A fresh coat of paint on your Lexington Park rental property’s exterior can get you higher rents, higher property values, and better curb appeal. But don’t jump into your first exterior paint job yet! There are a few essential things that you need to know first. 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 who say that the prep work you do before you start to paint is the most essential part of the process. It would be necessary to determine what type of paint your rental currently has and how old it is. The explanation is that any paint dating from 1978 or before has lead and can make you sick if you start scraping away. Another consideration is the building material of the exterior; for example, if your home has asbestos siding, you may need a professional to do the job.
There are several ways to remove old and peeling paint, from scraping or power washing to chemicals to heat guns. Take the time to research the different methods available so you can choose the one best suited for your particular property. Then, buy the right tools to complete the job faster and easier.
DON’T forget to measure carefully to ensure you have enough paint to finish the job correctly. 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 essential. Please don’t use cheap paint since it will 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 also apply a primer. The experts at Five Star Painting recommend this step for exterior surfaces since the primer will help seal exterior walls, including newly repaired spots. In addition to that, it gives the paint something to adhere to.
DON’T rush through the job. Many people want to finish the paint job immediately, so they 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. Otherwise, you’ll take chances with the paint job, risking it appearing blotchy and unprofessional.
DO fix the exterior of your rental property before repainting it. It may be a simple job such as power washing your siding, but you may also need to sand the entire outside of the house– depending on the conditions and material of the exterior– and then wipe all surfaces down with a cloth. It’s much like painting an interior wall; you need a clean and dry surface before any painting can begin.
DON’T let time and money go to waste by neglecting to learn the necessary information and skills before starting an exterior painting job. If you don’t have the extra time or experience required to perform the job correctly, consider hiring professionals to do it for you. Fixing up a botched exterior paint job is more expensive than getting a professional to do it for you.
You can choose Real Property Management Gold 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 the best people in Lexington Park who can give quality exterior painting services at a reasonable price. Don’t hesitate to contact us online or ring us at 301-392-2172 to learn more about what we can do for you.
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