Painting Tips

Latex

• Uses
  Comes in flat, satin and semi-gloss for walls, woodwork and trim. On bare surfaces use appropriate undercoat first.
• Durability
  For ultimate durability and scrub ability, use semi-gloss. For moderate durability and clean ability, use flat or satin.
• Cleanup
  Cleans up with water. A damp rag removes spills; soap and water cleans rollers, brushes and hands.

Alkyd (Oil-Based)

• Uses
  Comes in velvet or semi-gloss finish for woodwork and kitchen and bath walls. Provides a tough surface and covers well.
• Durability
  For ultimate durability, use semi-gloss. For moderate, use velvet.
• Cleanup
  Solvents such as mineral spirits are required.

Specialty Paints – All-Surface Enamel

• Uses
  deal for properly primed metal or wood such as furniture, decorative pieces and wrought iron.
• Durability
  Keeps a fresh look longer.
• Cleanup
  Cleans up with water.

Floor Enamel

• Uses
  Comes in alkyd or latex acrylic for interior and exterior floors.
• Durability
  Withstands repeated washing and high traffic.
• Cleanup
  Latex cleans up with water; alkyds clean up with mineral spirits.

Make Your Home Look Spacious

Clear The Clutter
Since you are moving anyway, anything you can donate, sell, store or throw away will make the moving process cheaper and easier. And it will improve the look of your home. Now is the perfect time to hold a garage sale. Don’t wait until a month before the move. If you still have some extra furnishings or seldom-used items, consider putting them in a rented mini-storage facility until you move.

Organize Your Closets
Buyers want to see how much space is available in your closets and storage areas, not how well you’ve filled them. And rest assured, they will be looking. Remove out-of-season coats, sports equipment and other items from your front entry closet so buyers can see how roomy it is.

In your bedroom closets, sort and hang clothes in like groupings (according to pants, blouses, dresses, etc.). A general rule of thumb is to take out half of what’s in your closets to make them appear more spacious. To increase storage capacity, you can add an extra pole, shoe racks, wire baskets or shelves. An under-the-bed box turns once wasted space into storage for out-of-season clothing.

A Place For Everything
Make smart use of your kitchen cabinets and pantry. If you don’t use something at least once a week, pack it up and store it someplace else so your cabinet looks more spacious. Dividers and cutlery trays make efficient use of drawer space in both the kitchen and bathroom. Even if you will be taking your storage items with you, it is important to show buyers that your home offers sensible storage for bathing, cleaning and laundry items.

Maximize The Space
Storage areas in a garage, basement and attic often end up as catchalls – their wide open spaces make it easy to save items that should be thrown out or given away. Make sure these areas are well-organized and give potential buyers the lasting impression that there will be room for all their possessions.
In the garage particularly, take advantage of wall space. Use a board-and-peg system to hang tools and gardening equipment. Wall hooks are useful for hanging bikes or large toys. Overhead racks also keep large items off the floor and out of the way.

Not enough closet and storage space is often the excuse of a prospective buyer who really likes a home but doesn’t see how the family furnishings and belongings will ever fit. Don’t miss out on a potential sale because you didn’t make the most efficient use of your space!

Make Your Home Look Spacious

Clear The Clutter
Since you are moving anyway, anything you can donate, sell, store or throw away will make the moving process cheaper and easier. And it will improve the look of your home. Now is the perfect time to hold a garage sale. Don’t wait until a month before the move. If you still have some extra furnishings or seldom-used items, consider putting them in a rented mini-storage facility until you move.

Organize Your Closets
Buyers want to see how much space is available in your closets and storage areas, not how well you’ve filled them. And rest assured, they will be looking. Remove out-of-season coats, sports equipment and other items from your front entry closet so buyers can see how roomy it is.

In your bedroom closets, sort and hang clothes in like groupings (according to pants, blouses, dresses, etc.). A general rule of thumb is to take out half of what’s in your closets to make them appear more spacious. To increase storage capacity, you can add an extra pole, shoe racks, wire baskets or shelves. An under-the-bed box turns once wasted space into storage for out-of-season clothing.

A Place For Everything
Make smart use of your kitchen cabinets and pantry. If you don’t use something at least once a week, pack it up and store it someplace else so your cabinet looks more spacious. Dividers and cutlery trays make efficient use of drawer space in both the kitchen and bathroom. Even if you will be taking your storage items with you, it is important to show buyers that your home offers sensible storage for bathing, cleaning and laundry items.

Maximize The Space
Storage areas in a garage, basement and attic often end up as catchalls – their wide open spaces make it easy to save items that should be thrown out or given away. Make sure these areas are well-organized and give potential buyers the lasting impression that there will be room for all their possessions.
In the garage particularly, take advantage of wall space. Use a board-and-peg system to hang tools and gardening equipment. Wall hooks are useful for hanging bikes or large toys. Overhead racks also keep large items off the floor and out of the way.

Not enough closet and storage space is often the excuse of a prospective buyer who really likes a home but doesn’t see how the family furnishings and belongings will ever fit. Don’t miss out on a potential sale because you didn’t make the most efficient use of your space!

Think Spring-Blooming Bulbs
Although the garden season is pretty much history for most of the country – don’t put up your garden gloves just yet. The fall is the time to plant spring – and summer-flowering bulbs that emerge months later in bright brilliant color.

Planting Spring-Flowering Bulbs
The first step to growing beautiful spring-flowering bulbs is to select quality bulbs. They should be large, firm and free from spots or blemishes.

Plant hardy bulbs, such as tulips, daffodils, crocuses, hyacinths and alliums, from September until the ground begins to freeze.
Don’t wait too long, however, because the bulbs must develop a good root system before the ground freezes. In warmer climates, zones 7 to 10, simulate winter by storing bulbs in a paper bag in the vegetable crisper of your refrigerator for six to eight weeks prior to planting. Wait to plant until late October through the end of December.

Location, Location, Location
Select a area that receives full sun to partial shade and has well-drained soil. If you are planning a large area with masses of bulbs, it’s a good idea to till the bed to a depth of 12 inches and incorporate some fertilizer, about 2 to 3 pounds of 5-10-5 analysis per 100 square feet of garden space.

• Always plant in groups or clumps.
• Do not plant bulbs in straight rows.
• Plant the taller growing species in the back and the shorter ones in front.
• Select species that will provide color in your garden from late winter through early summer. Get ready for color!

Strategies To Bank On

There are a few guidelines to follow that will help improve your chances of a good return:

• Keep the value of your property within 15 to 20 percent of others in your neighborhood. If you live in an area of $100,000 homes, buyers probably want a home close to that price. Buyers who can afford pricier homes will shop in more expensive neighborhoods.
• Style your remodeling for mass appeal. Buyers prefer neutral, mainstream design. Play it safe with colors, patterns and kitchen design. Consider local preferences, too.
• Give buyers quality construction. Use materials that look good and wear well. If you plan to do the work yourself, obviously you can recover a substantial amount of your investment; however, honestly evaluate your ability to do it right. A poor do-it-yourself job costs money in the long run.
• Keep your remodeling compatible with the existing house. Additions and improvements that look “tacked on” may detract from a home’s appeal. Choose materials and design elements that match or blend with what’s already there.
• Finally, before beginning any major remodeling, consider consulting a professional for advice. The right improvements can help a home sell more quickly and for a higher price.
• Keep in mind that local market conditions will influence the actual resale value of your remodeling.