Best Tips for Painting

 paint-finish

Everyone knows that a fresh coat of paint goes a long way to improving just about any surface, but a fresh coat of paint and a good coat of paint are two entirely different things.  Here are some great painting tips to help you make the most of a coat of paint!

Buy Good Quality:  You might try to save a couple bucks by buying the cheapest gallon of paint you can, but if you put out the cash for high quality paint and it will go on smoother, cover more, splatter less, and will be less likely to fade.  Trust me, it’s worth the extra money!

Choose Your Gloss Wisely:  Remember that the flatter the finish, the harder the paint is to clean.  Flat paint is a good choice for ceilings, but be sure to use an eggshell for walls and semigloss in rooms that are cleaned more often.

Test It:  The pros know that testing a paint out on a wide surface of wall is key to choosing the ride shade.  The best way to do this is to buy sample sizes (or quarts if they aren’t available) of a few different colors and paint several chunks of wall.  Make sure you leave the paint there for a few days so you can see it in all different lighting and then make your final choice.

Work Your Way Down:  Begin painting at the ceiling and work down the wall for the smoothest results.

Mix It Together:  If you’re using more than one gallon of the same color paint, mix all the gallons together in a bucket to guarantee a uniform color throughout the whole room.

Wrap Up Brushes:  If you’re going to take a break wrap any brushes and rollers in plastic bags.  Be sure there is no air in the bag and close it with a rubber band or twist tie.  If you’re planning on taking a long break, like overnight, seal all the tools up and store them in the refrigerator to keep them fresh.

With tips like these, you can turn any paint project into a success story!

Thinking of buying or selling a home in Sussex County?  Give us a call at Cooper Realty and put us to work for you – 302-644-2266!

Paint Your Home Happy

paint-cns

Last week I mentioned that painting your home using the science behind color theory can be a simple and beneficial way to improve the quality of your home quickly and relatively easily.  I was unable to find a way to explain this idea myself, but I did find an interesting article about the psychology behind paint colors that is an interesting read.  This blog post takes some of the information and breaks it down into simple tips for using each color and ideas for decorating eating and office spaces putting color theory to use.  So if you’re thinking of updating your home with a fresh coat of paint, consider the way the colors make you feel and paint for less stress and more happiness!

Thinking of buying or selling a home in Sussex County?  Give us a call at Cooper Realty Associates and put us to work for you – 302-629-6693.

5 Ways to Increase Your Home’s Value for under $500

If you’re trying to sell your house you can do a lot to increase the value without spending a lot of money. Here are five ways that can cost less than $500.

If you’re trying to sell your house you can do a lot to increase the value without spending a lot of money.  Here are five ways that can cost less than $500.

1.  Paint
I will never get tired of saying it.  Paint your house if you want to increase its value!  Not only do neutral colors make your home seem more desirable to the majority of people, but freshly painted rooms also look clean and updated… a strong selling point!

2.  Clean
Even if you clean your house regularly, there are most likely spots you overlook or can’t get to.  If you hire a cleaning service to come and do the dirty work then your house will be able sparkle from top to bottom and make the best possible first impression to potential home buyers.

3.  Go Green
Replacing loud, broken, or simply outdated light figures or ceiling fans with new, energy efficient fixtures will increase your bottom-line without costing too much.

4.  Scrape off the popcorn
If your home has popcorn ceilings, dedicate a weekend to bringing it into the 21st century by scraping the popcorn away.  Getting rid of this dated look will instantly update the value of your home.

5.  Update the Bathroom
Even if you can’t afford an entire remodel, spending a little bit of cash on a face lift will increase your bottom line.  Things like replacing old wallpaper, a fresh coat of paint, new light fixtures, and new faucet & hardware can make the room seem brand new!

Thinking of buying or selling your home?  Give us a call at Cooper Realty Associates and put us to work for you –302-644-2266!

Best Tips for Painting

Everyone knows that a fresh coat of paint goes a long way to improving just about any surface, but a fresh coat of paint and a good coat of paint are two entirely different things. Here are some great painting tips to help you make the most of a coat of paint!

Everyone knows that a fresh coat of paint goes a long way to improving just about any surface, but a fresh coat of paint and a good coat of paint are two entirely different things.  Here are some great painting tips to help you make the most of a coat of paint!

Buy Good Quality:  You might try to save a couple bucks by buying the cheapest gallon of paint you can, but if you put out the cash for high quality paint and it will go on smoother, cover more, splatter less, and will be less likely to fade.  Trust me, it’s worth the extra money!

Choose Your Gloss Wisely:  Remember that the flatter the finish, the harder the paint is to clean.  Flat paint is a good choice for ceilings, but be sure to use an eggshell for walls and semigloss in rooms that are cleaned more often.

Test It:  The pros know that testing a paint out on a wide surface of wall is key to choosing the ride shade.  The best way to do this is to buy sample sizes (or quarts if they aren’t available) of a few different colors and paint several chunks of wall.  Make sure you leave the paint there for a few days so you can see it in all different lighting and then make your final choice.

Work Your Way Down:  Begin painting at the ceiling and work down the wall for the smoothest results.

Mix It Together:  If you’re using more than one gallon of the same color paint, mix all the gallons together in a bucket to guarantee a uniform color throughout the whole room.

Wrap Up Brushes:  If you’re going to take a break wrap any brushes and rollers in plastic bags.  Be sure there is no air in the bag and close it with a rubber band or twist tie.  If you’re planning on taking a long break, like overnight, seal all the tools up and store them in the refrigerator to keep them fresh.

With tips like these, you can turn any paint project into a success story!

Thinking of buying or selling a home in Sussex County?  Give us a call at Cooper Realty and put us to work for you – 302-644-2266!