Hard to believe it’s already a new year. I can still remember last year’s New Year festivities. But now that our holiday hangovers have long vanished, it’s time to get back down to work and start making 2019 our best year yet. For many, this means setting New Year resolutions. Typically, these involve losing weight, eating better, limiting screen time and more, but as your Guelph real estate expert, I thought it would be fun to share some home-specific resolutions that anyone can achieve regardless of whether you’re planning to move homes or stay put. From small resolutions like decluttering to large resolutions like renovations, this blog post will touch on many different New Year resolutions you can set for yourself and achieve. Continue reading below to find out what New Year resolutions I’ve got in store for you in 2019.
Complete a Renovation
Let’s start by getting one of the biggest resolutions on this list out of the way. If you found yourself complaining about the layout of your home’s floorplan, the size of your kitchen, the dated design of your basement or maybe even the everlasting “in-progress” status of a current renovation, then make 2019 the year you complete a renovation. Whether you do it yourself, hire a professional or simply finish that project you started months ago, completing a renovation is a great resolution to set. Not only will it add value to your home, but it can also refresh your view of your home and make you fall in love with it again. And even if a five-figure reno isn’t in the budget, there are many smaller renovations you can do for three to four figures. Things like painting, replacing doors, removing non-loadbearing walls and updating bathroom fixtures are all smaller projects that keep spending to a minimum and results to a maximum.
Declutter
If completing a renovation sounds like too much to bite off at this time, you might consider opting to declutter one, many or all the rooms in your home. Decluttering is a great way to tidy up your house and start 2019 off fresh. Over the past year, we’ve all gathered items and belongings that we thought we’d use, but simply haven’t. And don’t worry, if decluttering your entire home seems daunting, you’re not alone. Start with one room, or even a closet, and pull everything out so that you can see exactly what’s been hiding unused in that closet.
For more tidying tips, I suggest checking out the popular Netflix series: Tidying Up with Marie Kondo, if you haven’t already. Using her unique approach, she takes families of all sizes on a cleaning journey, decluttering and tidying up their homes.
Get Organized
As sort of a part two to the previous resolution (or you can do it on its own too), getting organized is another great New Year resolution that you can set for you and your family to start 2019 off on the right foot. It seems the majority of us tend to put off organizing our homes as we near the end of the calendar year. But now it’s the beginning of a new year! So why not take this opportunity to organize that bathroom closet, Tupperware cupboard, pantry or even bedroom closet? And getting organized doesn’t have to cost you a fortune for closet organizers or other systems, there are many great DIY ideas you can use to organize on a budget. My suggestion is to check out Pinterest for ideas. You’ll also find some helpful tips for organizing in the Tidying Up with Marie Kondo Netflix series I mentioned above.
List It
Last but not least, if none of the resolutions above peak your interest and if you spent last year complaining about limited space, neighbours, commute times or anything else home-related, you might want to consider making listing your home your 2019 resolution. While many may not consider this a resolution, for some homeowners they’ll spend months or years toying with the idea of listing their home before they actually do it. For that reason, let 2019 be the year you finally move forward. You owe it to yourself and your family to live in a home and location that you love and that fits your lifestyle.
Even if listing your home has only briefly crossed your mind, I encourage you to reach out to me by phone, email or on social media. I would be more than happy to answer any questions you might have, give you an assessment of the current Guelph real estate market or even show you potential homes that fit your needs to give you an idea of what is available.
I hope the four resolutions listed above prove to be beneficial in making 2019 your best year yet. Happiness starts in the home, and if each of us can complete just one of these resolutions, I’m confident we all will enjoy a happier, healthier, more comfortable 2019. As always, if you have any questions regarding anything discussed above or even about Guelph real estate in general, I encourage you to contact me by phone, email or on Facebook. As your Guelph real estate expert, I would be more than happy to help in any way possible.
Happy 2019!