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Paint: One of the Most Important Home Staging Tools

Donna Dazzo Home Stager in the Hamptons & New York: Home Stager in Manhattan, NY

When your home is for sale, it is now a product that needs to appeal to the greatest number of buyers. Walls, along with the floors, are the bones of a home and they need to be in good condition and neutral in appearance so that they do appeal to the greatest number of buyers.

  • People are heavily influenced by color, and it is difficult for buyers to look past the dark purple or other strong colors on the walls.
  • Paint is an inexpensive but effective way to re-decorate a room. It can update a kitchen or bathroom, make a small room seem to be larger, and make architectural details like molding or built-ins pop.
  • Dirty and scratched walls and peeling paint turn off buyers.
  • Potential buyers will be thinking about how they have to take the time and spend the money to repaint; or even worse, thinking ‘I don't want to buy this place".
  • Painting does cost money for both labor and materials, but its benefits far exceed its cost. Even if the buyer is willing to make an offer, you can bet it will be less than asking to compensate for the paint job they will have to do.

Paint Sheens (all Benjamin Moore Regal)

Follow these guidelines for choosing paint finishes:

  • Flat - good for ceilings (use Benjamin Moore Decorator's White). Can also be used for walls if the walls have a lot of imperfections as these would be more noticeable when painted with a sheen or gloss. However, flat paint is more difficult to clean than paint with a sheen or gloss.
  • Eggshell - good for bedrooms and living and dining rooms. Highly washable, durable and stain resistant.
  • Matte - good for busy areas like hallways and kids' rooms as it is a flat paint but highly stain resistant and durable.
  • Pearl - good for hallways, bathroom and kitchen walls, and kids' rooms as it is highly durable and can withstand repeated washings.
  • Semi-Gloss - good for trim and doors, and also kitchen and bathrooms. It is highly durable, scrubbable and washable. Use a color in the white family to make trim pop.

If you prefer to choose one finish for walls in all rooms, then Eggshell is recommended.

Paint Colors

Before purchasing any paint, test a sample on the wall. Benjamin Moore now sells small jars of the most popular colors, or invest in purchasing a quart. If the wall has a dark color on it, hold a white piece of paper next to your sample. Look at your sample painted swatch at different times of the day to see if it changes color with the lighting.

When painting a home that is for sale, it is best to stick with neutral colors. And that doesn't mean white, as it is very stark and cold. It also doesn't mean it has to be some variation of off-white or beige, but can be a certain shade of green, blue, brown, gold or earth-toned red.

If you wish to "play it safe", the following is a list of colors that are in the off-white or beige category.

Recommended Neutral Paint Colors For Walls

Below are color swatches of my recommended netural paint colors, as well as a list of the colors. Keep in mind that the appearance of the color on the swatch may not reflect it's true color as it depends upon the monitor settings with which you are viewing them.

  • Natural Wicker (OC-1)
  • Elephant Tusk (OC-8)
  • Muslin (OC-12)
  • Cedar Key (OC-16)
  • Collingwood (OC-28)
  • Tapestry Beige (OC-32)
  • Misty Air (OC-44)
  • Hazy Skies (OC-48)
  • Gentle Cream (OC-96)
  • Pale Celery (OC-116)
  • Celery Salt (OC-136)
  • Shelburne Buff (HC-28)
  • Edgecombe Gray (HC-173)
  • Manchester Tan (HC-81)
  • Rich Cream (2153-60)

Note: All Benjamin Moore

Do you have any favorite neutral colors you use or recommend? I'd love to add them to my list.

Hello Active Rain, I am back from my Taiwan Taipei Trip!

Eileen Hsu (許小姐) Manhattan NY Real Estate: Real Estate Agent in Manhattan, NY

Hello Active Rain friends, I am back!!! For those of you who wonders where I have been, I have been away in Asia for few weeks, visiting family, friends, and of course some business too.

I was visiting Taipei Taiwan where I grew up until I was 13 years old, I have not been back in Taiwan for some time because I have not had much time for a long trip not to mention the long 17 hours of flight! It is great to see both of my grandmothers and other relatives, seeing everyone is healthy and happy, it was totally worth of the brutal long flight. (Below is a photo of a family photo of both grandmothers, parents, myself and Morgan).

Below are some sightseeing photos from (淡水漁人碼頭) Danshuei Fishermen's Wharf was built at this location because of the spectacular sunset, the nearby mouth of the Danshuei River, and view of Mt. Guanyin.

My mother and I on the bridge of Danshuei Fishermen's Wharf.

Below is a view from 陽明山國家公園 Yangmingshan National Park

The trip was fulfilling and productive, I was very happy to see the relatives and families. I look forward to another trip in the near future when time allows! For now, I am back in Active Rain and hope to see all of you in your blogs soon!

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If you are a seller that would like to have your property showcase to our oversea buyer connection. Please contact us now at (646)644-6929. If you are a buyer that speaks Chinese and would like work with someone that speaks your Chinese dialect, call us now at (646)644-6929.

We are both English and Chinese Speaking Real Estate agents under one of the most successful Manhattan Brokerage firm Prudential Douglas Elliman with extensive market knowledge. In addition, we specialize in connecting the local Manhattan sellers with both local and international buyers with our preferred buyer networks. Call us today at (212)321-7122 or (917)837-8869.

To Read More on buying Manhattan New York city Real Estate Click below links:

  1. Made in Taiwan Real Estate Agent
  2. 中文網站: http://www.GoldHouseUSA.com
  3. Manhattan Real Estate Condominiums and Co-Ops.
  4. Foreign National Buyers Buying in Manhattan New York city Must Read.
  5. Foreign Buyers and out of town buyers MUST READ before you buy in NYC

The Realtor Reviews... New York Edition- Fratelli Brick Oven Pizzeria and Wine Bar

Jason Feinman, Realtor, e-PRO: Real Estate Agent in East Stroudsburg, PA

Even though my family and I live in the Poconos, my wife maintains some of her doctors in New York City. And on the occasions that she see her doctors, we make it a point to have lunch at Fratelli Brick Oven Pizzeria and Wine Bar located on 1st Ave and 71st Street. From the moment you walk in you can expect to be greeted by friendly wait staff, if not the owners themselves. They run a tight ship and it shows in the quality of their food and the personal service. Whether you are enjoying their delicious brick oven pizza, a delicious chicken or veal dish, pasta or something else, you can be sure it is coming out fresh, hot and good. Being a wine lover, I can tell you Fratelli has a very nice selection that features quality wines that do not break the bank. Prices are reasonable and portions are generous. The actual address is 1317 1st Avenue, New York, NY 10021 and their telephone number is 212-249-6092. So the next time you are in New York City, make it a point to stop in at Fratelli and let them know Jason "The Pocono Realtor" sent you!

Don't count the calories or the chloresterol. just enjoy

11-14-09
Dan Shapiro
Dan Shapiro: Real Estate Sales Person in Brooklyn, NY

Delmonico's
56 Beaver Street
New York, NY

212 509 1144

Don't count the calories or the chloresterol. just enjoy

I have eaten in some of the best steak houses here and abroad, while Florentine beef is

very good, Delmonico's is still number one.

Yes, historic Delmonico's, originator o Lobster Newberg, Baked Alaska and Chicken ala Keene (king). The service is still first rate and atmosphere hasn't changed since 1837. The only curious thing is that the appetizers and desserts are small while the main courses are enormous

We celebrated a birthday there recently and we were not disappointed. The double porterhouse was buttery and even sweet and cooked just right. The serving was so big that we served three instead of two. The sides were very good and both were swimming in heavy cream or butter.

For dessert a chocolate mouse cake sandwiched peanut butter and vanilla ice on the side made me think about spending an extra hour at the gym, but it was worth it

for more see www.ditmasestates.com

WWW.RASHAUNPAGEAGENCY.COM - WHAT CAN WE DO FOR YOU?

11-11-09
Rashaun Page
Rashaun  Page: Insurance Broker or Agent in New York, NY

WHAT CAN WE DO FOR YOU?

WWW.RASHAUNPAGEAGENCY.COM - 888-920-5333 TOLL FREE OFFICES IN NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY

LIFE INSURANCE(WHOLE LIFE/TERM LIFE/UNIVERSAL LIFE)

HEALTH INSURANCE(GROUP/INDIVIDUAL)

DISABILITY INSURANCE

RETIREMENT PLANS(ANNUITIES/401K/IRA'S)

JUST LET US KNOW!!!