New Year Resolutions for Your Home

As we come to the end of the year, we can start to prepare for the new beginning. Many people embark on setting resolutions for the year ahead, such as eating healthier or starting a new activity, and while these are great, why not look at how you can change your home? Setting yourself some resolutions for your home could save you money and make the property better overall. In this blog, we take a look at just some of the home resolutions you could use!

Re-organise the Cupboards

Start the new year with a fresh start by clearing out your cupboards of items you simply do not use that are cluttering the space unnecessarily. For example, file your paperwork, throw out pointless documents and organise it alphabetically to make it easier for you to find items in the future. You could also organise your food cupboards so that the items you reach for the most are positioned at the front. You should arrange the items so that you can easily see and know exactly where everything is. By doing this, you can ensure that everything is being used. What better way to have a fresh start than emptying the cabinets, giving them a clean and re-organising your items?

Cut Down Energy Usage

Help the planet and help to save some money? Sounds great! By cutting down on your home’s energy usage, you can not only save on the pennies, but you can also prevent damage to the environment. Significant changes such as solar panels or a hybrid car are brilliant, but if this isn’t realistic, then look at making some smaller changes that will still have an impact. For example, turning off the lights in rooms that aren’t in use, not leaving the tap running while you brush your teeth, recycle efficiently and only use the radiators in the rooms you use. Making changes like these can significantly cut your monthly bills and help the environment as you aren’t using as much energy. For more information on energy savings tips, take a look at our previous blog.

Make Your Home Cosier and More Welcoming

Time with family and friends is essential. Making some changes to your home to make it more inviting can help towards being more sociable because you will feel more comfortable hosting in your home. The kitchen and living room are the main hosting rooms, so why not start here? Simple things like a few scatter cushions, a cosy rug and some warm lamps can instantly make a home feel more welcoming. Some family and friends live far away, so having a guest room set up can make catchups far easier. Now, you don’t need to spend loads of money trying to recreate a hotel room, all you need is a comfy bed and some snuggly soft furnishings.

Make Cleaning Easy

Cleaning can often seem like a chore, especially when you have the whole house to do, so this year, make it easier for yourself. With general untidiness, damp and dirt being common occurrences, it is useful to set up a schedule for cleaning, to make sure everyone in the family is onboard and knows what they’re responsible for. To make it easier, stock some cleaning products and tools around the house. Keep a basic cleaning kit in the bathroom, kitchen and bedrooms if you like, so that you can grab and go at any opportunity. The essential items include; a brush, a sponge, cleaning products and some marigold gloves.

Organise Your Finances

Now that Christmas is out of the way, it is time to start saving and spending your money wisely. By doing this, you can have money to spend on the following Christmas and any treats or trips you wish to do throughout the year. A yearly budget may seem slightly intimidating, but it is the best way to control your finances. Setting yourself a realistic budget for every month can help you to manage your money and avoid overspending. As previously mentioned, cutting down energy can help to save money, so if you can do this, you could find yourself with some extra pennies! When setting up your budget, ensure that you prepare for one-off payments, such as car insurance or a faulty washing machine. It is best to set aside money each month into a savings account so that you can be prepared for any surprises that may arise. 

We hope that we have inspired you to get proactive this coming new year and have helped you to set yourself some resolutions to improve your home! Here at Godfrey, Short and Squire, we are estate agents in Okehampton and offer homes around West Devon. We are passionately committed to providing people with expert property advice so that they can either buy, sell, rent or let with confidence. If you would like some advice or you are interested in searching for properties in the area, please do not hesitate to get in contact. Email us on info@gssproperty.com or give us a call on 01837 54504 and chat to our friendly team.