Love Where You Live: THREE RESOLUTIONS FOR A HAPPY HOME

The passing of another year is often time for reflection on what was and planning for what will be. I’d love to help you make 2019 the year you find a home to love… or fall in love with your current home all over again! Let’s look at three quick news years resolutions we can make for creating a happy, healthy home.

#1 PURGE YOUR WAY TO A HAPPY HOME. Cleaning is always a great place to start, and I would be happy to send you my Clean Home Cheat Sheet. The Cheat Sheet breaks down your cleaning tasks into small manageable chores to help you avoid the overwhelming task of cleaning the house top to bottom in one day. Shoot me an email (address below) to request a copy.

In additional to cleaning, purge your home of items you don’t need. Be relentless. If you haven’t used it, worn it, or thought about it in six months or more, it’s time to let it go. Be systematic and break it down into small tasks. Can you start with one kitchen cabinet per day? One closet per weekend? Create a system and stick to it.

#2 KEEP YOUR HOME HEALTHY. Let’s make sure you’re not living with any health hazards or fire risks! It’s a good idea to check your home for radon, because one in every 15 homes has elevated radon levels! You can test levels on your own with a $20 kit from the hardware store.

Just like radon, carbon monoxide is also impossible to detect without having the right systems in place, so make sure you have a carbon monoxide detector on every floor in addition to fire detectors. They can cost as little as $20 and are easy to install on your own.

Don’t forget to clean the dryer vents and ducts, not just the lint trap but the stuff behind the dryer. Lint is highly combustible and according to the US Fire Administration is the cause for more than 15,000 building fires each year.

#3 GO GREEN IN 2019. It doesn’t take solar panels to create a “green” home, just some common sense. And the first place to start is by cutting your energy usage at home. Here are some tips from Bob Schildgen, who wrote the “Hey Mr. Green” column for Sierra magazine.

• Switch off the lights when you leave a room.
• Turn off your AC when you leave the house and dial your heater down to 55 degrees at night.
• Install LED bulbs and low-flow showerheads.
• Wait for the dishwasher or washing machine to be full before you run them.
• Turn off your power strips and/or set your home computer to revert to sleep mode when not in use.
• Water your yard less.
• Give composting a try.

Happy 2019 to you! If you’re looking for help or inspiration on your journey to creating a home you love, please visit BeautifulHomesVancouver.com or reach out to BrokerShana@gmail.com. I’m a licensed real estate agent in WA and OR and professional home stager.

Shana O’Brien
Realty One Group Cascadia
Realtor & Home Stager, WA and OR licensed • Author • LiveInVancouverUSA.com
360-904-8497