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When a potential homebuyer comes by to look at your home, they will most likely park their car and walk to the front door via the driveway. And that means one of the earliest impressions they will have of your home in-person is of the driveway itself.

While we tend not to think much about this, a driveway can say a lot about a home and its owner. For instance, if it has lots of cracks and mud and old wood piled on the sides, it could leave an impression that you didn’t care much for the house and tended to let things fall into disrepair.

That’s why a clean, good looking driveway and walkway are important. Even if they don’t even notice, it’s better than someone noticing a flaw with your home.

A well-built, well-maintained asphalt driveway adds curb appeal to your house. Plus, they aren’t that difficult to take care of. They should be kept free of snow and ice in the winter and relatively dirt-free in the summer. And that doesn’t take much more than hosing, sweeping and shoveling.

If your driveway is looking worse for wear, getting it repaved isn’t that expensive. Walkways can be repaired with concrete paint. This can usually be done in a few hours, and is relatively inexpensive.

Even if your driveway and walkways are in great shape, you can still make them look better by decluttering. This means removing any bikes, gardening equipment or garbage cans that might be in the front of the house. An empty, clean driveway will give the impression of space.

Also, move any cars and leave the driveway empty for when someone comes to see your home. By doing so, you will let house hunters feel as if they are pulling into the driveway of their future home.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Many homeowners dont give much thought to their water heater until it breaks down. With simple, routine maintenance you can prevent problems and increase your water heaters lifespan and efficiency.

Check the TPR Valve
A water heater has a temperature/pressure relief (TPR) valve on the top or side that can open if the internal pressure is too high to prevent an explosion. Turn off the power and the cold-water supply valve. Set a bucket under the discharge pipe on the water heater tank, and lift the lever on the TPR valve to release some water, then let go. If it doesnt release water, or if water continues to flow after you let go of the lever, replace the valve.

Get Rid of Sediment
Sediment that accumulates at the bottom of the tank can clog water lines, make the water heater less efficient and shorten its lifespan. Flush the water heater every six months to remove sediment.

Connect one end of a garden hose to the water heater drain outlet near the base, and place the other end of the hose in a bucket. Open the drain spigot, and let water flow out until it runs clear. Then briefly open the cold-water supply valve to stir up the sediment at the bottom of the tank. Repeat until the water runs clear, then close the drain valve, refill the tank and turn on the power.

Lower the Temperature
Unscrew the cover on the temperature dial and adjust the temperature to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. If you plan to go away for several days, turn off the water heater or turn the thermostat to the lowest setting.

If you have a gas water heater, you can adjust the temperature via the thermostat on the tank. For an electric water heater, flip the breaker to turn off the power.

Insulate
Cover the hot- and cold-water pipes with foam pipe insulation that matches their diameter. Extend the insulation as far as possible.

Cut an insulating blanket for the TPR valve and temperature control. Dont cover the top of an oil or gas water heater. If you have an electric water heater, place a large circle of insulation on top of the heater and tape it to the side of the tank.

Check the Pilot Flame
For oil or gas water heaters, open the access panel at the bottom of the tank and remove the heat shield. If there is no flame, turn off the gas supply valve and blow into the opening to disperse any excess gas. Turn the knob on top of the control box to the Pilot position and relight the pilot. Then hold down the reset button on the control box for 60 seconds, turn the control knob to the On position and replace the access panel.

Remember Routine Maintenance
Many homeowners take their water heater for granted until it breaks down and they must pay a significant amount of money to replace it. With some simple maintenance, you can keep your water heater working efficiently for years.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

If youre going to rent a truck when moving, one of the first questions the clerk will ask you is: Do you want to buy the optional insurance we offer?

While your auto, homeowners or renters insurance may cover damage to a rental truck or your contents inside the truck during a move, the extra insurance can be worth checking into.

Here are some questions to ask when that clerk tries to sell you insurance:

What if youre at fault? A rental truck company likely wont cover you for physical damage you cause to the truck or bodily injury you suffer in an accident where youre at fault; however, your personal car insurance may cover property damage or bodily injury to others in the case of an accident. Keep in mind, your auto insurance policy likely excludes vehicles that weigh more than 9,000 pounds, such as a moving truck.

If the accident isnt your fault, then the other drivers insurance should pay for damage to the truck and for your bodily injuries.

What about my credit card coverage? Paying for a rental truck with a credit card will likely get you free insurance from your credit card company, though it may cover damage to other people and vehicles and not to the rental truck youre driving.

What does the extra insurance cover? U-Haul, one of the biggest moving companies, sells truck rental coverage that protects renters from being financially responsible for damage to its equipment. U-Haul says its essential because credit cards and car insurance dont typically cover its rental equipment.

U-Hauls Safemove package covers the truck and its belongings, but doesnt provide liability coverage. It has a few optional purchases within it, such as a damage waiver to protect you if you accidentally back into a street sign because youre not used to driving such a large vehicle. Theres no deductible for the coverage.

U-Haul offers up to $25,000 in cargo coverage for a one-way rental and $15,000 for an in-town rental. Theres a $100 deductible and coverage is for actual cash value.

U-Haul also has a Super Safemove program that adds liability coverage, like full coverage on an auto policy. The liability coverage is primary coverage, with the first $1 million in liability covered by U-Haul and not your personal insurance.

If you do decide to buy extra insurance when moving, first check with your auto insurer to see if they cover anything during your move.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Attics exist for pretty much two reasons: ventilation and storage.

And while a lot of people don’t pay much attention to their attics, anyone who’s putting their house on the market needs every room to look its best, and that includes the attic. Follow these tips to keep your attic ready for its close-up.

Clean it. Start by clearing everything out of your attic. Then get busy sweeping, dusting and cleaning any windows if the attic has them. If it smells musty, place an air freshener in the attic.

Go through your stuff. It’s time for the tried and true method of determining what you want to keep, what you want to donate and what you want to throw away. Some of your items that have been hiding in the attic may be pretty old, so look things over and make sure they’re worth keeping or donating. Now isn’t a time to be sentimental, throw out those items you know you’ll never need.

Inspect your paperwork. If there are old bills and other papers in your attic, don’t just throw them away. Figure out which papers are important, and shred the ones you truly don’t need.

Organize your attic. Now that you know what you want to keep, place everything in protective and visually appealing containers. Label them so that you know where everything is. If you’re keeping larger items, such as lamps or chairs, in your attic, make sure they are clean and dusted. Try to avoid keeping your attic completely empty, storing some stuff there sends the message that this is a space future owners can use.

Take care of your photos. Family pictures are commonly kept in attics. They may be in photo albums or stored in shoeboxes. Go through them all and organize them. Most of us find photos precious, and this is an opportunity to organize them in a way that can be saved for generations. Consider investing in new albums or make a scrapbook of them. Another option is to transfer everything to your computer or phone.

Attics aren’t the stars of homes, but that’s no reason not to present them in their best light.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

For veterans or service members looking to buy a home with a Veterans Affairs loan, there are some extra steps to take and home condition requirements that arent needed with other types of loans.

The home must be safe, clean, in good condition and move-in ready, partly because the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs doesnt want to back a loan where the military members finances are at risk because they have to make unexpected home repairs.

The extra work can be worthwhile. VA loans are 0.25 to 0.50 percent lower than conventional loans, dont require a down payment or mortgage insurance, and have more flexible and forgiving requirements. Closing costs are limited and lenders fees are limited to 1 percent of the loan amount.

The government guarantees at least a quarter of the loan amount on a VA mortgage, which is why a down payment and mortgage insurance arent needed.

For buyers who qualify, here are some things to be aware of when buying a home with a VA loan:

Look for a move-in ready home.Homes that are structurally sound, safe and sanitary are more likely to pass the VA appraisal. The property must have adequate heating, roofing and safety features, and major issues must be repaired before the loan can close. If the VA expert has to return to reinspect something that needs to be fixed, the borrower will have to pay more inspection fees.

Be ready for an inspection.A home inspection is a normal part of buying a house, but a VA inspector will make sure the property is in good, working order. But a lot of the things theyll be looking at are cosmetic, which a regular lender wouldnt be concerned with. Though a VA inspection can sound like a professional home inspection, it isnt and buyers can hire their own inspectors after the VA one if theyd like.

And more inspections.The VA also requires some inspections that other lenders dont. A VA loan will require a pest inspection, along with a look at the septic tank, if there is one, and the water well if the property isnt on a city water line.

Quicker timeline.VA loans have tighter timelines than other types of loans, which is why hiring a real estate agent and loan officer who have experience with VA loans can make the process smoother. Active-duty service members can have short buying windows if theyre ordered to move to another base.

Published with permission from RISMedia.