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7 Easy Tips to Stage Your Home’s Exterior

By U.S. News & World Report

Making a good first impression outside will entice homebuyers to want to see what’s inside the home that’s on the market. That’s why one of the first things a home seller should do when preparing their home for sale is go stand out by the curb and take in the sights of their home’s exterior and front yard. What do you see? If it’s not eye-appealing chances are buyers will pass your home and never turn back.

Walking through different neighborhoods it’s unbelievable how many homes, whether represented by an agent or not, have For Sale signs in the yard with overgrown grass, dead flowers beds, crumbling stoops and the home’s exterior missing pieces of roof shingles or siding.

[See: 12 Home Improvement Shortcuts That Are a Bad Idea.]

The impression these sellers, even these real estate agents, are suggesting is neglect, abandonment and unwillingness to put the buyer’s feelings first. If you want a buyer to respond positively to your home and make an offer than you need to assess the space as a buyer would and make improvements that reflect your sales price.

Start with these seven tips to impress buyers outside regardless of how much time or money you actually have before hitting the market.

Update Structural Issues. Consider updating projects that will make a big impact on the look and resale value of the home. Repairs like, roofing, siding and replacing windows are not only considered a cosmetic improvement, but can enhance the structural integrity of the home. According to Hanley Wood’s Remodeling Cost vs. Value Report for 2016, a homeowner can recoup more than 70 percent of the cost of these projects.

Leaving repairs undone could cause water damage, pest infestation and mold, which will be revealed during a home inspection and could devalue your home.

Fix Minor Repairs. If you don’t have the budget to make structural upgrades, then consider what minor repairs can improve the exterior. Small fixes can include cleaning or replacing gutters. Patch up the driveway or concrete walkways. Repaint the front door, fence or any other wood exterior to give it a fresh surface.

[See: 10 Ways to Save Energy and Reduce Utility Bills at Home.]

Pressure Wash All Surfaces. Your home’s exterior can accumulate a lot of dust, grime, even mildew over the years. In order to make the exterior look like new, pressure wash the siding, concrete, vinyl fences, decking and any other surfaces that have lost their luster over time. Beware, though, that a pressure washer can be powerful enough to remove paint, so be careful.

Clean Up Landscaping. Remove dead debris and cut back overgrown shrubs. Add colorful flowers, plants with varying heights and mulch into the flowerbeds. Make sure the flowerbeds frame out the exterior of your home so they become an extension of the structure.

Add Potted Plants. Welcome buyers with colorful flowers or topiaries near the front door to add some life to this hardscape. Try to have at least two matching planters on either side of the door or if you don’t have enough space on your porch, use one larger planter in a corner and consider adding two other planters at varying heights in the same corner to create a statement.

Install New Hardware. Check your house numbers, lighting fixtures, doorknobs and mailbox to see if you could benefit from new hardware. These quick fixes are not only easy to install, but are cost effective and instantly make the area around your door stand out. Just make sure all the hardware is the same material.

[See: Weird Home Features That May Confuse Homebuyers.]

Accessorize Your Porch. This is the final step when dressing up your home’s exterior. Add accessories like a seasonal wreath, a new doormat and a seating area around your front door to invite buyers into your home.

Don’t forget to accessorize other areas in your yard that could impress buyers. Consider updating an outdoor living or dining area with new throw pillows, cushions or a rug. Think about adding more light to define and enhance the space or even add a fireplace to set the mood that buyers can enjoy this area under the stars even on cool nights.

More from U.S. News

Current Design Trends That Will Date Your Home

The 20 Most Desirable Places to Live in the U.S.

8 Types of Roads That Can Have a Big Impact on Home Sales

7 Easy Tips to Stage Your Home’s Exterior originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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