Realty Executives Midwest
1310 Plainfield Rd. Ste 2 | Darien, IL 60561
Office: 630-969-8880
E-Mail: experts@realtyexecutives.com

As we start the new year, many of us focus on self improvement and making changes. A majority of the new year’s resolutions people make are health related, but only about 8% of resolutioners succeed in maintaining their new goals.

Check out our tips and ideas to make your home and your home life work with you, so that you can be a part of the crowd of people who succeed.

Goal: Lose Weight

Losing weight and eating healthy are the two most common new year’s resolutions that people make. How can you use your home to help you shed some unwanted weight?

Rearrange your kitchen to support your diet. Take the time to clear out any junk food you might have laying around after all of your holiday parties and celebrations. This will clear space that you can fill with healthy foods to start the new year off right. This way, you’ll be able to reach for something healthy instead of something you might regret later (ex. leftover Christmas cookies). You can also designate a certain cabinet or area in the kitchen for your healthy foods so you’ll know exactly where to go to get a healthy snack and can steer clear of temptation.

Designate a space for home fitness. A key part to losing weight and staying healthy is getting proper exercise. Consider designating a space in your home for an at-home fitness routine. Even smaller spaces can lend themselves well to simple home workouts including push-ups, sit-ups, jumping jacks and yoga routines. If you want to take it a step further, you can invest in building a home gym complete with cardio equipment, weights, and work-out mats. If you have a spare room without a dedicated purpose, making the decision to transform the space solely to support your fitness goals is motivating and can definitely help you stick to a routine.

Goal: Stay Healthy

Step up your cleaning routine. Prevent allergens, bacteria, and viruses from getting you and your family sick. Be sure to get rid of dust that can cause allergies and wipe down surfaces, especially doorknobs and kitchen countertops that are usually covered in harmful germs. Air purifiers are a great way to keep the air in your home clean and reduce allergens and germs.

Plan home safety inspections. The beginning of the year is the perfect time to inspect your house for any hazards, and set a schedule for the year for regular check-ups. Hiring a professional to come and do a safety inspection can help identify hazards you might miss.  Be sure to consider the following action items as you develop your plan:

• Check on any fire safety elements
• Do an air quality inspection
• Get an electrical safety inspection
• Install or maintain home security systems
• Prepare an emergency kit with food, water, a flashlight, batteries, and a first aid kit
• Check that all of your appliances and electronics are working properly

Keep Things Neat and Organized. It’s easy to let your home get a little bit disorderly, especially around the holidays. But did you know that clutter and mess can actually lead to mental health problems like anxiety and helplessness? Keeping your house clean and tidy can do wonders for your mental health, not to mention making maintaining your home a lot easier.

Goal: Save Money

Install Energy Saving Appliances. Installing energy saving appliances will not only save you money, but they will also make your home more environmentally friendly. There’s everything from energy saving washing machines to energy saving thermostats, so consider replacing some of your older appliances with new, energy efficient ones.

Home Maintenance. While some issues should be handled by a professional, like electrical issues, there are many home maintenance basics you can do yourself. Hiring professionals can be costly, so learning how to do some of your own home maintenance can save you a lot of money. You may avoid costly repairs or replacements down the line with some home appliance maintenance basics.

This post was written for Realty Executives by Elliot Walsh. Elliot is a dual-degree graduate from the University of Rochester with a B.S in Cell Biology and a B.A in English Literature. He is a full-time freelance writer from Boston, specializing in veganism, humor, and health. His articles have appeared in The Rival Rochester and his work experience can be found here: www.linkedin.com/in/ewalsh17.

Realty Executives Midwest
1310 Plainfield Rd. Ste 2 | Darien, IL 60561
Office: 630-969-8880
E-Mail: experts@realtyexecutives.com

Realty Executives Midwest in Darien, IL held their annual holiday luncheon, a tradition held for more than 25 years, on December 13th, 2017.

This event was meant to honor and thank its agents and the entire team for the amazing job they do! Special guests included Bruce Vinnick, regional developer, and Sue Wiskowski-Fair, who founded Realty Executives of Illinois in 1987 with the late Roy Fair. 

At this event, the agents and support team were acknowledged for any special achievements as well as sales production. This year, Rosa Andersen earned the Top Producer Award for 2017!

Big congratulations are also in order to the rest of our award winners, and special shout-out to the multiple agents who had career-high years...WOW!

Jana Pinc, the managing broker, comments:
"I am utterly grateful to all who made our success possible. Past clients, cooperating brokers, all the other players involved with the transactions, and most of all the members of our amazing team whose dedication and enthusiasm has made this journey so exciting. It is hard to believe it’s been 25 years! Where did the time go? It’s been a beautiful ride filled with challenges, wins, screw ups and just plain fun! As the end of the year draws near, I'd like to say that I greatly value everyone's commitment to making our office the success that it is and I wish everyone all the BEST in 2018!"

Realty Executives Midwest
1310 Plainfield Rd. Ste 2 | Darien, IL 60561
Office: 630-969-8880
E-Mail: experts@realtyexecutives.com

The humble space heater gets a bad rap, but when used correctly it can actually represent a good option for taking the edge off the winter chill. Here are some tips about how to safely use a space heater and when it’s a good choice:

Are you heating a whole house when the family is concentrated in the living room? Turn down the central heat and use a modern space heater rather than heat the empty rooms.

1. A space heater can be a wise choice when you live in an uninsulated or poorly insulated home.

2. Avoid unvented combustion space heaters. Instead, look for electric space heaters, preferably with a fan to circulate the hot air.

3. Never plug a space heater into an extension cord.

4. Maintain three feet of clear space around the heater in all directions. Be aware of loose rugs, blankets, or other potentially flammable objects nearby.

5. Unplug your space heater when no one is around to keep an eye on it.

6. Do not use a space heater in a damp room (i.e. bathroom!) unless it is specifically designed for outdoor or bathroom use.

7. Don’t hide the space heater electrical cord where it might get torn or degraded under foot. Run it where it is visible, but does not create a tripping hazard.

8. If you’re shopping for a space heater, consider this handy Consumer Reports buying guide.

By the way: Heating and cooling a large home after the kids have moved out can be a waste of your retirement dollars. If you’re thinking it might be time to downsize (or rightsize!) your home, get in touch today:

Realty Executives Midwest
1310 Plainfield Rd. Ste 2 | Darien, IL 60561
Office: 630-969-8880
E-Mail: experts@realtyexecutives.com