Will Nesbitt, Author at Real Estate & Property Management Services

Author: Will Nesbitt

Will is the principal broker of Nesbitt Realty and Condo Alexandria. He is licensed in anywhere in the Commonwealth of Virginia, but focuses on those communities found in and around Alexandria, Arlington, Mount Vernon and Springfield/Franconia. Will has been involved in real estate management, sales and investment for more than twenty years. He is a veteran of the U.S. Army. While in the army, he studied Russian at Monterey's Defense Language Institute. He is also a "veteran of the dotcom wars" and built most of the sites associated with NesbittRealty.com Will currently resides in Belle Haven Estates just outside Old Town, overlooking New Alexandria. He is a former president of the Mount Vernon Youth Athletic Association and founded the Alexandria Fun with Friends Group. Will is the author of BattlestorM, a tabletop fantasy game, which was published by Ral Partha Publishing in the late '90's, and Arthur's Realm, a boardgame available at the Gamecrafter.

Painting is about more than sifting through fan decks and playing with online painting tools. Avoid these beginner mistakes, and save your home decor.

Don't get a sample that's too small. "When it comes to swatches, size matters. Ask a color expert for an oversize sample or fan deck, and make sure that when you test different shades, you paint swatches that are big enough to evaluate how the color will really look."
Don't choose the wrong finish. The finish you choose should correlate with the room's purpose."Many homeowners are nervous about using shiny semigloss, but it's more durable than flat or matte and more moisture-resistant, which makes it perfect for bathrooms and the kitchen," points out Kristen Chuber, marketing director at Paintzen.On the other hand, flat and matte finishes allow for easy touch-ups, so save those for high-traffic spots like hallways and the kids' rooms, she adds.
Don't pick a palette that's too boring. Beige on beige with some white trim? Zzz ... sorry, we dozed off there for a moment."Some homeowners stick to dull colors so they never have to repaint, but color is a reflection of your personality," McLean says.
Know your whites before you pick your whites. If you're new to the world of paint, we've got news for you: You can't just pick "white" paint and call it a day. Even white has different levels and shades, and you need to know what you want before you head to the store."Some whites are cool, others warm, still more are neutral, so the one you pick will depend on the room's finishes and undertones," Gray-Plaisted explains.
Coordinate the ceiling. The ceiling is your fifth wall, so treat it with the same TLC as the other four, Chuber says."Whether you pick white or a bright color, painting it properly will give you those sharp edges along the top and can make wall color pop," she says.
Pick the right accent! "Accent walls seem to be the go-to solution for homeowners who are afraid of using color," says Liz Toombs, president of Polka Dots & Rosebuds Interiors.But think carefully about saturated color on one wall. You don't simply want the loudest color you can think of, cautions Bee Heinemann, interior designer with Vant Wall Panels: "For an accent wall to work, the bold hue needs to be within the overall color scheme of the room or house." Plus, going too bright may turn off a potential buyer.
Don't experiment with trends and crafts. Consult a pro. Stencils and sponge painting may be cute on TV, but adding them to your walls can be tricky."Some of these can damage the wall, leaving an undesirable texture behind," Heinemann explains.