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Make New Year’s Resolutions for Your Home

January 3, 2019

The new year has arrived. That usually means people feel compelled to make changes in their lives. Those promises are heartfelt in January. Lose weight. Eat better. Try something new. By February, the dedication has begun to weaken under the weight of excuses. In March, it has faded into oblivion until the end of the year, when those life changes resurface for the annual review. Instead of short-lived plans, do something more lasting. Change your space. Cothran Homes suggests you make New Year’s resolutions for your home.Start with the most annoying place.What is one area of your home that has been nagging at you more than any other? It could be a room or a space. Think about how many times you’ve groaned about dissatisfaction with that area. That’s where you start!It could be your kitchen, the kid’s room, master bath, home office, mudroom, garage, or even your outdoor living area. Commit to making the change that will alleviate your angst here. Next, decide on the changes you want to make.Here’s the important part. Create a timeline. Without a plan of action, your home makeover is just a wish. Push yourself to stick to this New Year’s resolution. Your schedule should include a deadline for finalizing the plans, selecting and purchasing the materials, interviewing and hiring the contractor (if you need one), and every step of the project. Put that schedule in plain view as a steady reminder. Reward yourself for every deadline you meet—like dinner at your favorite restaurant or a day off to spend as you please.Trim down your energy use.Making your home more energy efficient will conserve on electricity, heating fuel, and water. It also adds to the resale value. Start with an energy audit. A professional will examine your home from the roof to the foundation, looking for areas that contribute to wasting energy. Problem areas could include leaks around doors, windows, and ducts, poor insulation, and systems and appliances that eat more electricity than they should. Products that are certified by ENERGYSTAR and WaterSense will help you shed the excess energy use. Switch to LED bulbs and unplug power strips, small appliances, and electronics when not in use. Many electrical items eat “phantom power” just by being plugged in.De-clutter.We all do it—holding onto things “just in case” or for sentimental reasons. The longer you live in your home, the more clutter you accumulate. Resolve to reduce the clutter this year. You don’t have to tackle it all at once. Commit to a monthly purge. Do the garage one month, the attic another, and your closets in a month (or maybe spread over a few, depending on how much you have to sort out). Put kitchen reorganization on the list, too, because you’ve likely overstocked this room. Wouldn’t it be nice to have clean countertops and all your kitchen wares and goods where you need them?When it’s time to de-clutter, get into a ruthless mindset. Don’t allow yourself to wander down memory lane or it will take you forever. You’ll also talk yourself out of purging things that really need to go. Be honest about how often you use a particular item. Is it really worth keeping something that lives in a box in a corner of the garage? Probably not. Also consider how it might benefit someone else. Animal shelters welcome pillows, blankets, and sheets. Senior centers appreciate books, games, puzzles, and crafts. Donate toys to churches and shelters. You’ll feel a lot better about purging when you realize that what you’ve held onto can bring real pleasure to someone else.Resolve to make a move.Does your home fit your current lifestyle? Will it also work for you in the coming years? Your home is probably your biggest investment, so it should deliver a powerful return. The layout, features, ease of maintenance, energy efficiency, size, and comfort all contribute to the quality of life you experience. The new year could mean a new home. If that brings you to the Greenville, SC, area, Cothran Homes invites you to look at our communities of new construction townhomes and single-family homes in the Greenville’s surrounding cities and towns: Simpsonville, Greer, and Taylors, SCWinter is a good time to sell your home and interest rates are rising, so get started now. Contact Cothran Homes to find the right home and next New Year’s Eve, you can resolve to take it a lot easier at home.

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