apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I'm meeting painters tomorrow to discuss bids to paint our new living room (13'x17') and bedroom (10.5'x13.75'). This is our first "real" apartment, and we've never done this before. Any advice? Any similar experiences? How do I know if the deal is good or not?

Merci,
Samantha

I have two questions if anyone cares to weigh in...

1. I want to change the light fixtures in my rental apartment, but I have no idea where the circuit breaker or fusebox is. Can't find it. Is it safe to change out a fixture if the switch is off? Theoretically, if the switch is off, no current's going to the fixture, right? Can I do this, or am I gonna get zapped?

2. Does anyone have good strategies for buying furniture on ebay? It seems if I just cruise around, I never find things I like, but if I enter specific search terms (like a designer's name) then the prices are astronomical. It seems all the sellers know what they have, or at least know the buzzwords to show up in a search, and by the time I find it, it's already been bid to a high price. Plus, there's the shipping. Is it even possible to get a good deal on ebay anymore?

Thanks!!

noarch - I would find the circuit breaker. Have you checked EVERYWHERE? In the back of a closet, in the basement, etc.

I had 2 ceiling fixtures taken out and replaces with new ones last week. I had a building maintenance guy do it for me because I thought he'd have to turn off the circuit. Well, I watched him to both fixtures and he didn't turn anything off except the light switch. So I guess if the light is turned off you can do it yourself.

Yeah, I've checked everywhere...except the roof. There is on box high on an exterior wall with a deadbolt lock on it...that's the only thing I can find. But that's good news, Anne, that your super did it just with the switch turned off. How do your new lights look??

noarch, about the ebaying: mostly, I have to say no, you can't find good deals on furniture on ebay anymore. Well, mostly. See, it sounds like if you're using 'buzzwords', then you are looking for something desirable, like designer furniture? I just went through this with an Emeco chair and a Saarinen table. Ebay caters to an international market, so you have much competition. The other killer is shipping; sellers ask astronomical prices for shipping furniture (I see mirrors estimate at $100 for shipping alone), and beware shipping that's not listed and added in after you purchase your prize.

Instead, for furniture, check craigslist at least daily using your buzzwords as a search agent. You'll save on everything, generally.

And lastly--sometimes deals are popular. Click 'save this search' on ebay after you search your buzzword and ebay'll send you emails daily with new listings with that word. Good luck!