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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.

One of the most important steps to making your home look its best is to get rid of stuff. We accumulate a lot of things after living in a house, and when it’s time to sell, all of those possessions can make a house look cluttered.

Thankfully, the internet makes it easy to pass on your unwanted items to people who will make good use of them, thanks to websites where you can sell just about anything: clothes, toys, kitchen supplies, furniture, books, frames, etc. Each site has its pros and cons, and this guide can help you find the right one for you.

Decluttr.com is a site where you can sell just about anything. All you do is register, let them know about the things you want to sell, and you’ll get an offer. For items like CDs and DVDs, you can even use a barcode scanner to enter your items. You can also sell cellphones, tablets, laptops, books, Legos and video games. You don’t have to send photos or create listings.

They even help you remove data from your items. The downside is that you won’t get the best possible price, but you’re essentially guaranteed to get something for your items.

It’s hard to believe it, but eBay has been around for more than 20 years. You can sell just about anything here, and the advantage is that you set the price you think is fair. The negatives are that you’re not guaranteed to sell items because a shopper has to find your items and make a bid. Plus, you have competition. For example, if you want to sell DVDs because you now watch everything via streaming, you can be sure lots of other people are doing the same. It takes more work, but if you put in the effort and successfully sell items, you could walk away with some decent money.

Craigslist can be a very effective way to sell larger items, especially furniture, but it’s also helpful for items that are heavy, or could break in the mail, like kitchen appliances. Entering listings is easy, and another advantage is that each site is local, so you’ll probably be able to arrange sales quickly.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Living near a lake, pond, river or ocean can allow your whole family to bond while swimming and participating in other water-based activities. Always keep your childrens safety top of mind.

Take Precautions
Make sure the house has locks that young children cant unlock when no one is watching. If its possible to put up a fence with a locked gate to keep your kids away from the water, even better.

An accidental drowning can happen in seconds. If your kids arent strong swimmers, each should wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket designed for a child of his or her size and weight when in or near the water. Floaties, inner tubes and other devices wont keep a child from drowning if there is a strong wave or riptide.

Set and Enforce Rules
Dont just tell your kids to stay away from the water; explain why they should, in age-appropriate terms. It can be hard for young children to grasp the seriousness of hazards around them, especially if they have never personally experienced danger or seen someone else in trouble. Expect to have the conversation several times before it really sinks in.

If the water is deep enough for your kids to jump in, teach them to take turns and to give each other enough space to avoid collisions. Dont let them dive unless youre sure that the water is deep enough, there is nothing underneath that could cause injuries, they know how to dive correctly and they are supervised.

Keep Your Kids Safe
Make sure a responsible, sober adult who is a good swimmer stays near children at all times when they are close to the water and enforces the rules. Never let a child go in the water alone.

Enroll your kids in swimming lessons when theyre old enough. Getting children acclimated to the water at a young age can help them develop a love of swimming, as well as a respect for the potential danger. Regular practice in the body of water near your house can reinforce lessons taught in formal classes.

Be realistic about your childrens abilities and understand the differences between a pool and an open body of water. A child who does a great job of swimming laps in a pool may struggle if a boat whizzes by on a lake and kicks up a large wave.

Teach your kids about fish and other aquatic wildlife. Educate them about possible dangers and what to do if they encounter a creature while swimming.

Explain that lightning and water are a dangerous mix. Teach your kids to get out of the water immediately if theres any thunder or lightning or signs that a storm is brewing.

Enjoy Life on the Water
Growing up near a body of water can allow kids to get exercise, enjoy nature and spend quality time with family and friends, but it comes with risks. Teach your kids how to stay safe in the water.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Losing a home to foreclosure can be devastating, both emotionally and financially. Foreclosure has some long-term consequences that you may not expect but that could affect your life for years.

Damaged Credit
A foreclosure can cause your credit score to drop by over 200 points. It can take years of faithfully paying credit cards, auto loans and other bills on time to restore your credit to where it used to be.

In the meantime, having your credit score fall off a cliff can make it difficult or impossible to qualify for a new loan or credit card. If you do manage to get approved, youll most likely have high interest rates that can slow your financial recovery.

Housing Troubles
If you want to buy another house, youll have to wait several years before you can qualify for a mortgage. You might be able to get a new mortgage sooner if you wound up in foreclosure because of extenuating circumstances, such as a job loss, illness, injury, or death in the family, or if you apply for a loan through the Federal Housing Administration.

Until you can buy another house, youll have to rent a home or live with family or friends. If you search for a new apartment or house to rent, the landlord will most likely check your credit. A foreclosure could make the landlord decide not to rent to you.

Employment Complications
If you apply for a new job, the company may check your credit. Depending on the type of position, your foreclosure may or may not be a problem. If youre seeking a job handling a companys or clients money, a business may be unwilling to hire you if it seems that youre unable to manage your own money.

Unexpected Debts
If a lender forecloses on your home and the house is sold for less than the amount you owe, the difference is known as a deficiency. Depending on the law in your state, the lender may obtain a deficiency judgment against you and collect the money by levying your bank account or by garnishing your earnings from your job.

You might also have to pay taxes. The Internal Revenue Service considers a loan thats canceled as income, which means its subject to taxes. If youre going through foreclosure or fear that youre heading in that direction, talk to a tax professional about your potential tax burden.

Understand the Possible Implications of Foreclosure
Losing your house to foreclosure could affect many important aspects of your life long after the event. If youre facing the prospect of foreclosure, talk to your lender and a housing counselor about possible solutions to avoid it.

This article is intended for informational purposes only and should not be construed as professional or legal advice.

Published with permission from RISMedia.