A fresh coat of paint on your Hartford rental property’s exterior can get you higher rents, higher property values, and better curb appeal. But don’t rush into your first exterior paint job without first knowing a few important things. We’ve made a list of do’s and don’ts that will give you what you need to know so you can do the job properly and ensure that quality tenants will keep being drawn to your rental property.
DO take the time to remove the old paint from the rental property’s exterior. Five Star Painting, a business that does high-quality painting services, has professionals on their team that say the prep work you do before you start to paint is the most important part of the process. You’ll have to figure out what type of paint your rental currently has and how old it is. The basis for this is that any paint dating from 1978 or before has lead in it and can make you sick if you just start scraping away. Another consideration is the building material of the exterior; suppose that your home has asbestos siding, you may need a professional to do the job.
There are several different ways to remove old and peeling paint, from scraping or power washing to chemicals to heat guns. Take the time and think about which method is best suited for your specific property and buy the right tools to get the job done faster and easier.
DON’T forget to measure carefully to ensure you have enough paint to finish the job properly. See to it that you have extra for touch-ups, or if you intend to do more than one coat, make sure the paint you have is sufficient to coat the entire surface twice. A good quality exterior paint is also very important. Don’t use cheap paint since it would only begin peeling or fading instantly, and the time, effort, and hard work you put in will be wasted.
DO seal all surfaces and caulk where necessary, and then apply a primer. At Five Star Painting, their experts recommend this step for exterior surfaces. This is because the primer will help seal exterior walls, including newly repaired spots. It also gives the paint something to adhere to.
DON’T rush through the job and attempt to apply a primer or paint to an exterior right after paint removal. Exterior surfaces need time to dry completely before moving on to the next step, or you’ll compromise the paint job. It may end up looking blotchy and unprofessional.
DO fix whatever needs to be fixed before repainting the exterior of your rental property. It may be as straightforward as power washing your siding, but you may be also required to sand the entire outside of the house and use a piece of cloth to wipe all surfaces down. It’s exactly the same as painting an interior wall; you must have a clean and dry surface before any painting can begin.
DON’T waste precious time and money by rushing to do an exterior painting job without first acquiring the relevant knowledge and learning the skills. If you don’t have sufficient time or experience to execute the job flawlessly, then think about hiring professionals to do it for you. You’ll spend a lot more to fix a botched exterior paint job than if you just hired someone to do it for you from the start.
DO select Real Property Management Greater Milwaukee to do the job for you. Instead of spending all that time and hassle trying to DIY the project, our team of experts has connections with superb teams in Hartford who can do top-quality exterior painting services at a reasonable price. If you are interested in learning more or have additional questions, please contact us online or by phone at 262-309-6961 today.
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