NEW YEAR

New Year, New Home – Resolutions for 2019 Every new year starts the same, we wake up on January 1st and make ambitious resolutions and promise we’ll actually stick to them this year (not like last year!). This year instead of making personal goals, like going to the gym 5 days a week and feeling bad when you don’t keep them, try making resolutions for your home. We’ve put together a list of 7 attainable home resolutions you can achieve this year and feel good about doing. 1. Check your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors monthly. Start the year off safe and make sure they’re in proper working order. It’s recommended that smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors are checked once a month and batteries should be changed twice a year. An easy way to remember to change the batteries is to do it when the clocks change. Mark a date on your calendar and make it a habit to check these alarms every month on that date. Ensuring the safety of your home and family is an important resolution to make and keep. 2. Organize and declutter your space. December is always a busy month and keeping organized can get away from you, especially when it comes to your home. This year, instead of shoving holiday decorations back into a broken cardboard box and throwing them in the basement or storage locker for another year, take the time to actually organize them. Consider having built-ins or custom storage solutions made or hire a company to organize it all for you. If the thought of what to do with all the stuff you’re getting rid of makes you want to stop right there, hire a junk removal company to take it away and start the year with a clean and organized home. 3. Take care of your roof and gutters this winter. Most of the time there’s no need to remove snow from a roof, however, problems can occur after an abnormally heavy snowfall, especially if it’s followed by rain. In this case, it’s important to remove excess snow so there’s no chance of damage to your roof. When the temperature drops below freezing, make sure to check your roof for frozen ice dams. Ice dams happen when melting snow refreezes and traps water on your roof. This can lead to moisture damage and the need to replace your roof sooner than necessary. If you’re concerned about the amount of snow on your roof, you can either try to remove it yourself with roof rake or call in a roofing professional. 4. Make your home smart and safe. Safety is always a concern around the holidays, but what about the following months? Many people go on vacation throughout the early months of the new year to avoid the cold weather and winter blues. This year, make sure your home is safe before you go away. Consider updating your alarm system or adding automatic timers for lights so it looks like you’re home. As an added bonus, your home will always look warm and inviting when you arrive home in the evening and it’s already dark outside. Make your home smart and safe this year with home automation. 5. Start planning now for spring projects. Get a head start and book now for your spring projects before the busy season starts. After a heavy winter of snow and rain, you’ll want to refresh the outside of your home to wash away the winter slush. This includes having your windows cleaned and your deck and house exterior power washed. Be sure to clean your eavestroughs in the spring if you didn’t do them in fall. Do a walk around the perimeter of your home and check your foundation and fences after a harsh winter. Be sure to start planning now as seasonal projects get booked fast and before you know it, another year has gone by and your house is still covered in last winter’s dirt. 6. Simple refreshing changes. This year, take the time to update your space with small changes. There are many simple changes you can make to your home to freshen it up for the new year. Paint is an easy way to update any room. Try changing the colour of a room or adding a feature wall. Want to refresh your kitchen or bathroom but don’t want to do a complete reno? Consider repainting your cabinets or adding a new backsplash to make it feel like a fresh new space. Another simple change you can make is your lighting. New lights are an easy way to brighten any space and give it a different feel. It’s amazing how small changes like these can really improve the look and feel of your home. 7. Hire smart and do your research. This year before you hire any home professional, be sure to do your research first. Read reviews to compare and get a feel for the company. While companies can have similar Scores, it’s important to read their customers’ reviews so you can learn more about the company and the kind of work they do. Be sure to look at any pictures of their work to see if the company’s style matches yours. Once you feel confident you’ve found the right companies, have them out to see the project and get a quote. Take these little steps to keep your house up to date throughout the year and it will pay off in the long run. We hope 2019 is a wonderful year for both you and your home!