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It’s Not All or Nothing: How Home Staging Works

By U.S. News & World Report

Homeowners and real estate agents alike often assume staging is all or nothing, but that’s simply not the case. There are many different ways you can work with a home stager to properly prepare a home for sale.

Every home can benefit from some form of staging. Sellers may just need some advice or an action plan to follow, while others may need the stager to actually complete the work or coordinate rental furnishings and design the space. The seller can be as involved as they want depending on their needs and budget.

Real estate agents often believe home staging should only be used if the space is vacant, because very few buyers can visualize the potential of a space. A vacant staging is when the stager will rent furniture and accessories to dress up an empty space. The stager will be there for the delivery and set everything up so it’s ready to show off.

A vacant staging is the most expensive for sellers according to the Real Estate Staging Association, which has a pricing breakdown that factors in the varying types of services a home stager provides. This service, of course, is the most expensive because a stager has to bring everything in to make the space feel at home. A 2015 RESA report on staging pricing found that a vacant staging is an investment that ranges between $1,995 and $8,500 on average. High-end properties and in specific locations this service may cost more for home sellers.

[See: 10 Unorthodox Ways Your Real Estate Agent May Market Your Home.]

But real estate agents and sellers shouldn’t overlook the other services home stagers provide:

Consultation. One of the easiest ways to incorporate home staging when selling is the purchase a home staging consultation — that’s when a home stager will enter the home for a short period to assess the space and determine what needs to be completed. The stager will either tell you or write out their findings, and usually put a proposal together for further work. You can also do this online in an e-staging consultation by providing the stager photos of the property.

For a two-hour walk-and-talk consultation, the RESA report found that this cost varies from $200 to $800, depending on the home’s square footage and agents pay for this service 89 percent of the time.

The report also notes a written consultation costs between $225 to $1,500, again depending on the home’s square footage because it can take up to five hours to create an action plan for the home. More than 75 percent of real estate agents will pay for this service to be completed, according to the report.

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

Occupied Staging. If the seller is living in the home while on the market, stagers will use the homeowner’s belongings to prepare the home for sale, called an owner-occupied staging. With this service, the stager will rearrange and remove items, accessorize and sometimes complete small repairs.

The stager will use what’s already in the home, but may also bring in key accessories to update and complete the look buyers will appeal to. Many times, the seller will have homework to complete — like cleaning, packing or organizing items prior to the staging day.

Square footage always plays a role in pricing, and for occupied staging can cost between $776 and $6,900, per the RESA report. As mentioned in this process, a seller may also need some of the stager’s rental accessories, which can cost a few hundred dollars per month while the home is on the market.

Regardless of whether a home is vacant or filled with clutter, clean or a complete mess, maintained or filled with projects that haven’t been completed in decades, a seller should consider consulting with a home staging company if they want the maximum return on investment for the property.

A home stager may offer customizable solutions for sellers, like hiring them for a few hours before a photo shoot to spruce up the place. Maybe the seller needs help tackling specific organizing tasks, managing repair projects, or interior design services.

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

So, the next time you think home staging is just cleaning and decluttering, suitable for only vacant spaces or luxury properties consider contacting a home stager in your area, qualified to provide you with expert advice to get a home on and off the market quickly for the biggest return on your investment.

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It’s Not All or Nothing: How Home Staging Works 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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