By Jim Donovan

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) When it comes to home improvement, painting is one of easiest and least expensive ways to spruce up a room. However, there are many factors that can influence how your project will turn out. In this weeks Angies list report, Jim Donovan has a look at some things you should know before starting your next paint project.

Brad Stutler recently had his kitchen painted and plans to have several other rooms painted too.

Like many people, Ive got three little kids, so there are many stains and scratches and nicks on the wall, said Stutler.

A fresh coat of paint is a great way to fix those flaws. It can also boost your homes value. Plus, a change in color can give any room an entirely different look. Paint experts say blues and grays are the latest color trend.

But the grays arent traditional grays, they are more earth-toned grays, a little softer than just a steel gray, so its a little warmer finish, said painting contractor Sean Eichenberg.

Once youve picked the perfect color, youll have to decide on what type of finish is best for the area youre painting.

If you have a bathroom thats a high humidity area, youd want a higher sheen paint, an eggshell or a satin. That way it would be moisture-resistant and clean up a little bit better, said Eichenberg.

If youre thinking of doing the painting yourself, its important to recognize the importance of prepping the area so it holds up well.

A lot of times people tackle this project themselves, but you need to understand when youre over your head because a good paint job is dependent on the prep work. If you have walls that need a lot of repair or resurfacing hiring a professional may be well worth the money. If you have tricky have trim work, that might not be the room you want to test on, said Angies List founder Angie Hicks.

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Angies List: Painting Your Home

BISMARCK - Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem issued cease and desist orders Tuesday against seven unlicensed contractors for allegedly violating North Dakota's consumer fraud laws.

The attorney general's Consumer Protection Division initiated investigations after receiving complaints from consumers about the contractors failing to start or properly complete projects for which the consumers had made advance payments, a news release stated.

The contractors lacked the required licenses and didn't cooperate with investigators, the release stated.

The following contractors were banned from doing business in North Dakota: Michael Knudson of Minot, doing business as MLK Construction; Ed McDonald, doing business as Asphalt Seal Coating and E. McDonald Seal Coating, with addresses in Texas, Iowa and North Dakota; Thomas J. Zimmerle of Mandan, doing business as From Old To New Construction LLP; Jaymason W. Bottin of Bigfork, Mont., doing business as J2 Roofing & General Contracting; Ryan Dalbec of Big Lake, Minn., doing business as Dalbec Property Management, Inc.; Thomas Dohleman of Dilworth, Minn., doing business as Tom's Painting; and Kenny and Jessica Huffstutler of Dickinson, doing business as BCS Fence & Services LLC.

Criminal charges are pending against Dohleman in Cass County and against Zimmerle in Morton County.

Stenehjem advised consumers never to put money down until they make sure the contractor is properly licensed.

Tags: news,business,crime,updates

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7 contractors banned from conducting business in ND

Grammy Award winning singer, Anita Baker, is facing an arrest warrant after failing to appear in a Detroit court. Baker is facing legal charges after a painting and decorating company filed a suit alleging the singer failed to pay them after they made repairs to her home in 2009.

Anita Baker, the Grammy Award winning singer, is facing an arrest warrant after she allegedly failed to appear in court. The 56-year-old R&B singer was popular throughout the 1980s and early nineties for such songs as 'Sweet Love' and 'Giving You the Best That I Got'. Unfortunately, more recently she's made headlines after a painting and decorating company filed suit against her claiming she failed to pay them in 2009.

Apparently a warrant was issued on Thursday (20th March) when Baker, according to reports in TMZ, failed to appear in court. Baker was required to appear in the Detroit court over a dispute with a painting and decorating company. The company in question, Ray Smith Painting and Decorating, filed suit after Baker allegedly failed to pay $15 000 of the $75 000 bill. Baker had employed the company in 2009 after her Grosse Pointe house sustained storm damage. The plaintiff claims the 'Sweet Love' singer paid $60 000 up front for the work but has since failed to pay the additional sum.

56-year-old Baker claims the contractors in question failed to complete the work and this work was of such poor quality, she was forced to make her own repairs. She further claims to have never received any legal papers concerning this suit and is deeply unsettled by her arrest warrant. Speaking on the subject of the warrant to TMZ, Baker said "I've never been in trouble with the law. I'm terrified". She claimed "there's no justice in the justice system," a statement which she supports with anecdotes concerning how, in previous suits, the plaintiff never served her with legal documentation.

See more Anita Baker pictures on Contactmusic.

However, the contractor claims the legal papers were appropriately filed and that he even posted a notice on Baker's front door. This allegedly occurred in July 2013 when he attempted to pursue the issue in court. Baker claims to have never seen this notice as she was on tour and highly doubts the notice was ever posted.

Although Baker's lawyer intends to challenge the warrant and have the default judgement lifted, the plaintiff's attorney is simply hoping to resolve the issue. Speaking to a local Detroit news station WDIV 4, the plaintiff's attorney Daniel Gerow said: "We certainly would have liked to resolve it before now. We just want to try to get my client his money. We're not trying to give her any hard time or anything unnecessary. We just would like to collect the money for my client. He's owed the money, and that could end it all right then."

Keep up to date with Anita Baker's legal troubles on Contactmusic.

Anita Baker at the 2011 BET Awards.

Anita Baker at the Soul Train Awards in 2010.

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Arrest Warrant Issued After Anita Baker Fails To Appear In Court

Article updated: 3/21/2014 5:53 PM

The Vernon Hills Police Department cautions residents to be wary when hiring help for painting, roofing and driveway sealing. Although there are many variations and methods used by scam artists, there are ways to keep from becoming a victim: get several estimates and compare; ask if there is a charge for an estimate; check contractors with the Better Business Bureau and state or local licensing agencies; ask for references and call them or ask friends for recommendations; be wary of high-pressure sales tactics or someone who happens to be in the area; pay by check so you can stop payment if dissatisfied; get a guarantee on the work; never sign a work of completion unless all work is done to your satisfaction; and, dont allow strangers into your home or to distract you away from your unlocked front door. Call the crime prevention unit at (847) 247-4889.

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Police warn of home repair fraud:

BISMARCK Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem issued cease and desist orders Tuesday against seven unlicensed contractors for allegedly violating North Dakotas consumer fraud laws.

The attorney generals Consumer Protection Division initiated investigations after receiving complaints from consumers about the contractors failing to start or properly complete projects for which the consumers had made advance payments, a news release stated.

The contractors lacked the required licenses and didnt cooperate with investigators, the release stated.

The following contractors were banned from doing business in North Dakota: Michael Knudson of Minot, doing business as MLK Construction; Ed McDonald, doing business as Asphalt Seal Coating and E. McDonald Seal Coating, with addresses in Texas, Iowa and North Dakota; Thomas J. Zimmerle of Mandan, doing business as From Old To New Construction LLP; Jaymason W. Bottin of Bigfork, Mont., doing business as J2 Roofing & General Contracting; Ryan Dalbec of Big Lake, Minn., doing business as Dalbec Property Management, Inc.; Thomas Dohleman of Dilworth, Minn., doing business as Toms Painting; and Kenny and Jessica Huffstutler of Dickinson, doing business as BCS Fence & Services LLC.

Criminal charges are pending against Dohleman in Cass County and against Zimmerle in Morton County.

Stenehjem advised consumers never to put money down until they make sure the contractor is properly licensed.

Tags: north dakota,news,construction,jobs,updates

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Seven contractors banned from conducting business in North Dakota

MEMPHIS, TN (localmemphis.com) - Construction is finally underway at one South Memphis home.

The homeowner, Patricia Sawyer, has been waiting and waiting for repairs to be made after she says the first city hired contractor left her house in worse shape than when he started.

More than a year ago, Local 24 News exposed the city's shoddy home repair program.

The home repair program known as the HARP program was meant to help low income residents and seniors.

Since we first exposed the situation, contractors have been removed from the program, city employees fired, and a federal audit that found big problems.

All that time, one homeowner has been waiting for her home to be fixed.

That renovation is finally underway.

Im able to wash with running water. Wash dishes like a normal person, Sawyer said.

Sawyer is relived her kitchen is back in working order after more than a year of having water run into bucket underneath her sink. The buckets are gone. She now has a working sink, new cabinets, and a new floor.

Sawyer said the first city hired contractor left her home in shambles and you paid for it. Now taxpayers are paying again for the second contractor to fix the first contractors mistakes. She blames the city for hiring contractors who didn't know what they were doing.

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Construction Finally Underway On South Memphis Home

Kellogg #39;s Painting, Windham NY 12496, Painters staining
Painting contractors Windham NY 12496 painters, deck - house staining and pressure washing company. Kellogg #39;s Painting painters serving Catskills and Hudson ...

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Instead of bemoaning your spring cleaning to-do list, you can scratch off a couple of big items by yelling WOW.

Two women 47-year-old Cindi Urquhart and 31-year-old Merideth Otten recently started their own one-day painting business in Barrie called WOW 1 DAY Painting.

You can either hire one painter for five days or five painters for one day, Otten said.

Seated in Urquhart's beautifully decorated living room, it's easy to see who is the designer.

Yet, without Otten's in-depth knowledge of all things paint, primer and preparation, even Urquhart admits she'd be lost.

I worked at Dulux, but paint has changed so much in the last 20 years. When Otten walked in, she has so much knowledge about new products, she's just a gem, Urquhart said.

A former model, Otten said she's had her share of coffees sent over to her table at coffee breaks. She said her painting hobby was noticed by a former boss who urged her to continue with an education in her passion.

With a client list that now includes the Ricoh Coliseum at Toronto's Exhibition Place, the basement at the Toronto Eaton Centre, Barrie's surface water treatment plant, as well as private residential customers, Otten knows how to handle large and small jobs.

Using spray systems, rollers and brushes, Otten said she's come to appreciate the devil is in the details of the preparation work before the painting begins.

A lot of customers just want to get to the finished product as soon as possible, but it's the priming that will determine how the end product looks, she said.

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Barrie painting company has wow factor ; promises to finish the job in one day

Interior and Exterior Painting Contractors by Bhavani Enterprises
Bhavani Enterprises, Interior and Exterior Painting Contractors in Hyderabad, wall painting contractors, House painting contractors in hyderabad, Best painti...

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Painting contractors around Sammamish WA - ELEGANT PAINTING
http://www.elegantpainting.com/painting-contractors-around-sammamish-wa-elegant-painting/ At Elegant Painting, we have developed specific painting procedures...

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