Preparing your Home for the New Year
The holidays have come and gone, and a new year is right around the corner. There are gifts that need to be returned, trash that needs to be taken out and clutter that needs to be cleared out. As we head into the new year, now’s the time to get your home in order. Whether you’re looking to buy a new home, sell your current home or simply enjoy your home a little bit more, here are some tips to prepare your home for the new year so you can accomplish all your goals in 2019.
4 Tips to Prepare for the New Year
Clear out Clutter
A whole year has come and gone. In that time, you’ve probably acquired many things you don’t truly need or new things to replace the old. Now is the time to clear out anything you’re not using or old items that no longer fit your needs. Those kitchen gadgets that you never use could be in the running for the donation box, or that stack of clothes you just can’t seem to part with, even though they don’t fit, needs to be donated to the Salvation Army. This is the time to start fresh and eliminate the clutter that’s been taking over your living space. Be decisive with what needs to stay and go, and get rid of all the unnecessary clutter in your home.
Safety Check
When we think of being safe in our homes, we often think about security systems that help keep uninvited guests out. But being safe in your own home actually starts with the things inside your home, like your smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors and even the lint from your dryer. Smoke detectors need to have the batteries changed every ten years, carbon monoxide alarms require new batteries every five years, and that pesky dryer lint that’s been piling up, out of your sight, is actually really dangerous. Dryer lint is the cause of more than 2,900 house fires a year, with more than $35 million in property damage. Don’t let your home become another statistic, and make sure that you’re checking the nooks and crannies of your home for potential safety hazards.
Deep Clean
A clean home is a fantastic way to start the new year. But when you’re cleaning your home for the new year, you don’t want to do a regular surface cleaning, you want to go a little deeper than that. A deep clean gets out all the dirt, dust and debris from your home, but it definitely requires elbow grease and patience. Scrubbing the toilets, tile and grout in the bathrooms isn’t easy. Degreasing the oven and cleaning out the refrigerator take time. But in the end, you’re left with a clean home that you’re able to enjoy heading into the new year. If you’re feeling really fancy, you can even hire a cleaning crew to come and do a deep clean for you.
Take Down the Holiday Decorations
The holidays are hectic, but don’t forget about taking down your holiday decorations. We’ve all seen the house that forgot to take down the Christmas lights and still has them up for the Fourth of July. There’s a simple way to prevent that from being your home, and that’s to just take down the decorations as soon as Christmas is over.
Preparing to Purchase a Home in 2019
If you had dreams of becoming a homeowner in 2018 and you weren’t able to find the right property, 2019 is going to be your year. I can help you find your forever home. With more than 18 years successfully serving the Orange County community and helping families, couples and retirees find their homes, I take pride in being able to help my clients. Let me help you too. Contact me today to find the perfect property for you.