DO take the time you need to prepare all of the surfaces to be painted. At Five Star Painting, their experts advise that the first thing to do is to remove the switch and cover plates, then holes or cracks should be patched, sanded, and wiped down with a lint-free cloth. Allow plenty of time for this process, and even longer if you have large patched areas that need to dry.
DON’T be overly stingy and buy cheap paint and tools. Quality paint, brushes, and rollers will make the job easier, give you better coverage per coat, and can be reused for future jobs. Yes, it will cost more upfront, but if you are planning to own your rental long-term, you’ll be painting it many times.
DO start with the ceilings and by cutting in the walls and trim. This is very important to get the best possible result. When you’re cutting in, you’re doing the process of painting neat lines around doors, windows, ceilings, and trim. The Five Star Painting pros tell us that this part of the project can be time-consuming, but if you want your paint job to look good, it will really pay off.
DON’T postpone cleaning up any drips or spills until the end. Drop whatever you’re doing so you can clean it up with a clean, wet rag immediately. Wet paint isn’t really a problem to clean, you can wipe it right off, but dry paint may not come out of carpet or other materials.
DO make sure to tape off all windows, trim, floors, and anywhere else you don’t want to be painted. High-quality painter’s tape is the answer to get those nice crisp paint lines and to protect your surfaces from drips and errors. Additionally, be sure to cover any floors or furniture with clean drop cloths.
DON’T immediately replace the switch and cover plates, shelving, or anything else wall-mounted too soon. Paint needs time to dry sufficiently, so if there is a need to replace anything wall-mounted, don’t rush. Give it time to dry to prevent damaging the wall.
DO hire Real Property Management Landmark. Updating your rental property’s look by painting its interior takes time. And time is money in the real estate industry. So it would turn out to be a lot more cost-effective when you partner with a great property management company who will handle all the hard work and time-consuming tasks for you. We know some amazing vendors in Riverhead who offer quality painting services at fair prices, and we will manage the entire process– from start to finish– for you. If you are interested in learning more or have additional questions, please contact us online or by phone at 516-522-2859 today.