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The 3 Design Pros You Want on Your Team When You Update Your Home

By U.S. News & World Report

Collaborate, as defined by Merriam-Websters Dictionary, means “to work jointly with others or together especially in an intellectual endeavor.” The idea is to have a group of professionals working together with the shared goal of a successful design solution. Everyone brings to the table various opinions which may differ, but each also bring specific specialized knowledge as it relates to the project.

Collaboration is extremely important in designing a renovation project. A homeowner benefits greatly from these relationships. With the popularity of do-it-yourself TV shows and blogs, we have all gotten much more daring with the work we take on ourselves when it comes to home improvement. Don’t underestimate the value of a team working with and for you on your home renovation or new construction.

[Read: You Bought a Fixer-Upper. Now What?]

There are various individuals you should consider bringing onto your “team.” When it comes time to redesign your home, here are the three people you’ll want to include.

The architect. With technical skill and training, the architect can provide specialized help regarding the physical structure of your project as well as devise creative use of space and flow within your home.

In addition, the architect can effectively communicate the ideas onto paper, which acts as instruction for your contractor. Architects can assist you throughout the construction process making sure the plans you have agreed upon are being translated properly into your finished structure.

The interior designer. The interior designer also plays a vital role. A designer is not just there to make the space look pretty. Often, the designer works closely with the architect in developing tile layouts, lighting plans and space planning. This process works best when the designer and architect communicate openly and freely.

The landscape designer. Another design professional that can prove to be invaluable is a landscape designer. If you are working on a large-scale project, landscaping may be the last thing on your mind. Getting a landscape professional involved in the early stages of a project can make a tremendous difference in your outcome. Why not take advantage of three design professionals weighing in at once?

[See: 8 Ways to Transform Unused Space in Your Home.]

Working with multiple minds to form a cohesive vision is just as good for the professionals you bring onto the team as it is for you, the homeowner. “Collaborations come in many varieties,” says Jason Zrodlowski, project manager for Red Cedar Inc., a landscaping company in Wappingers Falls, New York.

He adds, “The most common is when people have complementary skills. Other collaborations can happen on a more human level.”

By incorporating another individual, group or company into the design process and its execution, it can often lead to a more unique outcome.

“Sometimes people seize the opportunity to explore new things while working alongside someone more proficient in a certain field,” Zrodlowski says. “There are other times when people just need an injection of fresh energy to revitalize their work. No matter what the circumstances, collaborations can spark creative collisions that produce amazing results.”

If you are unsure of how to build your team, start with any design professional — architect, interior designer or landscape designer — that produces the quality of work you admire. Choose someone who you can communicate easily with.

Be honest about your eventual intentions for your home. Many design professionals are aware that budgetary constraints or scheduling conflicts may require a project to be done in phases.

[See: Current Design Trends That Will Date Your Home.]

You may not be able to have the entire project done at once, but it is invaluable to have the whole-house plan in place before any work begins. Not only is it the best course of action for a cohesive design throughout the property, but it makes it more likely you’ll stick to your budget throughout the project.

Many design professionals will recommend others for collaboration with whom they’ve worked in the past — while you’re free to bring on any designers and architects you feel will do the best work, a history of a successful working relationship can be key to getting the outcome you want for your house. A unified team will have your best interests in mind and will be motivated to provide you with the most successful results.

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The 3 Design Pros You Want on Your Team When You Update Your Home 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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