We all know the drill... We are approaching the new year and everyone is busy making their list of what they will commit to in the new year. Will you get in shape? Try something new? Look for a new job? Renovate your house? The list goes on. But, what about considering some new year's resolutions for largest investment, your home? This article provides some food for thought on 5 new year's resolutions every homeowner should make.
1. Consider Putting a Little More Into Your Mortgage Payments
Have you ever taken the time to look at the total amount you will have paid over the life of your loan? It can be downright depressing. If you have any extra expendable income in the new year, you might want to think about putting it towards your mortgage. Making extra payments on your mortgage can have a significant impact on the total you end up paying out over the course of the loan. It can also shorten the amount of time you’ll be saddled with payments and can have you owning your house free and clear sooner than you expected. The more you can contribute, the better. Even if you can only make a few extra payments per year – do it! Those extra dollars will add up and end up saving you serious dollars in interest over the course of your mortgage. Create a budget and look for any areas where you can shave a few dollars, like your daily trip to the coffeehouse or an expensive gym membership. Then, re-purpose that cash and put it towards paying down your mortgage faster.
2. Take Advantage of Low Interest Rates
We have been enjoying near record low interest rates on mortgages. Even in the small upticks, they’re still HALF of the average interest rates over the past 40 years (which averaged at 8.45%). If you haven’t refinanced your mortgage recently, now may be a good time to do it. Talk to your loan officer about refinancing and getting a lower interest rate. And if you’re in a variable rate mortgage, shift over to a fixed rate mortgage and lock in the low interest rates while you can.
3. Review and Renew Your Homeowners Insurance
A lot of homeowners roll over their insurance year to year without much consideration. If you haven’t reviewed your policy in a while, you might be missing out on some money-saving opportunities. Shop around and get quotes to see what rates are competitive in the current market and if you’re paying more, see if your current company will match the lowest quote. If you have a stand-alone policy, think about bundling your auto and homeowners insurance with one company. Insurance companies will often offer discounts for customers who hold multiple policies. If you’ve made any major improvements to your home that could impact the insurability of your house (like clearing trees, installing a high tech security system or adding storm reinforcements), let your agent know. Improvements can often lower your premiums.
4. Declutter, Declutter, Declutter
While spring is traditionally the time for organizing (in the form of “spring cleaning”), there’s no better time for a fresh start – and a more organized home – than the New Year. Cleaning out closets, getting rid of things you no longer want or need and taking a more minimalist approach to life can have huge benefits. Not only will your home look better, but it can also make you FEEL better as a result. Messy, cluttered homes can cause increased stress and anxiety, making it much harder to relax and enjoy your space. Clutter has also been shown to decrease creativity, productivity and focus, so if you want to have a happy and productive in the new year, it’s time for the stuff to go. Plan a day to go through all of your closets, cabinets and storage space. If you’re not actively using something, get rid of it. The benefits you’ll reap from decluttering will far outweigh the value of the things you get rid of.
5. Get Up To Speed On Safety
The new year is the perfect time to review the current state of your property and take any precautions necessary to ensure that you’re safe in the upcoming year. Test your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and replace them if necessary (did you even realize these things have expiration dates?). Check your house for radon and/or mold to ensure nothing has changed during your tenancy. Meet with your family to review emergency evacuation plans in case of a fire, flood or other emergencies.
With these 5 resolutions, you’ll get the most out of your property – and of owning your home – in 2020 and beyond.