Paint Like A Pro

      Whether you’re inspired to splash a new hue across a room’s walls or they’re just due for a fresh coat of the same ol’ color, make sure you DIY with these tips in mind.

Choose your paint wisely.  It’s important to choose indoor paint for indoor paint jobs.  Water-based paint is easy to use and clean up, while oil-based paint is more appropriate for specialty jobs.  Check with an expert at the paint store to choose the right type of paint for your situation.

Prep like a pro.  This may take more time than the actual painting itself, but take your time here to avoid mistakes. Prep work includes:

• Laying down drop cloths.
• Cleaning off dirty areas.
• Filling in holes in the walls with spackle.
• Sanding any uneven surfaces.
• Priming the walls, if needed.
• Taping off non-paint zones like outlets and molding.

Do detail work.  Use a thin brush to paint around window and door frames, baseboards, and trim.

Use a roller brush.  Roll the full height of the wall and keep a wet edge.  Start near a corner, and move over slightly with each stroke of paint.  Don’t let the roller become dry, and paint so the open side of the roller frame faces the area that is already painted.

Let it dry.  Once your entire paint job is dry, make sure everything is evenly coated.  Add a second coat as needed.  Wait at least 24 hours before removing the tape between the painted walls and unpainted places.  Use a sharp utility knife or box cutter to slice the tape; do not just pull it off.

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Work Out Without The Gym

            Everyone has their reasons for avoiding the gym, but enough with the excuses!  Using technology, today’s gym is wherever you are.

Using smartphone apps, you can find workout programs customized based on gender, interests, and goals.  Some are free, such as the Nike Training Club app, which comes with more than 100 workouts.  Others offer services for a subscription fee (which often costs far less than a monthly gym membership). 

If you’re new to working out, don’t feel intimidated.  The Couch to 5K (C25K) program, for example, helps people new to running get their shoes on and out the door.  Many people are incentivized by logging their workouts with others.  Map My Fitness, for example, lets users set goals, join challenges, and motivate friends.

You don’t have to be a smartphone owner to take advantage of digital workouts.  Check YouTube and Vimeo for aerobic, yoga, and weight-lifting workouts you can do without ever leaving home.

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Beat Those Student Loans!

            Even if they’re financially savvy, a lot of Americans continue to carry student loan debt with them for years after they’ve graduated from college.  Use these strategies to shake off that heavy financial burden:

• Make it a priority.  Yes, you have a lot of bills to pay, but focus on paying off student loans so you can turn your attention to saving for retirement.
• Create a repayment plan that works.  Make sure the date your student loan payment is due works with your monthly budget, and consolidate your loans so you only need to make one monthly payment.
• Focus on variable private loans.  The interest rates on these loans can quickly change, so pay as much toward them as possible while also putting at least a minimum monthly contribution toward fixed-rate federal loans.

Sign up for auto-deductions.  If you opt for auto-deductions, you won’t accidentally miss a payment date.  Plus, all government and some private lenders charge a slightly lower interest rate if you pay this way.

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Do a Little Bit Every Day

Since everything in your yard grows so quickly over the course of the summer, it’s important to weed every day if possible. Practice taking 10 minutes every day when you return home to weed your yard. Putting in 10 minutes 6 days a week is equivalent to spending a sweaty hour in the sun on Sunday.
 

Get Your Hands Dirty

While there are many different weeding tools available on the market, from devices to chemicals, nothing beats the two hands that you already have. Put on a pair of gloves and weed by hand before they have the chance to flower. The longer that you wait to pull out the weeds, the more likely they are to spread and take over your flowerbeds. The best time to weed is after a period of rain while the soil is damp but not muddy. Pull weeds out from the root to get the entire plant and prevent them from re-sprouting. Weeding in dry soil often breaks the plant off before the root so it will grow right back in a couple of days.
 

Use Mulch If Necessary

Once your garden is free of weeds, mulch can help to maintain it. Weeds prefer bare soil, so a quick layer of mulch will keep weeds at bay and prevent them from popping up again.  

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Real Estate Corner…

Q. How can I build wealth with real estate rental properties?

A.  Before purchasing rental property, consider the following factors to make a good investment:

• Find moderately priced properties, so you can generate more cash flow than higher priced properties.  Your tenant’s rent should cover the mortgage, utilities, and additional expenses in order to produce a cash flow.
• Get the full cost of owning and repairing the home.  Have a property inspection before you purchase the property to identify any potential repairs.  Also, get written quotes from contractors for repairs you’ll need to make before renting out the home.
• Carefully select your tenants.  Each time a renter leaves, you have to prep it for another tenant by paying for repairs, possible upgrades, and other costs such as advertising, credit and background checks, plus taking time to show the unit.  Long-term tenants are better for your investment, so choose wisely and treat them well!

To learn more, call me to request my Free Consumer Report called
“How to Avoid 8 Dumb Mistakes Even Smart Investors Make.”   

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URGENT AND IMPORTANT

Baltimore County has sent out incorrect bills for your 2017-2018 Taxes.   This was done in error.   The county has said they will be sending out corrected bills and will be extending the discounted dates.   Please take caution with your bill and make sure you are paying the proper amount.   If you have an escrow and your mortgage company is paying the taxes, please notify them about the error.    

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Using Natural Remedies
To Cure Allergies

Does spring fever make you sneeze and the family dog make your eyes water?  You’re not alone: The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America estimates as many as 30% of adults and 40% of children suffer from allergies.  To curb the effects, though, consider reaching for one of these natural remedies if your doctor gives his okay.

• Butterbur – This root extract is often used to treat coughs, asthma, hay fever, headaches, and stomach ulcers.  Though considered safe, the plant itself contains cancer-causing substances, so it’s important to make sure the specific brand you use has had those substances removed.
• Neti Pot – Neti Pots are used to prevent and treat upper respiratory conditions, but make sure the water you use is distilled and as sterile as possible.  Tap water contains chemicals that might actually make sinus conditions worse.
• Raw honey – Eating a tablespoon of local, raw honey every day is supposed to help the body build a tolerance to the regional pollen and allergens in the air.

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