12 New Year’s Resolutions for a Happier, Healthier Home in 2024

March: Boost your productivity with spring cleaning and decluttering

Over the years, you’ve accumulated a surplus of personal belongings: home decor, spare linens, and duplicate kitchenware. While collecting things can make a house a home, too much stuff can decrease your productivity and negatively impact your overall well-being. Seize on the spring cleaning spirit and declutter your living space following these top tips:

• Declutter one room at a time.
• Designate a “maybes” box, and set a reminder to go through the box in a few months to make the final cuts.
• Check the expiration date on products and perishable goods and throw out expired items.
• Review your wardrobe seasonally and donate or toss any unwanted garments.

Believe it or not, a decluttered, organized home can help you progress towards your other New Year’s resolutions like saving money and living a healthier lifestyle. For instance, a deep clean creates a healthier environment by removing dust and other irritants from the air that cause allergies. Decluttering also helps you save money as you rediscover forgotten items and avoid buying duplicates.

April: Build a three-season room to increase your living space

Enjoy the great outdoors from the comfort of your home by building a three or four season room in April. Top real estate agent Mark Deering, who works with over 83% more single-family homes than the average Grand Rapids, Michigan, agent, shares that sunrooms are a trending home upgrade as homeowners look for affordable ways to increase their square footage.

“We’ve personally added another three-season outdoor space just so that we’ve got another spot to go sit and relax,” he shares.

The average cost to add a sunroom runs between $10,000 to $80,000, depending on the size. Thankfully, this project yields a healthy return on this investment, typically recouping 50% of project costs.

May: Organize your home records to stay on top of maintenance

You’ve made it to May, and it’s time to check in on your New Year’s resolution to stay organized — starting with your home maintenance records. Collect printed and digital home records, including instruction manuals, appliance warranties, home improvement records (like the receipts for that sunroom addition you just put in), and repair invoices. Then organize and save the documents in a physical or digital file.

By organizing these documents, you can review and reflect on the investments you’ve made to improve your home. Plus, you can better plan future repairs by noting maintenance that’s upcoming or overdue.

June: Boost curb appeal to make better first impressions

Often New Year’s resolutions revolve around improving our personal presentation, so why not channel that resolution into your home by upgrading your curb appeal. A beautiful exterior welcomes guests to your home and attracts buyers when it’s time to sell. These low-cost upgrades will freshen up your curb appeal in just one month:

• Mow your lawn: If it’s been a while since you last landscaped, hire a professional to wrangle your yard into a state that’s easier for you to maintain throughout the year. Our research estimates that landscaping can add an average $7,312 to your sale price, yielding a 112% return on investment.
• Invest in new outdoor furniture: During the pandemic, we cherished our private outdoor spaces where we could spend time mask-free and stress-free. That still holds true today, with 63% of American homeowners saying they would prioritize investing in outdoor living spaces. Jump on the bandwagon, and add an outdoor furniture set to your front porch.
• Replace your garage door: Not only will a new garage door give your home a facelift, but this upgrade also adds value to your home and recoups 102.7% of project costs.

July: Schedule a plumbing check-up

A yearly check-up on your home’s plumbing system from a master plumber can save you money and heartache by preventing problems before they spiral out of hand.

Once your home’s plumbing is in good health, keep it that way by regularly checking for common sources of leaks:

• Check your water heater: Forbes recommends checking your water heater once every two months for signs of aging or leaks.
• Test your main shut off valve: It’s important to know how to operate the main shut off valve for your plumbing system in case of an emergency. What’s even more crucial is knowing that it works. Remember to test your shut off valve once a month in the summer and twice a month in the winter when pipes are prone to bursting.

August: Increase efficiency and marketability with smart home technology

Integrating smart home technology is a savvy way to increase both the efficiency and marketability of your home. These smart features not only enhance daily living but are also attractive to potential buyers. There are several smart renovations you can install, including:

• Smart thermostats can cost anywhere from $70 to $800 and around $350 to install. A typical home can save as much as $140 annually in heating and cooling bills thanks to this addition.
• Smart home security systems range from a base price of $129 to $599 with monitoring fees between $4 to $60 a month. While these costs won’t necessarily translate into a dollar for dollar return on investment, the peace of mind they offer is priceless.
• Smart doorbells allow you to scope out visitors before answering the door and keep an eye on your packages while you’re away. Top-rated smart doorbell systems average about $150.

September: Plan your home’s future remodel

If you want to add value to your home, Deering recommends remodeling your kitchen or primary bathroom. For instance, a mid-range kitchen remodel costs an average of $26,790 and recovers 85.7% of project costs at resale. With a sizable price tag, you’ll want to plan this remodel well in advance to ensure you get all of the details right.

Draft up a home renovation plan:

• Find inspiration on Pinterest and Houzz.
• Get quotes from general contractors.
• Create a savings plan to finance the project.

Deering also recommends consulting a local real estate agent on what finishes and materials sell best in your market:

“Ask your local real estate agent, who has a lot of experience, which projects are going to help in your neighborhood . . . You’d be surprised that fifty percent of the projects homeowners think they want to go after might not make any difference in the value of their home or make any difference in the sale.”

October: Cut down your energy bills with LED light bulbs

The arrival of fall means shorter days and longer nights. It also means more time spent indoors with the lights on — and higher energy bills. Save a buck by changing to energy-efficient LED light bulbs.

According to the Department of Energy, LED lights use a whopping 75% less energy and last 25 times longer than incandescent lighting. For the average homeowner, this translates into approximately $225 savings each year. Whether you cut your incandescent cold-turkey or start the LED transition process slowly, compare your light bulb options with Wirecutter’s guide to smart LED light bulbs.

November: Get ready for the holidays with a fresh coat of paint

As holidays approach, you might want to tighten your home improvement budget to spend on presents, but that doesn’t mean giving up on your home improvement resolutions. Deering has a simple, cost-friendly solution: “I would say the least expensive thing that people can do to give their home a fresh touch would be paint.”

An average size bedroom (120 square feet) will cost between $300 to $750 to have professionally painted, or you can go the DIY route to cut out the labor costs. If you’re planning on selling in the near future, choose a neutral color like Agreeable Gray or Accessible Beige by Sherwin-Williams. If you’re in your forever home, then why not experiment with some color therapy on an accent wall or in a powder room. Not only is a fresh coat of paint an affordable renovation, but it’s also a great talking point for guests at your holiday parties.

December: Meditate on your home maintenance resolutions

As 2024 comes to an end, take some time to congratulate yourself on the hard work you put into your home throughout the year. This type of positive encouragement actually increases your ability to keep up your good habits. And trust us, good home habits are worth the effort. Studies show that regular maintenance can increase your home’s value by 1% annually. Now that’s an accomplishment worth clinking glasses for!

Header Image Source: (David Papazian / Shutterstock)