A fresh coat of paint on your Livermore rental property’s exterior can get you higher rents, higher property values, and better curb appeal. But before you start your first exterior paint job, you’ll need to know some important things. We’ve gathered these do’s and don’ts to help you know what is needed to do the job right. This would make sure that your rental property will keep on attracting the quality tenants you wish to have.
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, have professionals in their team that say that the prep work you do before you start to paint is the most important part of the process. You’ll want to figure out what type of paint your rental currently has and how old it is. The idea behind 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; to illustrate, if 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 study which method is best for your particular 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. Get a little bit more than what seems to be all you need. There will be some touch-ups and you will need that extra paint. Or if you’re going to do more than one coat, make sure to have enough to paint the entire surface twice. A good quality exterior paint is also very important. Don’t use cheap paint since cheap paint will immediately start peeling or fading, and all the hard work you put in will be wasted.
DO seal all surfaces and caulk where necessary, and then apply a primer. The professionals at Five Star Painting recommend this step for exterior surfaces because the primer will help seal exterior walls, including any newly repaired spots. Another trait of primers is that it will give the paint something to adhere to.
DON’T rush through the job. There are times where we can’t wait to get the job done that we do things prematurely. But you shouldn’t apply a primer or paint to an exterior too soon after paint removal. Exterior surfaces need time to dry completely before moving on to the next step, or else you’ll be taking chances with the paint job, running the risk of it appearing blotchy and unprofessional.
DO repair all that needs fixing before repainting your rental property’s exterior. It may be as simple as power washing your siding, but you may also have to sand the entire outside of the house and wipe all surfaces down with a rag. Similar to painting an interior wall, you need to make sure your surface is clean and dry before any painting can begin.
DON’T let time and money be wasted by doing an exterior painting job without first getting the right knowledge and acquiring the skills. If you think you don’t have enough experience or time to perform the job well, try hiring professionals to do it for you. A botched exterior paint job will end up costing you more than if you paid someone to do it for you from the get-go.
DO use the services of Real Property Management One 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 excellent vendors in Livermore who can render high-quality exterior painting services at a sensible price. If you are interested in learning more or have additional questions, please contact us online or by phone at 925-495-4953 today.
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