New Year's Resolutions for Your Home

New Year's resolutions. We make them, we break them. The number one New Year's resolution always has to do with loosing weight or getting in shape, that is also the first resolution that we break.

Why not get out of the resolution rut and make different resolutions this New Year? Resolve to do something that is attainable, something that will add comfort and value to your own home.

Resolve to conserve water and electricity. With nearly a year long drought in the south, we have become more conservation conscious. Fix any leaky faucets, upgrade bathroom fixtures like the shower head or toilet with the low-flow type. This will add beauty, style and function to your home in the short term, and resale value in the long term. Stop drafts and heat loss by putting weather strip around doors and windows. If you upgrade any kitchen appliances, look for the Energy Star rating of the appliance. A new energy efficient heat pump and cooling system will pay for itself in savings in a couple of seasons.

Resolve to keep your home maintained. Make those minor repairs before they become big repairs. Keep wood painted or treated with water seal, so a deck or exterior wall won't rot over time and have to be replaced. Fix that small leak in the roof before it becomes a big leak that will require extensive repair and a new roof. Caulk around tubs, sinks and showers to prevent interior water damage. Patch the cracks in the concrete and seal any gaps in the siding.

Resolve to keep your home safe. Check the batteries in your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detector. Choose dates to check the batteries twice a yearly, an easy way to remember to do this is do on the two dates a year that the time is changed. Clean and inspect your fire place or wood burning stove, check for gas leaks on all gas appliances and furnaces.

Resolve to go green. Recycle paper, aluminum and plastic. When doing home repairs or new construction, choose environmentally friendly products or repurpose things that you already have.

There is a procrastinator in each of us, we have planned to conserve energy, check the smoke detector batteries and take care of those minor home repairs, we just have not gotten around to it yet.

Make a New Year's resolution to get around to doing these things for your home this year. Depending on the size of the home projects, it just might help you keep last year's resolution to loose weight and get in shape.