Painting

In the past house painting has been a real chore,we are going change that and make your next painting project last longer, go faster and save you money too. 

Selecting Materials 

The number 1 reason why most homeowners have painting problems lies right here, selection of materials. There is no such thing as a Good inexpensive can of paint! You get exactly what you pay for. Considering that it costs the Manufacturer appx $4.00 for the can, label, lid, bail and shipping box, now add the cost of raw materials, manufacturing, markup for factory profit, freight, then the retailer has to make his 30- 40% profit, what do you think is in a can of paint that sells for $10-$12.00?

A lot of frustration 

Better quality coatings will give you better hiding power meaning more square footage per gallon, easy touch up and longer life. When I was contracting I would tell my customers, "it costs you 5 cents a sq ft for me to drag the brush across a surface, what I put on the end of the brush is up to you, .03 cents per foot and I'll be back next year, .08 cents per ft and I'll see you in 6-8 years" Get the idea? Invest in a quality product and get off on the right track. After all, you don't want to be doing this again in 6 months do you. What Paint to Buy Quality is determined by the grade and type of pigments, resins, and how much water is in the can. Don't just buy a big name brand and think you are getting a good product. Every manufacturer makes an inexpensive paint. A well known manufacturers name on the label does not necessarily mean that it is a good product. They have to provide for all markets. An $8 a gallon of contractors flat offers dry hiding, a matte finish, and covers everything. Don't try to wash it or touch it up. A $30 gallon of the same manufacturers top line finish has premium pigments more resin, and less water. This paint will give you more sq ft on the wall per gallon, washes and touches up well, and therefore lasts longer. Stick with the medium and top of the line grades 

Interior Paints 

Enamels are less likely to be damaged by cleaning than are most flat latex paints. They come in a wide range of finishes including,high gloss,semi-gloss,satin or eggshell which is a hand rubbed look with a very slight sheen finish,not a color. In high traffic areas and where the coating will be washed often such as kitchens, baths, and woodwork, an enamel will be your best choice. Flat wall finishes are more desirable in other parts of the house like bedrooms,living and dining areas. 100% acrylic formulations touch up very well and are very durable. 

Exterior Coatings 

The same rules to selecting quality apply here, avoid the low end materials. Due to the tremendous efforts of paint manufacturing companies having to comply with government regulations pertaining to new anti-pollution laws, we now have fantastic water based paints available for exterior use. Having been trained in the old school of "oil is better", I must now admit they are a thing of the past with a few minor exceptions. Modern chemistry now offers paint formulators a wide range of acrylic, waterbase resins that have the same, and in some cases, superior performance than the oil base paints with the convenience of easy water cleanup, low odor and much more earth friendly. 

The selection of coatings available for exterior applications is quite extensive and your paint supplier can best advise you on which product is best for a specific application. Ask about the newest introduction to the industry, "Elastomeric" coatings if you are painting any stucco or other cement based areas. Elastomeric coatings look like paint but apply much thicker forming a rubber-like membrane that will expand and contract with the buildings movement eliminating cracks. These formulations are very high in resin, apply very thick (equal to 4-5 coats of regular paint) and reduce repainting frequency, average life cycle is 8-10 years. You will see these coatings advertised as "liquid siding", "lifetime ceramic paint" etc. Figure on paying between $30 - $40 per gallon for a top quality elastomeric paint and don't fall for those "never paint again" complete repaint advertisements. Elastomeric coatings do last longer but nothing "lasts forever", read the fine print in the warranty! Most of the warranties state that "If the product flakes, chips or peels, we will provide you with sufficient material to correct the problem area". Consider This: 1.) These paint jobs cost you 2 - 3 times what the job is worth using top quality paint and a complete three coat paint job which in itself guarantees that it will not "flake chip or peel". 2.) If the product does fails they will give you enough paint to touch up the area only, no labor, just material. 3.) Nationwide, the average homeowner keeps his/her house 5 years only. Why pay all that extra money for a "lifetime warranty"? You are far better off using top quality materials from a reliable supplier and either doing it yourself or hiring a qualified local contractor and supply him with the material you have chosen. In 8-10 years if you still reside in the same home you can repaint it still be ahead of the game.

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How to Write a Professional Real Estate Property Description That Sells

There are do’s and don’ts when it comes to writing a professional property description that sells. An effective property description can determine whether or not you sell the property.

Headline: To begin, your headline must jump out from the page and catch the attention of the buyer. Make the headline appealing with captivating and positive words. Description: Always begin your description with the selling points of the property. List the best features first to keep the attention of the buyer. Use adjectives to spice up the description. For example, instead of stating dining room, try spacious dining room for your family to gather and share a meal. Let the buyer know why they will want the selling points of the house. It’s important to sell the area to potential buyer as well. Are you selling to someone looking for a single family home or a multi-million dollar estate? Highlight points in the area that appeal to your buyer like schools, shopping, public transportation, etc. Location: Include the geographical area in your description. Many buyers are looking to buy in a specific area. Price: Including the price of the property is especially important for the for sale by owners. Price inclusion is a way to screen potential buyers. Call to Action: End your description with encouraging words for buyers to call you. Give them a reason for a call to action. “This beautiful property will go fast, call now for more details.” Wording: Choose your words wisely and keep them positive. Certain words sound better and are more appealing to potential buyers. For instance try cozy instead of small. Now that you know what should go into an effective property description, you need to know what shouldn’t. Avoid the following: * Spelling, grammar and punctuation mistakes * Uncommon abbreviations * Clichés * Jargon * Passive voice * Over the top vocabulary Write in the present tense and make sure to include words like you and your in your description. This

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Considerations when buying furniture for your home

Buying furniture is a long and difficult process for the majority of people, and whilst price still remains the number one consideration for people looking to buy furniture, there are many things that are overlooked.

Buying furniture online remains a difficult process, and whilst you have access to much cheaper prices, there are a lot of negatives about buying online. The major problem remains quality issues with products, which often requires you in person to inspect the furniture, the materials used and the build quality. Furniture is an almost entirely aesthetic purchase, and photos have the ability to make bad products look good and sometimes good products to look bad. Where there is a showroom available, always opt to visit it before making a purchase, even if you are purchasing a different colour or model or furniture. Getting a general idea of the quality of the brand, and the build quality of the products, as well as materials used, will assist with making the right decision.

There is also the major problem of comfort, when you visit the showroom, make sure you sit on the furniture. What looks good in pictures or catalogue ads may not necessarily be comfortable to sit on. When buying sofas, armchairs and dining chairs, make sure that you can sit on them comfortably enough for them to be a permanent fixture in your home. People often overlook the liveability of unique items of furniture, and instead are caught up by the uniqueness. If the furniture is going to be used for day to day living it really needs to function in that manner. Not many people can afford the luxury of having show-pieces in their home so it is essential that you buy products to suit their intended purposes.

Perhaps one of the most overlooked factors in buying furniture is finding out the date it will be delivered and in your home. These days most furniture is manufactured far from the showrooms, and even overseas. Also, a large amount of furniture is made to order, which is fine but has the impact of increasing waiting times for up to several months. For those that are renovating or decorating new homes, make sure that your furniture order coincides with possibly large waiting times. Not often are you able to walk out of a showroom with the exact order you want with the exact specifications, so be prepared to make concessions if you require furniture immediately.

Lastly, remember to buy the appropriate furniture for the appropriate room. It is easy to get caught up in the latest styles of home furnishings and losing sight of where the furniture will be placed. Some rooms have access issues, some rooms will be too large or small for particular furniture units. If you are likely to redecorate your property in the future, make sure you have neutral furniture that can be used in a variety of settings. Likewise if you move often; you don't want to have to repurchase several pieces of furniture every time you move home. Furniture purchases needn't be difficult. Just keep in mind some basic common sense principals and it will be an easy, and rather, quite enjoyable activity

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