A fresh coat of paint on your Waco 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. There are some important things that you must know before you begin painting. We’ve assembled a list of do’s and don’ts that can help you learn what you need to do the job correctly. This ensures that the quality tenants you want for your rental property would remain attracted to it.
DO take the time to remove the old paint from the rental property’s exterior. The professionals at Five Star Painting 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 to determine which method is advised for your property– considering all its characteristics– 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. Make sure to have extra paint for the touch-ups because, no matter how skilled you are, you will always need touch-ups. And if you’re planning to have more than one coat, have enough to be able 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 be sure to 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. Sometimes we do things too soon so we can finish the work immediately, to the detriment of quality. But you should not 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 put the paint job at risk, making it look blotchy and unprofessional.
DO make all the needed repairs to your rental property’s exterior before repainting it. It may be a task that’s as simple as power washing your siding. However, depending on the material and condition of the exterior, you may need to sand the entire outside of the house and wipe all surfaces with a cloth. Just the same as painting an interior wall, a clean and dry surface is required before any painting can begin.
DON’T waste both time and money by doing an exterior painting job without the correct knowledge and skills. If you don’t have a lot of time to spare or if you don’t have the experience needed to do the job correctly, think about 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 employ Real Property Management Talent 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 Waco who can render high-quality exterior painting services at a sensible price. If you want to know more about what we can do to serve you, don’t hesitate to contact us online or call us at 254-401-0400.
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