Creating a few personal New Year's resolutions is one way give yourself a little extra motivation to make some positive changes in your life. The same can also be true for your home. So as we begin the New Year, take a moment for a little bit of home owner reflection.

There is a good chance your home has a few areas that could be improved, especially if it's more than 10 years old. So when you start to make your list, don't be surprised to find that you and your home have some strikingly similar resolutions.

1. Lose Weight

One of the toughest resolutions for a person to stick to is losing weight. But for a home, it's one of the easiest. Homes typically become more cluttered after the holidays, often because of the many new purchases that are taking up space. Don't procrastinate until "spring cleaning " time to throw away, re-sell or donate home goods that you no longer need.

2. Be More Organized

As you work your way through de-cluttering your home, it's a great opportunity to get reorganized. For example, your home office has perhaps become a wasteland of papers, books or random gadgets. If you re-organized those items�or removed them altogether�you might feel more productive while working.

3. Take Up a New Hobby

DIY projects can give you a great sense of personal accomplishment. But there are certain projects that are good for the novice, and others that are best left to the professionals. Replacing light fixtures, painting walls and switching out hardware are a few examples of DIY projects that almost anyone can do. But before you pick up a sledgehammer and start knocking down walls, taking up floors or removing cabinets, consult with a remodeler who can provide some professional guidance.

4. Eat Better and Drink Less

It's easy to over-indulge during the holidays. Likewise, your home might be feeling gluttonous as it over-consumes on electricity and water. There are countless new products�some of which can be installed fairly easily�to improve your home's energy efficiency. From low-flow water fixtures, smart-home thermostats and motion-sensing automated lights, to Energy Star appliances and new double-pane windows, the options are endless. Ask a building professional which features are best suited for your home and your needs.

5. Get Out of Debt

After the holidays, a top priority for many is getting out of debt, or simply better managing their finances. The first step is usually to identify where there might be wasteful spending, and then try to minimize or eliminate those occasions. For your home, you might have several improvements in mind, but doing them all at once would be a challenge logistically and financially. When working with your contractor, you can prioritize your wants and needs and then develop a plan to address them over time. A remodeler can also help you determine which of those improvements will provide the best return on your investment when it comes to saving on energy costs and enhancing your home's value.

Your home is a reflection of you, so it's no surprise that you may have very similar New Year's resolutions. Some of them are much easier to accomplish than others, but the payoff will come in many forms�most importantly, improved comfort for you and your family.

Learn more about which improvements are best suited for your home by contacting Greater Montgomery Home Builders Association at (334) 277-7766.