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Painting is one of the best ways to spruce up a room when staging a home. All you have to do is invest in paint and supplies and devote a few days to some hard work, and you can give a space a whole new look.

Of course, if you do decide to paint a room as part of your home staging, you want to do it well. A bad paint job is worse than not painting at all, but by following these tips, potential buyers will likely think your home was painted by a pro.

Do your prep work. Applying paint to a wall with a brush or roller is actually kind of fun, but the all-important work you do before actually painting is kind of tedious. Start by dusting the walls and ceiling, and prepare all surfaces by patching holes and filling cracks, scraping, and sanding so that everything is smooth.

It’s time to prime. New drywall is always primed before painting, but priming is also a good idea for all paint jobs. By sealing the surface, priming makes it easier for your wall to accept paint, and you may need to apply just one coat of paint after priming. Another tip is to tint the primer with some of the color you’re applying to the walls.

Go for the tape. Buy new tape because old tape can be difficult to remove, and be sure to use blue painter’s tape, not standard masking tape. Run a putty knife over tape that’s on wooden window sills and molding so that the tape is smooth and covering the surface effectively. Then wait at least 24 hours before removing the tape to make sure the paint is completely dry.

Use canvas drops. A lot of people opt for plastic drop clothes because they’re less costly, but there are lots of advantages to investing in canvas drop cloths. They’re more durable, easier to lay down on the floor, safer and they absorb paint better than plastic. They’re also easier to pick up and lay down and they’re better for the environment because plastic drop cloths are typically used once, then sent to landfills.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

When shopping for a new home, its easy to get carried away and bite off more than you can chew. Many people, particularly first-time buyers, get a pre-approval letter and spend the amount they were approved for, only to be overwhelmed by the total cost of homeownership.

Consider All Potential Living Expenses
A mortgage lender will decide how much of a loan to approve you for based on your debt-to-income ratio, but those calculations dont take many important factors into account. Home maintenance and repairs, property taxes, and homeowners insurance are all necessary and can be expensive. If you put down less than 20 percent, your lender may require you to pay for private mortgage insurance, which can cost hundreds of dollars per month, until you reach 20 percent equity, which could take years. Utility bills can be expensive, especially if you buy a large house in an area with cold winters or brutally hot summers.

Other costs, such as childcare, medical expenses, and saving for college and retirement, may be central to your budget but may not be included in the lenders calculations at all. If you dont consider all your living expenses, you may buy a house that is too costly and then find yourself struggling to pay your bills.

A mortgage calculator can help you figure out how much you can afford. It will estimate the costs of a mortgage, property taxes, homeowners insurance and private mortgage insurance to give you an accurate idea of the total cost of ownership.

How to Stick to Your Budget
When you interview real estate agents, tell them what your budget is and emphasize that your limit is firm and that you are not interested in viewing more expensive homes. If your agent pressures you to consider a house you cant afford, say no, and consider finding another if the agent still doesnt listen.

Dont compare the houses youre looking at to your friends and family members. They have different incomes, debt levels, amounts saved for retirement and other costs. They also probably bought houses in different locations at different times. In addition, someone who bought a magnificent house that you envy may be struggling to make ends meet but too embarrassed to admit it.

If you and another prospective buyer make offers on the same house, it can trigger a bidding war. Resist the temptation to offer more than you can afford. Stick to your budget and be willing to walk away.

Be Realistic
Owning a house is expensive, and many buyers dont plan for all the costs and regret their purchases. Make a list of all possible costs associated with homeownership and your regular living expenses, consider your long-term goals, and figure out how much you can comfortably afford. The house you buy might not have all the amenities you would like, but its better to have a home you can afford than to get in over your head and wind up in foreclosure.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Your family probably uses the kitchen more than any other room in your home. If it isnt well designed, it may feel cramped. If you want to remodel your kitchen to make it more suited to your needs, avoid making these common blunders.

Not Giving Yourself Enough Storage and Work Space
If youve been living in your home for a while, you may wish that you had more cabinet space or that your cabinets were configured differently to better store items you use frequently. When you design your new kitchen, think about how your current cabinets come up short and how to address that problem.

You may have also found that your current amount of counter space is inadequate. You can change the kitchens layout to give you more counter space or install an island.

If you want to add an island or buy new appliances, make sure you dont sell yourself short when it comes to storage space. Top-of-the line appliances and more workspace are all well and good, but youll be frustrated if you dont have enough room to store food, dishes and small appliances.

Not Making Enough Room to Get around Easily
You use your refrigerator, stove and sink more than any other features in the kitchen, so they should be close together. In most kitchens, these three elements are arranged in a triangle so people can move effortlessly from one to another.

Measure the refrigerator, stove, and cabinet doors and drawers to make sure there is plenty of room to open them without them bumping into something else. If you want to install an island, dont choose one so large that it will be hard for people to move around in the kitchen and to open and close cabinets and drawers. Make sure aisles around an island are wide enough for two cooks to work at the same time or for family members to walk around while someone is cooking without people bumping into each other.

Not Having Sufficient Lighting
Poor lighting can make it hard to find items when you need them and can lead to accidents in the kitchen. Make sure your new kitchen will have plenty of overhead lighting, as well as lights in the pantry and over the sink and food preparation areas.

Buying Cheap Cabinets
If your cabinets are worn out from years of daily use, they will probably need to be replaced. New cabinets can be costly, but they will last, whereas old, damaged cabinets can detract from the appearance of the entire kitchen. Spend the extra money to buy quality cabinets.

Get Professional Design Help
A remodeled kitchen can make it easier to prepare meals and enjoy time with family and friends. Since this is likely to be an expensive project, think it through carefully. Consult a kitchen design expert and a contractor to choose a layout and features that will make the best use of your available space and help you avoid common mistakes.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Kitchens seem especially prone to clutter. Theyre busy rooms where we cook and clean, but you may find a lot of things in this all-important space that you no longer need. And clearing this stuff out will make your kitchen much more presentable to people who tour your for-sale home.

Cut Down on Clutter:
Take a look at your cabinets and youre likely to find them jammed with stuff. Do you really need all those plates, bowls or glasses that are taking up space in your cabinets? Then there are all those mugs youve collected, or gotten as gifts, over the years. If you have too many of these things, put some of them in storage to make your kitchen cabinets more organized.

Kitchen Drawers:
Sure, your silverware drawer is neat, but is there also a messy junk drawer filled with old chargers, plastic forks and knives, and those tiny packets of salt, pepper and sauces you get when you order takeout? Throw away all of this junk and organize this drawer.

Under the Sink:
This is a spot where we tend to store things like cleaning supplies and sponges. Toss the products you no longer use and clean the area. Then put everything back neatly.

Pots and Pans:
Do you have so many pots that when you cook, you find yourself hunting for the right cover for the one youre using? If so, donate your extra pots and pans to a local food pantry. This not only will make your kitchen look nicer, but will make things easier when you prepare meals.

Get Rid of Gadgets:
Buying that donut maker seemed like a great idea when you saw the commercial on late-night TV, but now its collecting dust. If you have fad items, its time to rid yourself of them. Again, find a place to donate them to or just throw them away.

Now, when potential buyers look your kitchen over, theyll see an organized space that is efficient and effective.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Lets say youre about to host an open house or potential buyers are scheduled to visit your for-sale home. You go to open a door to a closet or bedroom and you discover the door is loose, or even off a hinge.

Dont despair, this is actually an easy fix that even the least handy of people can repair in just a few minutes, and heres how to do it.

The Tools for the Job:
All you need are a screwdriver (a powered screwdriver will make this chore a bit easier), screws, carpenters glue and wooden matches.

Remove the Screws:
If just one hinge plate is loose, you may be able to make the repair without taking the door down. Having someone hold the door in place for you as you make the repair will be a big help. Use the screwdriver to remove the screws from their base. They may be so loose that you can just pull them out without a tool. Also, consider buying new screws, theyre not expensive at all. Be sure to buy wood screws.

Fill the Hole:
Start by putting carpenters glue in the hole. Now heres where the wooden matches are put to use. Cut the tips off the matches, the part you strike to light them, and put one match in each screw hole. Break off the parts of the matches that stick out of the hole so that theyre flat. If you dont have wooden matches you can also use wooden toothpicks or a wood-filling product.

Put the Screws Back:
Position the door hinge in the correct spot and use the screwdriver to secure the screws. When youre done, tug on the hinge to make sure its secure. Then give it a final test by closing and opening the door to make sure its aligned.

And when people tour your home, theyll have no idea there was ever a problem with that door.

Published with permission from RISMedia.