With just a few weeks left in 2019, 2020 is right around the corner. A new year is more than a chance to improve yourself—it’s also a chance to improve your home!
Here are the top real estate resolutions to make for your home in 2020. See if you’d like to add any to your list of New Year’s goals!
Make Extra Mortgage Payments
If you have the extra money, it’s worth it to make a few extra payments on your mortgage. Depending on how far ahead of schedule you get on your payments, you could end up saving yourself thousands in interest! Not only that, but it’ll also help you build up more equity—which will come in handy when you’re ready to sell.
If you’re paying once a month, maybe spilt the payments up into biweekly amounts so it’s a less intimidating number. You can also consider refinancing your home if mortgage rates are low, or switch from a 30-year mortgage to a 15-year mortgage. The payments will be a higher amount for the latter, but the total savings will more than make up for it!
Decrease Your Bills
This one is easier said than done, but there are actually some concrete ways to reduce what you owe in bills every month. One of the best things you can do is replace your appliances with more energy-efficient models—not only will they use less water and energy, but buyers will love them!
In particular, ENERGY STAR-rated appliances have been thoroughly tested and proven to save you hundreds per year, depending on which you buy. ENERGY STAR refrigerators use 40% less energy, dryers use 20% less, and washers use 40% to 50% less. See what fits in your budget, and consider making a few energy-efficient, big-ticket purchases this year!
Commit to Small Projects
Odds are, you have a few projects around your house that you’ve been meaning to get to, but just haven’t had time for. Maybe you really hate the color of the walls in your bedroom, or your hardwood floors are looking a little dingy. Take time to take stock of what you’d like to complete in your home, and set a few concrete goals for 2020.
You don’t have to get it all done this year—although there’s certainly nothing wrong with that!—but try to put at least 4 or 5 projects on your list. Not only will it help you enjoy your time in your home more, but it’ll also pay off when it comes time to sell!
Reduce What You Have
Over the years, we tend to accumulate a lot of stuff. Most of the time, we don’t need all of the stuff we have, and it can often start taking up more room than it’s worth. Next year, make one of your real estate resolutions to trim down on your home’s clutter!
You can do this as quickly or slowly as you’d like, and there are plenty of easy tricks to help you get the job done. Maybe once a week (or month) you choose a room, and find 5 things in that room that you don’t need. Or grab a two garbage bags and do the Trash Bag Tango, filling one bag with things to throw out and one bag with things to donate or sell. There are tons of other methods for decluttering, so pick the one that works best for you and commit to it!
Reach Your Real Estate Resolutions in 2020
No matter what goals you aim to achieve, the team at Trademark Residential is here to help. If you’re buying, we’d love to show you around a few of our specialized resources. If you’re selling, you should be sure to check out our in-depth tools. And if you have questions, we can’t wait to answer them!
Ready to get started? We’re just a phone call away!