Dear Jan:

We are thinking of painting the inside of our home before we put it on the market. Do you have any color recommendations and do you know any good painters?  — Mr. and Mrs. KHS

Dear KHS’s: I love it that you are freshening up your home before putting it on the market. A home that is in great condition and priced right will sell fast in this market.

As far as colors go, please be careful. Sometimes an interior designer can be worth their weight in gold. Neutral colors are a good choice if you do not want to hire a designer. Colors to stay away from are pinks and blues (especially for carpets). Oh, and a good paint store will have swatches of today’s hottest colors.

As far as a good painter goes, I am going to let you in on a little real estate broker secret. Most brokers have at their access their own personal little “yellow pages” of trades that they have worked with over the years.

So that is my suggestion: Call me or another good local broker and ask for names and numbers. We are always happy to help.

Thanks for contacting me.

— Jan Zufelt is an agent with John L. Scott Real Estate in Kingston.