The holidays are fast approaching and this will prove a great opportunity for sprucing up around the home.  There is certainly more anxiety of late due to the behavior of the financial markets.  As consumers become more concerned about the direction of the economy, “big ticket items” which call for substantial spend are delayed in favor of smaller projects.  At the same time, with the holidays nearing, who would not want to make the extra effort to freshen up their home? Paint is a very economical way to make a difference in your living environment.

This time of year, as homeowners are starting to fix up for guests and entertaining, can offer potential opportunities for the pro painter.  Here are some things to keep in mind as you sell your services this fall:

• Color plays a key role in paint selection.  Color combinations can be suggested using the interactive color wheel in the Design Center on the PQI web site…..click here to go directly to it http://www.paintquality.com/color/index.html

• In a recent survey of US households commissioned by a leading paint manufacturer (Coatings World, Sept. 08, vol 13, No. 9,  pg 12), consumers are paying increased attention to finding the right paint color.  In difficult economic times, consumers see paint as one of the most economic ways to remodel.  Whatever the color, nearly half (47%) of those planning to paint in the next 12 months are hoping for a big change as a result of their work. 

• Not only is understanding color important, but understanding color trends can help you better sell your services to your customer. See the latest PQI 2009 Color Trends forecast at  http://www.paintquality.com/index.html

• Selling Low Odor / LowVOC Paints:  Low odor (low VOC) interior latex paint is ideal for decorating jobs where the client wants to quickly complete the room and start entertaining as soon as you are done. In addition, low VOC paints have measurable environmental and health benefits.

Click here for more information on low VOC paints.

Other important things to ensure best results:

• Use a top quality paint to manage the cost of the paint job. Top quality paints provide superior coverage and some may even provide great results without the need of a primer.
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• Use an acrylic caulk to ensure best appearance and optimum recoat time
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• And as the temperature begins to drop, pay attention to the temperature of your substrate prior to painting. For exterior painting, a standard recommendation is to target painting between 10:00AM and 2:00 PM to avoid challenging temperature conditions.