A fresh coat of paint on your Adams Morgan 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 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. The experts at Five Star Painting say that the prep work you do before you start to paint is the most important part of the process. It’ll be a requirement that you figure out what type of paint your rental currently has and how old it is. The reason 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; for example, 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. Plan to have extra paint because touch-ups, without a doubt, will be needed. If you’re going for more than one coat, then plan to have enough paint to cover 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. 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, or you’ll put the paint job at risk, making it look blotchy and unprofessional.
DO make all the necessary repairs to the exterior of your rental property before repainting. It may be something like power washing your siding, but depending on the situation, you may have to sand the entire outside of the house and wipe all surfaces down 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 precious time and money by rushing to do an exterior painting job without first acquiring the relevant knowledge and learning 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 employ Real Property Management DC Metro 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 top-quality businesses in Adams Morgan who offer quality exterior painting services at a good price. If you are interested in learning more or have additional questions, please contact us online or by phone at 202-269-0303
today.
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