Getting Help...Realizing When You Need It!

It's finally spring and many of us have sprung into action!  Are you spring cleaning, planning spring projects, or perhaps even getting your home ready for sale? Contact a local Westchester Realtor! You can find a great professional right here at Prudential Centennial Realty.  One thing is for sure, if your home project is to help get the house ready for sale, you want to do it right and have a good understanding of what potential buyers are looking for.

The second step is to really think about your project.  Renee Ursem, professional organizer said, "I consider myself a do-it-yourself kind of gal. My husband and I take care of our own yard, pool, and house. We're picky about how things are done, so we choose to do many things ourselves. It works pretty well."

She explains, a few months ago, the couple decided to touch up the doors and baseboards in their house. Since the previous owners had left paint, she figured it would be a quick little project-a little paint here, a little paint there, no problem.

Well.....apparently there were a few glitches in her plan.

The first problem surfaced when the paint (which had been labeled) didn't match the surface being painted. Maybe it just needed to dry? When the dry paint still didn't match the doors, they didn't panic; they just decided to paint the doors (cut-outs and all).  Seems like a natural solution to a minor problem, right?

Armed with the right color and proper tools, the second day was spent rolling and brushing on the paint. The lack of light made it hard to see, and the paint didn't roll on as easily as expected. It was going to need a second coat.

"That's when reality struck," said Renee, "this was going to take a lot longer than I wanted or expected."

Now, mid-project, it became evident, that she needed help.  Assessing the project in its entirety and thinking about potential issues prior to starting, may eliminate problems all together.

Tip:  Cheryl Long (Editor in Chief of Mother Earth News) is a proponent of testing paints, cleaners or any other products that may have any effect on finish, color, materials, etc. of the surface on which you are using them.  EVEN IF YOU HAVE USED THE PRODUCT, OR ONE SIMILAR BEFORE.

Renee decided to call a professional Handyman to help her out.  A local contractor, (there are several in Westchester, or you can refer to your realtor at Prudential Centennial Realty), was able to give her a bid quickly and help her out right away.  The handyman was able to get the entire project done in less than a day. 

A week later the doors were painted better and faster than they could have ever done alone. It was almost a pleasure for them to write that check, knowing that instead of spending months frustrated, they could use the time to do something fun.

The point here is that when it comes to do-it-yourself projects, know when to say when!

It is time for you to get some help? Here are some things to consider:

• Be specific. "I need help with my finances" doesn't work. Do you need help saving money, setting up a budget, doing taxes, or filing your financial documents? Knowing what you need is half the battle.
• Determine the type of help needed. Do you need a contractor, a professional, a coach, or just some extra hands?
• Do some research. Ask friends for recommendations. Look online. Get some bids. Don't assume that you can't afford help.  Always refer to professionals that have experience with home buying/selling or perhaps just have great references for local handymen, like a Westchester County Realtor. Prudential Centennial Realty has a list of handy experts waiting for you!
• Assess the problem area's costs. What is not getting that project done costing you now? Time, energy, a relationship, your sense of peace, future goals?
• Look ahead. What could you do after the project is complete? Getting it done will help you move on to bigger and better things.
• Formulate a plan. It may be possible for you to pay for help right away. Maybe you need to do some of the work yourself. You might need to save for it. It could be done in stages. The point is to figure out a way to get it done so you can move on.
• Get started. At some point you just need to take the plunge.

Once the project is done - enjoy it!  Congratulate yourself on a job well done and admire the handiwork!

Or, if your project was part of getting your home ready for sale, contact Prudential Centennial Realtynow.