Open the real estate section of any newspaper today and you're likely to find depressing facts about the depressed housing market. Home sales are slow, market prices are reduced but many homeowners are fighting the depression by staying put and transforming their current space.

Some homeowners view the lull in the real estate market as a valuable time to make positive improvements to their home, says Andy Olson, product manager at Wagner Spray Tech. If the cost of remodeling gives you sticker shock, there are many other projects that increase a home's value that you can easily do yourself.

A good place to start is the exterior, the first thing that visitors and potential buyers notice. If yours hasn't been repainted in a long time and suffers from faded, scratched and chipped paint on the siding or trim, this is a project you can do yourself that will dramatically increase the curb appeal of your house.

To ease and expedite the painting process, use tools that are made specifically for the job. The Paint Crew Plus by Wagner helps you tackle a large painting project and get quality results. The paint sprayer produces a professional-level application and features variable pressure control to apply both thick and thin paint. A rugged wheeled cart makes maneuvering and transporting the Paint Crew Plus quick and effortless. Use high pressure for spraying thick exterior latex paints. A brush will be your key tool for updating details like the front door and trim.

Wagner products are available in Brentwood at Ace Hardware, 8900 Brentwood Blvd., Suite J, and Big B Lumber, 6600 Brentwood Blvd. In Oakley, you can find them at Ace Hardware, 305 Fifth St. And in Antioch, it's Ace Hardware, 501 Sunset Drive.

Courtesy of ARA Content