As Greater Chattanooga residents ring in a new year, it’s a perfect time to make some personal resolutions that promote positive changes in every aspect of your life – including your home. When you make your own list, you might be surprised to discover you and your home have strikingly similar resolutions!
Lose the bulk: Losing weight is one of the toughest resolutions for a person to stick to, but for a home it’s one of the easiest. Don’t wait until spring cleaning time to toss, re-sell, or donate items you no longer need, especially after the holidays when new purchases and gifts are taking up space.
Find a new hobby: DIY projects can give you a great sense of personal accomplishment, but there are certain tasks that are good for the novice and others that are best left to the professionals. Replacing light fixtures, painting walls, and switching out hardware are a few examples of DIY projects that almost anyone can do. But before you start knocking down walls, taking up floors, or removing cabinets, consult with a remodeler who can provide some professional guidance.
Cleanse the system: It’s easy to overindulge during the holidays. Likewise, your home might seem sluggish, as it over-consumes electricity and water. There are countless new products available to improve your home’s energy efficiency. From low-flow water fixtures, smart-home thermostats and motion-sensing automated lights, to Energy Star appliances and new double-pane windows, the options are endless. Ask a building professional which features are best suited for your home and your needs.
Spend wisely: After the holidays, a top priority for many is to identify and eliminate areas of wasteful spending. Similarly, for your home, you might have several improvements in mind but no idea if they are wise investments. A building professional can help you determine which of those improvements will provide the best return in terms of energy savings and home value, and can help you develop a plan to address them over time.
Your home is a reflection of you, so it’s no surprise that you might have very similar New Year’s resolutions. To consult with a building professional about which improvements are best suited for your home, visit the Home Builders Association of Greater Chattanooga online membership directory at www.HBAGC.net.