We all have those jobs around the home that we keep meaning to get to. Maintaining a home isn’t easy, and there is always something else that you want to get done. If you’ve been looking around your house and noticing that there are a few more home improvement tasks that need doing than you would like, there’s no better time to get started on your to-do list. Here are just 5 home improvement jobs that you should stop putting off and get to this year.
Remove the Clutter
One of the first things you should think about doing is getting rid of all that clutter inside your home. Chances are you have piles of things scattered throughout your home that you just don’t need anymore. Maybe you have some old clothes, computer equipment that’s out of date, furniture you no longer need, and who knows what else. Now is the time to sort through everything and make a plan for getting rid of it.
Your first option is to try and sell your stuff. You could host a garage sale or put the items up for sale online. If you don’t want to go through this, or you don’t think you’ll get much in return, your next option is to donate the items. Plenty of charities will take items besides clothing, and you can even get a tax write-off for it. Finally, when all else fails, simply throw the stuff away.
Add a New Coat of Paint
Over time the paint on the walls inside your home can become faded or worn down. You may not even notice it because the process is so gradual. But if you take a moment to really examine the paint on your walls, you may notice that it’s in need of some work. Rather than putting it off any longer, make some time to redo the paint around your home
If you have left over paint from the last time you did it, you can simply repaint the room the same color and make it look better. Or, if you want, you can get an entirely new paint color and really change up the look of a room. Think about the mood you want to set for that specific room, then dedicate a weekend to bringing that idea to life.
Make Your Home More Energy Efficient
One of the best home improvement jobs you can do this year is working towards making your home more energy efficient. Making your home more energy efficient is not only great for the environment, but it can help to save you a lot of money. There are a few key ways you can go about doing this.
To start, you can upgrade to more energy efficient appliances. If it’s been a while since you’ve gotten a new dishwasher, refrigerator, washing machine, dryer, or furnace, you could save yourself a decent amount of money each month by upgrading to a new model.
Another great thing you can do is install an energy efficient thermostat. Your home’s HVAC system is one of the biggest consumers of energy, so if you can limit how much it draws, you make your home more energy efficient. A simple smart thermostat can go a long way, and they are typically easy to set up and install.
Roof Repair and Maintenance
Moving outside, the next thing you should look at is your roof. If you’ve been noticing any water spots within your ceilings, or if you can spot damage on the outside of your roof, it’s time to do something about it. Your roof plays an important role in protecting your home, so you don’t want to neglect it for too long.
To fix up your roof, you have several options. To start, you may just need to clean your gutters. Gutters play an important role within your roof, and according to Guardian Roofing, “water does not travel seamlessly off the roof and away from the building due to clogged gutters. In such cases, water gets accumulated in one part of the roof and eventually seeps into the cracks.” A few hours up on a ladder could be all you need to do to prevent any further issues.
In other cases, you may need to replace some shingles within your roof or replace the whole roof entirely. If you’re unsure of what to do, find a local roof repair service and have them give you their expert opinion. Replacing your roof is an important home improvement project, not only because it will help keep you safe, but because it can help improve curb appeal, so don’t let this task go on for too long without attention.
Get Started Today
Your home improvement tasks aren’t going to go away on their own. Now is the best time to make yourself a to-do list, then start crossing off items one at a time. The above items are a great place to start, but you’ll need to examine your own home and determine which home improvement tasks are the most important.