5 New Year’s Resolutions for Homeowners

The job of a homeowner is not always an easy one, especially if you have children. Life can become chaotic and things start to fall through the cracks. You may have repairs that need to be done, closets that need to be organized or a home that just needs better care. Yes, the responsibilities of a homeowner can be overwhelming, but if you plan ahead, set your goals and instill a schedule, you can enjoy life as a homeowner.

The new year has arrived, which is the perfect time to set those resolutions — and stick to them. Read on for five New Year’s resolutions for homeowners.

Decrease Clutter

One thing all homeowners should do is get rid of clutter and follow a more minimalistic approach. Chances are you have lots of things you don’t need — same for the kids. We tend to hang on to things without even realizing it. Part of this is because we fail to face the clutter head on. It’s time to get a handle on the clutter in your life and figure out what should stay and what should go.

Once you declutter your home, set a ten minute clean up window every evening, and use this time to tidy the main living spaces in your home — bedrooms, living room, kitchen and so on. This will stop clutter from piling up during week and falling on the weekend — no one wants to spend their weekends cleaning. Not only will clutter control ease weekend chores, but it will also lower your stress throughout the week.

Make Organization a Priority

Not everyone enjoys organizing. In fact, if you’re someone who doesn’t, then you likely dread the thought of it. You don’t have to dread the task at hand. Make it a priority and stick with it. After all, the reason we organize in the first place is because things get out of control and end up everywhere — without a home.

Do yourself a favor, find a home for things in your household, then keep them there. This will make the task of organizing less daunting if you make the effort up front, and therefore have less to do in the long run.

Clean Out Your Closet

It’s no secret that closets accumulate pretty much everything. They’re like a huge junk drawer. Do you have things you don’t want out in the open? Just shove them in a closet where no one will see. Wrong. This is an all-too-common bad habit that most of us are guilty of. Because of closets, it’s easier for homeowners to hoard and hang onto things they don’t necessarily need.

Take control of your closet situation one closet at a time, and eliminate things you no longer need. Not only will this declutter your home and give you more space for other things that need a place, but you can donate these items to people in need.

Once you clean out your closet — big or small — it’s time to organize it in a way that makes the most sense to you. Whether you choose to color coordinate, use shelves, hang pieces by style or use another strategy, you want to organize your closet so it’s easier to keep up with long-term.

Start an Emergency Fund

You’d be surprised at the amount of households that lack a savings or emergency fund. If you’re one of these households, it’s time to start one now. Unplanned repairs happen, and you want to be prepared for when they do. Being a homeowner, you no longer have a landlord to call on if there’s a problem with your plumbing, heat or electric. You’re now the only person responsible.

Set aside a portion of every paycheck, and put it into a separate account so you know not to pull from it unless you have an emergency. If you lose your job, get in an accident or your heat goes out in the winter, you will need money immediately to continue mortgage payments, pay utilities, fix your heat, etc. The best thing you can do is have your own back, and you can’t if you don’t have an emergency fund available in case something unexpected happens.

Create a Home Inventory

 

Don’t quit reading just yet. This is an important one that is often overlooked. If you’re a homeowner, you have homeowners insurance, but do you have enough to cover all of your belongings? It’s a good practice to review your homeowner’s insurance yearly to ensure you have the right coverage for your home. To start, create a home inventory of your belongings, either with a spreadsheet or by taking photographs of important items.

If the unexpected happens to your home, this will help you get back on your feet when you deal with the insurance company, replace contents, etc. Once you complete your inventory, store it and other important documents in a fireproof safe that is easily accessible in case of emergency.

Homeowners have lots of responsibility — no doubt — and it’s totally worth it to have a place to call your own, but there are things you must do in order to keep your home in good condition and protect yourself. Improve your experience as a homeowner by thinking ahead with these five tips that will alleviate stress in your daily life and also prepare you for anything.

 

Kacey is a lifestyle blogger for The Drifter Collective, an eclectic lifestyle blog that expresses various forms of style through the influence of culture and the world around us. Kacey graduated with a degree in Communications while working for a lifestyle magazine. She has been able to fully embrace herself with the knowledge of nature, the power of exploring other locations and cultures, all while portraying her love for the world around her through her visually pleasing, culturally embracing and inspiring posts.

Follow Kacey on Twitter and subscribe to her blog to keep up with her travels and inspiring posts!