52 Weekends in the Poconos

The beginning of the new year is the perfect time to start planning for home projects. Maintenance projects are a great way to keep your space comfortable, functional and possibly add value to your home. Not all projects are boring chores. Adding new space to your kitchen or sprucing up your décor can be fun and rewarding. Here are a few new year’s resolutions for your home.

(Photo: ronstik, Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Increase square footage

After a long, dark winter, spring's bright sun and warm winds are, well, a breath of fresh air. The only downside? All that sunshine spotlights your leaf-filled gutters, cracked sidewalks and the dead plants in last year's flower beds. Dwight Barnett, a certified master inspector with the American Society of Home Inspectors, shared this checklist to help you target the areas that need maintenance so you can get your chores done quickly, leaving you time to go outside and play in the sunshine.