As the colors outside our homes begin changing this fall and we begin to spend more time indoors the fall is a great time to make some changes inside our homes as well.  Whether you are thinking of putting your home on the market or simply sprucing it up for yourself painting can be a fun and rewarding project indoors as the days become cooler.

But before you begin a project there are five steps that when taken will end with a successful painting result.  They are:

1. PREPARATION:  Like most things in life proper preparation is 70% and always gets the best results.   Whatever you are painting be sure the surface is clean and smooth.  Wash the surface to remove fingerprints, marks and scuffs.  Then spackle any voids in the surface such as dings or gouges from the normal wear and tear of life.  Of course, use a pimer over spackle and over very old and hard to cover colors.
2. THE PAINT:  With paint you get what you pay for.  Saving $10-$15 a gallon usually doesn't save you money in either the short or long term.  My personal experience I have found Pratt & Lambert to be an outstanding paint.  It doesn't splatter and applies and cleans up easily. 
3. APPLICATORS:  Again, like paint you want to use good rollers and brushes.  After all, once you've gone through all the prep work you will want your results to look smooth and well covered.  Substandard brushes and rollers can leave fibers on your walls and trim.
4. THE SHEEN:  No, I'm not talking about Martin or Charlie, but the correct finish on your painted surfaces.  Rule of thumb is the higher the sheen the great the durability.  For example in kitchen, bathroom, or heavily traveled hallways you will want to use a semi-gloss or satin finish because they hold up better and are easier to keep clean than flat paint.  Personally, we don't use flat paint any longer because my wife and I like a bit of sheen on our walls.  It makes the room look crisper. 
5. EXTERIOR SURFACES:  If you are planning to paint the exterior the fall may not be the best time.  Paint is very weather sensitive.  If it is too cold or damp the paint may not properly dry and will not adhere properly. Similarly, if the weather is too hot or humid in the summer it may dry too quickly and it can fail from that as well.

So, now that you know the basics of painting go visit your local paint store and grab a bunch of color chips.  Bring them home and see what they might look like in the light of your home.  Then you might want to get a quart of the color you chose and try it on a wall and really see how it will look before purchasing all you will need.  It is always best to get the color adjusted to what you want before you order 5-10 gallons of it!  Finally, don't be afraid to go bold with your color choices. 

Well there you have it.  A primer on painting.  If you get started now you can enjoy your new look during the holidays! 

Today the Sacramento International Airport (SMF) the federal Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has declared Sacramento an official "port of entry" for international travel and business. Previously the airport was under the jurisdiction of the San Francisco CBP office. 

The recognition of Sacramento by the CBP is an important recognition of the growing importance of the city and region in the international business community.  The CBP provides essential and critically important Customs and Border Protection services to international air carriers who connect the region to the world via air travel and cargo shipments. 

This news is not only welcomed by the economic development community in the region but by travelers.  Within the next few weeks several airlines will announce international departures for destinations in Mexico and Canada thus making vacation travel more convenient, competitive and less expensive.  Good news for all.

The effort to create the Sacramento office of Customs and Border Protection was headed up by the Sacramento County Airport System, the Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Sacramento Congressman Dan Lungren who was a key player, working with the Customs and Border Protection and guiding the legislation through the U.S. Congress that established the Sacramento office of the CBP.