As we bring 2021 to an end and welcome 2022, we can humbly say it has been a joyful year in Real Estate. While our Realtors at Lewith & Freeman help connect buyers and sellers in Northeastern Pennsylvania every day, the market is strong and moving quickly. There is a high volume of potential buyers considering a move in 2022 and using their New Year's Resolutions as an opportunity to tackle home projects. Our Realtors compiled a list of the top home-related New Year's Resolutions for 2022:

Remove the Clutter
A chance to remove clutter laying around or unwanted items throughout the house creates a feeling of satisfaction and cleanliness. By setting a day each week or maybe just a few hours here and there to go room by room throughout your home. Take this opportunity to clear countertops, clean out drawers, closets, or just what is laying around to get rid of items that are unnecessary to keep, broken, or have not been of use. You may also come across items you could have forgotten about! We strive to encourage you to always remember to donate any items when possible.

Deep Clean Room by Room
You can choose to deep clean while you're decluttering, before or after. The best way to deep clean is removing all furniture from one room, shampooing carpets or polishing hardwood floors. Wash all linens, bedding, and draperies. Clean off ceiling fan panels, dust any shelves or ledges and wipe down floorboard. While some rooms may take longer to conquer then others therefore choosing smaller sections as a time won't be as time consuming. To keep up with the clean, set a cleaning schedule and routine to get into and continue.

Changes are a Good Thing
If you are searching for a chance make a change in the house, switch up the layout of furniture. Rearranging or swapping out furniture from other rooms create a fresh, new environment. By drawing quick sketches of floor plans it can help you decide your new placement and help to take full advantage of your home's floor plan and available space. You may find the new layout was better than the original!

Cut Down on Bills
As some bills are increasing, make your goal in 2022 to decrease your bills. Start by making it a habit to turn of lights when not in the room and unplug items that do not need to be.  An easy alternative for lighting is to swap out lightbulbs to LED or maintenance free fixtures. When you leave the house, turn down the air conditioning in the summer or heat down in the winter. Try to close doors or open doors, depending on your homes layout or close curtains to maximize heat or air flow. While helping to minimize your utility bills, it also cuts back on your home's Carbon Footprint.

What projects are you going to achieve this year?
We can guarantee in 2021 there were a handful of home projects you wanted to achieve and may not have gotten to them or ran out of time. Whether a larger or smaller project, start 2022 by making a list of all the projects you want to check off. Start slowing and tackle little portions of the project at a time. If you're just about ready to put your home on the market, ensure to consult with your Realtor before making any drastic and unnecessary changes.