mortgage payment by as little as $50 will help in many ways. Forst, it will cushion the blow should taxes and insurance rise. Paying that extra each month will also build more equity into your home at a faster rate.
DO A SAFETY AUDIT
You probably already know that you should be checking your smoke alarms on a regular basis. January is as good a month as any to do a safety audit on your house. Let this be the month that smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are checked and replaced if necessary.
Make January the month that you check the gas connections in your home and make sure the fireplace is clean and safe. And if you haven’t already done so, have your house checked for radon.
MAKE A REALISTIC CLEANING SCHEDULE
There are several cleaning projects that have been on your mind for quite some time. The problem is that you have a list of things that need to be done and it feels completely overwhelming.
While you would love to have a house that is totally cleaned every day, it just isn’t realistic. Sit down and make a plan on how you will clean your house this year.
DECLUTTER
Start the year off on the right foot by organizing your house. You can start with the closets and eventually work your way to the garage. Start by throwing out all of the things you will never need or ever use again.
JUST FIX IT OR GET IT FIXED
You walk past that leaky kitchen faucet at least a dozen times a day. Make a resolution to get that fixed and anything else around the house that needs attention.
Go through your house like a home inspector would and make a list for everything that needs attention.
LEARN TO DIY
There will always be fixes around your house that require a professional. For example, you are capable of fixing a leaky faucet, but you will need to call the plumber for some other types of repairs.
Thanks to the internet and especially YouTube, there are a lot of great how-to videos out there. In fact, we just spent 20 minutes watching a video on how to repair the timer on a clothes dryer. Now we don’t have to call an appliance repair service or buy a new clothes dryer.
PLAN FOR AN EMERGENCY
What will you and your family do in the event of a natural disaster? Make 2020 the year that you sit down with the family and come up with a solid plan about what to do in the event of an emergency.
You can even write up the plan and post it somewhere for all to see and use just in case.
REMODEL THE KITCHEN
Your kitchen is dated and the appliances are on their last legs. This should be the year that you finally pull the trigger and remodel your kitchen. You will love the new look and the new appliances are energy-efficient and will save you money in utility costs.
And when you remodel your kitchen, call American Drain Company for your plumbing needs.