5 Reasons NOT to Paint Your Walls White

When it comes to preparing a home for sale, most people think that white is a safe, neutral color to paint an interior. Everything goes with white and it makes a room appear crisp and clean and bright, right? Well…yes. But the real question is: is that the best way to go? Here are some other things to think about before painting your entire home eggshell white or “renter’s white”:
1. White is neutral but it can also appear stark or cold, especially in a vacant property.
2. Too much of a good thing often becomes “too much” instead of a “good thing”. Too much white in a vacant property doesn’t give the eye a place to focus or rest. Too much white in an occupied property makes the walls seem to fade away so the eye instead is drawn to the contents of the room. We’re trying to sell the walls and square footage, not the sofa and bean bag chair.
3. A palate containing multiple complimentary colors gives the rooms more personality and maintains a buyer’s interest as they move from room to room. Buying a home can be likened to an experience in a restaurant: you need a roof over your head just as you need food in your stomach but, if you’re going to pay a premium, you want it to be special. Which looks more appetizing? A plate with white rice, grilled chicken and cauliflower or a plate with confetti rice, grilled chicken glazed with something yummy and some mixed grilled vegetables?

4. Renter’s White has the potential of making an interior look like, well, a rental! Investing a little thought and consideration into a colorful yet neutral palate can give the home a more elegant appearance.

5. Adding color to one or two walls in a room is a wonderful way to direct the eye. For example, in a room with cathedral ceilings, paint the highest wall(s) a different color to direct the eye upward. In a long narrow space, paint one wall a darker color and hang a mirror on the adjacent wall to make a room appear wider.
I’m not saying one shouldn’t use white at all. I’m only saying white shouldn’t be the only color one uses. Neutral is good. White is only mediocre. There are a large variety of other terrific neutral colors one can use when preparing a home for sale. Soft greens and blues are great. Tan and mocha are also terrific. A soft buttery yellow can brighten a space even better than white and still keep it warm.
Yes, white can make a home crisp, clean and bright but color can do all of that and make a home look inviting, warm and interesting.
There is only one more thing to remember: color is always secondary to the condition of the paint. A fresh coat of paint is a cheap and easy fix to any home and should be considered a prerequisite before listing any property.

How To Hang a Mezuzah

There’s an awful lot to think about when moving. If you’re Jewish, the last thing you want to ponder is which way to hang the mezuzah so here’s the lowdown:
The word “mezuzah” literally means “doorpost” but it usually refers to a case on Jewish doorposts containing a small scroll inscribed with two prayers: the Shema and V’ahavta. The mezuzah alludes to the story from Exodus where the Israelites were protected from the plagues by marking their doorposts with blood. The mezuzah today is a daily reminder and public declaration of Jewish faith and identity.
Before affixing the mezuzah to the door, one should first recite the blessing. I don’t know how to use Hebrew in this blog so here is the transliteration: Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav v’tsivanu likboa mezuzah. (Blessed are You, Lord our God, sovereign of the universe, who has sanctified us with Your commandments and commanded us to affix a mezuzah.)
Placement
–The mezuzah should be hung on the right side of the doorpost.
–The mezuzah should be placed on the upper third of the doorpost. If the doorway is especially high, the mezuzah should be placed around shoulder height.
–The mezuzah should be tilted on a 30 degree angle with the top of the mezuzah angled toward the inside of the home. Why? Well, true to Jewish tradition, two rabbis disagreed on how to affix the mezuzah. One thought it should be vertical, the other horizontal. So they reached a compromise and decided to hang it on an angle.
Other things you should know:

• Many buildings have metal doorjambs. Instead of trying to drill holes in the metal, double-stick tape is an easy solution.
• Technically, the mezuzah is the scroll inserted inside the case, not the case itself. The scroll must be hand-written by a scribe (sofer) on animal parchment with a quill and no mistakes in order to be kosher. Photocopies don’t cut it.
• When selling your home to another Jewish family, it is customary to leave the mezuzot in place. (If the mezuzah case has sentimental value, you can leave the scroll in place and take the case or replace it with another mezuzah case.)