Add your home to your list of New Year’s resolutions with some of these helpful tips:

Buying:

1. Familiarize yourself with the home-buying process
2. Learn about the tax benefits that come along with your home purchase
3. Check your credit ratings
4. Increase your savings for down payment
5. Decide how much you need for a down payment
6. Get pre-approved for a mortgage
7. Decide how much you can spend on a home
8. Start your home search online
9. Find an architectural style for your dream home
10. Search for home with your commute in mind
11. Consider downsizing to condo
12. Learn the difference between a condo and a town home
13. Consider purchasing an investment property
14. Choose the right home for your family
15. Consider a short sale
16. Is a foreclosure right for you?
17. Decide if you want an older home or new construction
18. Create a moving plan
19. Keep new home costs low
20. Choose a mortgage
21. Consider buying with cash?
22. Ask your loan officer these important questions
23. Avoid common mistakes
24. Win a bidding war
25. Perform a mini pre-inspection while touring homes

Selling:

1. Decide if your should sell or remodel your home
2. Make sure you are ready to sell your home
3. Choose your next home with a shorter commute
4. Learn more about what a seller’s market means for you
5. Familiarize yourself with the home-selling process
6. Avoid common mistakes
7. Estimate your home’s value
8. Make improvements to increase your home’s value
9. More tips on adding value to your home
10. Consider selling before spring
11. Get your home ready for sale
12. Find a selling agent you trust
13. Schedule a home inspection
14. Increase your home’s curb appeal
15. Price your home to sell
16. How to prepare your home for open houses
17. Learn the home staging basics
18. Where to store your stuff while showing your home
19. Feng Shui tips for preparing your home to sell
20. Protect your pets while showing your home
21. Get professional photos for your home listing
22. Buy your next home while selling your current home?
23. In a hurry? Sell your home quickly
24. Help your parents make transitional housing choices
25. Relocating? Get help from a professional

Home improvements:

1. Make your house a home
2. Get the best return on your investment for your home renovations
3. Access your home energy costs
4. Improve energy efficiency (and reduce your energy bills)
5. Inspect, repair and increase your home insulation
6. Decorate with the new color of the year
7. Choose the right paint color for your home
8. Redecorate to fit your dream design style
9. Paint an accent wall
10. Create a healthier home environment for you and your family
11. Make your fireplace and chimney safe for use
12. Develop disaster preparedness plan & upgrade your emergency kit
13. Rid your home of pests
14. Upgrade your garden
15. Cultivate an indoor garden
16. Plant trees for better privacy and increased home value
17. Check your home insurance policy
18. Do a home inventory
19. Protect your home from burglars
20. Protect yourself from contractor scams
21. Extend your entertaining outside
22. If you have little ones, childproof your home!
23. Hang some art on the walls
24. Pre-pay your mortgage or refinance for extra savings?
25. Refinance even if you have poor credit