West Bank Living » Lagniappe

How to Avoid a Painting Faux Pas in Your Home

Lisa Heindel — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 15:09:15 +0000

Are you considering selling your home, but need to spruce up the paint before doing so? Or, maybe, you’ve just bought the house of your dreams and you are having a little trouble choosing a color for the guest bath. There’s a great website that can help you avoid making a choice that not only costs you money, but time as well. I once painted a room 3 times before it looked like I wanted. Let’s face it, none of us wants to spend our time painting a room again because it just didn’t quite come out the way we pictured it in our mind.

Colorjive is a service that allows you to test out different paint colors to find the one that you love the most, all without leaving the comfort of your home. You can easily upload a photo of the room you want to repaint and play with the different colors until you like the results. Paint names from Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams are included, making it easy to be sure you buy the right one.

I used the demo on the site to create a focal point on a fireplace with just a couple of clicks. If this wasn’t the color I wanted, I could easily erase it and choose another.

How much does it cost to use Colorjive?

A basic account is free. Premium users can store up to 10 photos for $15 per year. With a free account, you can upload a single photo, paint three objects in that photo and save three different versions. If you get a premium account, you can save up to 10 photos, paint 5 objects in each one, and save 7 different versions.

Most of us are not painting 10 different rooms at one time, but if you are building a new house and need to choose the right colors, it would be well worth the $15 – that’s less than one gallon of the wrong paint!

Go play with Colorjive and share your before and after photos here. We’d love to see what creative ideas you come up with.

**Disclosure: we have no relationship with Colorjive and were not paid for this review. We just think it’s a cool service that you will enjoy.

Also read:

Home staging tips

For more information about home buying or selling on the West Bank, or relocating to or from NAS JRB New Orleans, please contact the West Bank Living Team. It would be our pleasure to have the opportunity to assist you with any of your real estate needs and have a little fun while doing it!

Kudos to Keller Williams

Lisa Heindel — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 20:28:44 +0000

When we left a regional brokerage in December 2008 to join Keller Williams, there were some people who said “Keller Who?” and others (ie, agents) who tsked tsked that we would be part of a franchise model that they don’t quite get.

Here is just another reason why Keller Williams is our broker of choice:

News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Amber Presley

512/439-8708

amber.presley@kw.com

Keller Williams Realty Ranked as Top Real Estate Franchise by Industry Leader and Entrepreneur Magazine

AUSTIN, TEXAS (December 21, 2009) — Keller Williams Realty joined the ranks of the top franchises in the world last week, when the company was ranked as the No. 1 real estate franchise on the 31^st Annual Franchise 500 list by Entrepreneur magazine. During the same week, the company was also voted the Most Recognizable Brand of Real Estate Franchises for 2009 in an industry-wide survey for the Swanepoel TRENDS Report.

“The Swanepoel TRENDS Report is a respected source for the real estate industry and beyond, as is Entrepreneur magazine, and we are excited to see our agents honored in this way for all of their hard work,” said Mark Willis, CEO, Keller Williams Realty. “We certainly wouldn’t have been included on either list without the dedication and resolve of our agents.”

According to the ranking in Entrepreneur magazine, the most important criteria to determine the top franchises included financial strength and stability, as well as growth rate and size of the franchise system. The magazine also looked at the number of years the company has been in business and the length of time it’s been franchising, in addition to start-up costs and financial data. Additionally, Keller Williams Realty made an impressive showing on the overall list, placing higher than any other real estate franchise.

The Swanepoel TRENDS Report is published by Stefan Swanepoel, a real estate industry speaker and insider. The survey was crafted to determine the Most Recognizable Brand for Real Estate Franchises for his report out in February 2010. The survey included votes cast by 11,000 plus real estate agents, who cast 390,000 votes to select the top 10.

Earlier in the year, Keller Williams Realty also received the highest overall satisfaction ratings from home buyers among the largest full-service real estate firms from J.D. Power and Associates for the second year in a row.

“We are extremely proud that our associates and company are being recognized for our strength and stability during this time in our industry,” said Mary Tennant, president and COO, Keller Williams Realty. “We attribute our success to being in business with phenomenal people and to our core business models, which have allowed our franchises to thrive during any market.”

Jefferson Chamber Offering Disaster Planning Workshop

Lisa Heindel — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 23:59:19 +0000

Disaster planning is a critical part of any business plan, especially in an area like New Orleans that faces the threat of hurricanes and flooding each year.

But more than wind and rain can cause an interruption in your business and the Jefferson Chamber is teaming up with local TV station ABC-26 to offer a FREE planning workshop.

The Jefferson Chamber and

ABC26 invite you to a

DISASTER PLANNING WORKSHOP

Friday, June 19, 2009 8:30 – 10:00 am

East Bank Regional Library

4747 West Napoleon Ave., Metairie

WHAT IF A DISASTER HAPPENED TO YOU OR

YOUR BUSINESS?

· How can you prevent losses and protect your business, employees and your family? It’s not just hurricanes!

· What do you need to know about the Jefferson Parish Re-entry Program?

ABC 26 Reporter Meg Gatto will MC the workshop and review a recent fire at a Metairie business.

Ralph Petti, MBCI and Roberto Ramirez of RP Risk Advisors, LLC will present protection plans and options.

Representatives from the Jefferson Parish President’s Office will explain the Jefferson Parish Re-entry Program after an evacuation.

FREE ADMISSION

Registration requested Click Here

QUESTIONS: (504) 835-3880 ext. 31

Thanks to the folks at GEDA for helping to get the word out.

This information is provided as a community service by the West Bank Living Team.

Don’t Forget Why We Are Free

Lisa Heindel — Sun, 24 May 2009 17:13:22 +0000

On Monday, most of America will be gathering for BBQs in backyards or picnicking at the park or just enjoying a day off from school and work. But don’t let the real reason for the holiday pass without taking a moment to honor the brave men and women who have given their lives in defense of our country, our liberties, our freedom.

May that banner ever wave...

If you know someone serving in the military, thank them…and thank them for me too.

If you don’t know someone serving, you can still express your appreciation for all that they do by adopting a soldier, sailor, airman or Marine.

Don’t ever forget why we are the land of the free…

Happy Mother’s Day

Lisa Heindel — Sun, 10 May 2009 10:07:00 +0000

Mother’s Day 2009

No matter who you are or where you came from…we all have a mom or someone who played the part of mom in our lives. In honor of mothers everywhere, I wanted to share some great quotes with you:

The Nice Ones

God could not be everywhere and therefore he made mothers. ~Jewish Proverb

Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body. ~Elizabeth Stone

Mother love is the fuel that enables a normal human being to do the impossible. ~Marion C. Garretty, quoted in A Little Spoonful of Chicken Soup for the Mother’s Soul

The Funny Ones

Sweater, n.: garment worn by child when its mother is feeling chilly. ~Ambrose Bierce

If evolution really works, how come mothers only have two hands? ~Milton Berle

Mothers are all slightly insane. ~J.D. Salinger

And a special quote for my own mom, who I miss everyday:

If I had a single flower for every time I think about you, I could walk forever in my garden. ~Attributed to Claudia Ghandi

Wishing all of you a very Happy Mother’s Day!

Two Heads Are Better Than One

Lisa Heindel — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 00:34:44 +0000

On the heels of my recent move to Keller Williams, there is another big change happening at West Bank Living. It’s getting harder to keep up with the inquiries from buyers and sellers and still provide the same level of service that my clients expect from me and that I expect from myself. But, I hate to just refer folks to another agent and then not keep at least a pinkie finger on the pulse of what’s going on and if they are being taken care of in the way that I would want them to.

To solve that problem, West Bank Living is growing with the addition of a buyer specialist and the formation of a team!

I’m pleased to introduce Terri Babineaux to you all.

Terri has over 13 years experience in West Bank real estate and is one of the hardest working people that I know. She’s smart, she’s thorough and she makes the entire house buying process fun! I’m thrilled that she agreed to be a part of the West Bank Living team and that buyers who work with us will be in her good hands.

Please join me in welcoming Terri and, as always, feel free to contact us for any of your West Bank real estate needs.

West Bank Living Has A New Home

Lisa Heindel — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 15:55:14 +0000

Well, technically, West Bank Living is still right here where it’s always been. But in case you didn’t notice the changes on the sidebar, I’ve moved to a new brokerage and I couldn’t be more excited!

I am now officially affiliated with Keller Williams Realty. Still on the West Bank, still providing the same information, still working to get the biggest exposure for my sellers homes. In other words, it’s still me, just with a new logo and business card.

Keller Williams is the 4th largest real estate brokerage in the United States and has some great educational opportunities for agents that I can’t wait to take advantage of. Between the more than 650 Keller Williams offices in the U.S. and Canada and my network of real estate professionals across the country, I can help you find the right person to assist you in your move no matter where your destination is.

Thanks to everyone who helped through the transition and I’m looking forward to a great 2009!

It’s Snowing in New Orleans!!

Lisa Heindel — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 16:34:27 +0000

There is a blanket of white covering my front yard and the hibiscus are NOT happy! Snow happens so rarely in New Orleans that things grind to a screeching halt as everyone heads home to enjoy it for the short time that it lasts.

If you are driving in the snow today, PLEASE be careful.

Now it feels like the holidays!

My front yard covered in snow!

Christmas Wishes Do Come True

Lisa Heindel — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 13:03:56 +0000

I saw this video on the news a couple of nights ago and couldn’t stop thinking about it. If this doesn’t pull at your heart strings, well…you just might be Mr. Grinch.

I wish that every child who is missing their mom or dad (or aunt, uncle, cousin, brother, sister…) serving our country could have the same Christmas present, but it won’t happen. There is still time for you to Email Our Military for the holidays and support our troops that don’t get to be surrounded by family this year. Take just a moment and help – isn’t that what the Christmas spirit is all about?

Is Gambling Coming to Algiers?

Lisa Heindel — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 01:25:14 +0000

Update 12/10/08: The Planning Commission rejected the zoning change application. YAY!!

I just found out that there was a City Planning Commission meeting this afternoon, so obviously I missed it. Truthfully, I don’t attend these meetings anyway, so it wasn’t something I had on my to-do list when I planned my day. If I had known that they would be discussing the possibility of planting a truck stop/casino right in between Rouse’s and Brechtel, I would have been there with bells on.

Read the City Business article here.

Good grief! What brain trust thought that Algiers needs a truck stop and casino right next door to where we buy groceries and play golf? I can only imagine what this would do to traffic in the area, not to mention the road damage that would be worsened by 18 wheelers going in and out.

Oh, and then there are property values to be considered. You can get a premium for a home that’s right around the corner from a truck stop casino, right?

Is this the image that Algiers wants to have? I think not. Please take a moment and let the Planning Commission and your council person know how YOU feel about this.

New Orleans City Planning Commission

Phone (504) 658-7000 Fax (504) 658-7032

Council President Jackie Clarkson

Phone: (504) 658-1070 Fax: (504) 658-1077 jbclarkson@cityofno.com

Council Vice President Arnie Fielkow

Phone: (504) 658-1060 Fax: (504) 658-1068 AFielkow@cityofno.com

District C Councilman James Carter

Phone: (504) 658-1030 Fax: (504) 658-1037 JCarter@cityofno.com

It’s up to all of us to keep our community from becoming a pit stop on the video poker circuit. Let your voice be heard today!