Tips to a Quality Paint Job with Less Cost

8 Tricks to a Pro-Quality Paint Job

What to know before you pop the lid...

Quite simply there is no quicker, less expensive way to revamp a space.

1. Pick Your Paint Type:

Water-soluble latex is DIY-friendly because it cleans up with soap and water and dries quickly. Oil paint dries slowly and requires mineral spirits for cleanup, but it hardens into a very durable finish.

2. Choose Your Sheen:

Flat and low-luster paints give a rougher surface that hides flaws; glossier finishes highlight imperfections but for a smoother, more water-resistant surface that can stand up to the high traffic and moisture-think kitchen and bath.

3. Start with Good Tools:

Look for brushes with bristles that are tapered, split and arranged in multiple lengths to for a slim tip. A mix of nylon and polyester will hold and release latex paint particularly well, while natural bristles work best with oil based paints. With rollers, match the nap to the surface texture: 3/8-inch to 1/2-inch nap for most drywall.

4. Invest in Quality:

Cheaper paints and primers swap more pigment for costlier resin, so they cover walls well when wet but show bare spots as they dry. Quality primers, such as those from Zinsser, will adhere to glossy painted or stained surfaces without sanding, ultimately saving you time and money.

5. Prep:

To make the job easier, take the time to clear out the room and cover floors and fixtures with drop cloths. Spackle any damaged drywall, scuff and sand the surfaces to be painted, and vacuum up all the dust. Wipe down ceilings, walls, and trim with a damp sponge. Finally, prime the entire surface.

6. Cut In:

Use a 2 1/2-inch angled brush to pint the border of the area you're working on. Framing in your field this way buffers the roller from mussing adjacent surfaces.

7. Learn to Lay Off:

After you've rolled a section, make a series of long vertical strokes up the full length of the wall, moving in one direction (left or right). This last step, called laying off, will distribute wet paint in a nice, even layer.

8. Score Carefully:

If you've masked off baseboards with painter's tape, pull it off the same day you paint-but first run a putty knife blade held at a 45 degree angle along the edge so that you don't accidentally pull away any paint.

This Old House: Your New Home, "8 Tricks to a Pro-Quality Paint Job". Pg. (14) Spring 2011

How Well Are You Covered?

What you should know about Homeowners Insurance...

Properly Insure Your Home

Most insurance companies recommend that your policy covers 100% of the replacement cost. If your home is financed, many mortgage banks will have minimum coverage requirements.

Consider the following:

1. Estimate the cost to rebuild:

Ask your real estate agent or mortgage representative for average local building costs and

multiply it by the square footage or your dwelling.

2. Account for the value of your personal possessions:

Determine the amount of coverage needed to replace the contents of your home with new items at current prices if everything were destroyed.

3. Learn about the geology of the area you live in:

Review your policy's exclusions statements. You many need supplemental coverage for natural disasters or other hazards unique to the location of your home.

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10 Deadly Mistakes Buyers Make When Purchasing a Home

1 Not choosing a real estate agent who is committed to forming a strong business relationship with you:

Making a connection with the right real estate agent is crucial. Choose a professional who is dedicated to meeting your needs before, during and after the sale.

2 Not getting pre-qualified before making an offer on a home:

Prequalifiation will make your life easier. Take the time to speak with bank or mortgage representatives. Their evaluation of your income, financial obligations and other factors will help determine a price range that will fit your budget. This is one of the most important steps on the path to home ownership.

3 Not knowing the total costs involved:

Early in the buying process, ask your real estate agent or mortgage representative for an estimate of closing costs. All expenses including title insurance, homeowners association dues and prepay responsibilities should be considered. Remember to examine your settlement statement prior to closing.

4 Not searching beyond open houses, ads or the Internet:

Many homes listed in magazines or on the Internet have already been sold. Your best course of action is to contact a real estate agent. They have up-to-date information that is unavailable to the general public, and are the best resource to help you find

the home you want.

5 Not considering alternatives for what you think is the perfect home:

Buying a home is a process of elimination, not selection. New properties arrive on the market daily, so be open to all possibilities.

6 Not contemplating long-term needs:

It is important to think ahead. Will the home and the terms of themortgage suit your needs 3-5 years from now? How about 5-10 years?

7 Not following through on due diligence:

Make a list of any concerns you have relating to the home and the community, such as crime rates, schools, power lines, neighbors and

environmental conditions. Ask the important questions before you make an offer on a home. Be thorough so that you can have confidence in your purchase.

8 Not having a home inspection:

Trying to save money today can end up costing you tomorrow. A qualified home inspector will reveal potential issues that

may affect your purchase decisions.

9 Not examining insurance issues:

Certain problems with the structure, condition or location of a property could affect its insurability or the cost of coverage. Consult an agent early in the buying process to avoid surprises and to choose a policy that best fits your needs.

10 Not purchasing a home warranty:

This is essentially a protection plan that usually lasts one year from the date of sale. It typically covers the repair of a home's major systems and appliances, and can be purchased for a nominal fee with the option to renew annually. Your real estate agent can

help you identify the right home warranty.

Design Style & Ideas from a young New York Interior Designer

Get Your Home Ready for the Holidays...or Selling!

Avoiding Hell's Kitchen

June 23, 2011 -- Realty Times Feature Article by Broderick Perkins

Consumer Reports recently combined its rigorous product testing routine with advice from real estate agents to determine what makes kitchens hot -- other than the oven.

CR July edition's "Your New Kitchen" special report engaged real estate agents in order to pinpoint features that help sell kitchens and, by association, the home.

The report, which includes ratings of 400 appliances, kitchen materials and a look inside stores that sell them, is worth the nominal price of a subscription you'll need to read the full article in print or online.

And you can use agents' advice to help guide you in your kitchen improvements. Here's a peek.
Functionality is a must.

In today's hurry up world, households often need to get into the kitchen, get out and get on with their lives. The kitchen also doubles as the home's primary entertainment and gathering space.

In line with research from architects and home builders, agents say kitchens integrated with family living space is the best of two worlds in one.

Such a "great room" with an open floor plan is both inviting and functional with plenty of space for preparing meals, entertaining, watching Blu-ray movies and using and charging electronic devices from cell phones and computers to iPads and Zune MP3 players.

Space permitting, and appropriate to the scale of the room, kitchen islands are big sellers, but under-cabinet and wall-chimney hoods are better than downdraft island systems, CR said the agents advised.

Appliances should reflect the same form and function as the kitchen. Stainless steel or black appliances may not be a good fit for a restored Victorian or Cape Cod, but French-door fridges with external ice and water dispensers and ultra-quiet dishwashers are big.

Saving energy is paramount.

Appliances should be Energy Star rated to help keep utility bills down. Also, buyers want to know if the owner has made other energy-saving improvements, including adding insulation and plugging leaks.

Natural lighting with ample windows, including an exit to a patio or backyard is important, but not just for letting the sun shine in and making the outside connection. Insulated, heat-reflecting windows and doors help keep heated air in and cold air out when it's freezing outside and cool air in and hot air out when it's simmering outside.

Using sustainable products likewise helps save energy in the long run, but be sure the material isgreenest. CR says some bamboo floors outperform wood, but bamboo countertops "aren't ready for prime time." Likewise, reclaimed timbers was among the worst materials for floors.

Practicality sells.

For countertops, granite and quartz are easy to clean and, as such, tops, but you'll have to reseal granite from time to time. Laminate resists impact better than stone, but you can save by getting granite or quartz remnants at stone yards, salvage or reuse stores, CR reports.

Also, because countertops are a focal point in the kitchen, they leave a lasting impression about the rest of the home. Don't sell your home with outdated, marred or damaged countertops.

Agent say, when it comes to upgrading the kitchen the bottom line is don't over do it, but also don't do it on the cheap.

For example, opulent faucets can cost you a mint and look great, but the cost has little to do with performance, CR reports and you aren't likely to recoup their cost when you sell, agents added.

In another example, an agent said, a laminate counter and linoleum floor can save you money, but the combo could be a deal killer if the kitchen is in an upscale home.

Avoid 10 Biggest Mistakes of Home Sellers

Wanting to put your home on the market? Watch this video to avoid the 10 biggest mistakes that home sellers make.