Painting Tips For Rental Properties: Balancing Durability And Aesthetics

Aug 23, 2024

Selecting the Best Paint Finish for a Rental Property

Higher Gloss paint finishes are anything but subtle for a rental property and may be a deterrent for potential tenants. High gloss paints are typically used for rooms and areas of a rental property that are highly trafficked and get a lot of use. The reason is that a higher gloss paint is more durable and moisture resistant. If landlords use higher gloss paint it’s likely to be in a kitchen, bathroom, or other space that requires frequent cleaning.

Flatter paint finish options have some benefits, but are not without their own downsides. In a high traffic space the paint is likely to get dirty quickly and more frequently, and because these flat paints aren’t as easy to clean it can be frustrating. By the time a new lease starts your rental property may already look dingy and old because of the wear and tear of the walls, which means you may end up painting more frequently than necessary. Flatter paints are typically used in bedrooms or areas of the property that aren’t as heavily used. Landlords should avoid using matte paints in bathrooms, kitchens, or any other space that sees heavy use and needs to be cleaned regularly.

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Our Paint Finish Recommendation

Tenants care more and more about the visual aesthetic of the interior of their rental properties. Finding a paint finish that benefits the property management while balancing the property’s aesthetic is key. Generally speaking paint finishes that are in the mid-range between gloss and matte are the most recommended. Professional painters will know that these paints have the durability to stand up in rental properties, they are easy to clean, and still add to the interior aesthetics. Depending on the space you’re painting Eggshell, Satin, and Semi-Gloss are the clear winners for rental properties, with satin being the most popular and balanced option. Satin is a great mid-range paint that landlords can count on making maintaining the property easier without impacting the interior design of their properties.

Color Selection for Your Rental Properties

Choosing an off-white paint color is one of the most common options for a few reasons. Lighter paint colors make most spaces feel larger, and are more open and inviting. Tenants often prefer a lighter, simple color so that it won’t clash with their decor.

Off-white colors like light gray, beige, and tan will be more appealing to more potential tenants. Brighter and bolder colors can be off putting for tenants.  Sticking with a simple color palette makes it easier for landlords to keep track of each rental property they own and upkeep. Painting each unit again will also be easier if you’re painting the same color each time and will save you time, money, and paint!

Balance Quality and Your Investment

Painting a rental property every few years can be expensive, however choosing a low-quality paint option can sometimes cost more money in the long-term. When painting rental properties a landlord should be aware that painting requires multiple coats, and sometimes a cheap paint requires more coats than a better quality paint. Quality paint will be more durable than a cheap paint, even on finishes that tend to show mistakes and damage to the wall more easily. Buying a mid-range paint is a good strategy to maintain the property’s visual appeal without overreaching on your investment. Balance quality and price point by choosing a paint that is durable, but still economical.

Painting the Property’s Ceiling

Another one of our painting tips is to have the ceiling painted at the same time as the walls of the rental property. Ceilings can be easily forgotten about since they don’t see nearly as much wear and tear as the walls, especially in high traffic areas in the property. Painting the ceilings while also painting the walls will save you time and money and will keep your property looking fresh. Old paint can sometimes begin to look dingy and faded after several years, so in order to keep the property looking fresh be sure to update the ceiling paint within a reasonable timeframe. When hiring professional painters they should be able to handle this additional work rather quickly since they’re already at the property and will already have their equipment and have already prepared the rooms to be painted.

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Painting Tips: Keep It Simple!

One of the biggest painting tips is to keep the process simple! This is especially important when landlords have multiple properties. Choosing simple, commonly liked paint colors means tenants shouldnt have an issue with whatever existing paint is on the walls. By choosing a simple paint color for all of your properties you can simply buy one paint. Having many paint colors means having to create a storage space to keep all of the unused paint in. There is also more potential for waste when working with many paint colors across multiple properties, especially if the paint does not have a proper space to be stored in. Neutral colors are also key to keeping the process simple.

Hiring Professional Painters

Professional painters are able to work quickly, and get the job done well. We offer professional painting services, often with a warranty to ensure quality control. Our team of painters is able to complete any painting job on time and without issues like paint splatter, ruined hardwood floors, or drip marks. Don’t stress about painting your rental property by yourself when a team of painters can have it done in a fraction of the time. Call today to speak with our team about your current painting project and what solutions we can provide!

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Prim Painting Quality Assurance

We believe in providing the best experience for our customers and believe in standing behind our work. This means we approach every painting job with respect and professionalism. Every worksite is left perfectly clean and with no materials or waste left behind. We utilize professional quality paints to maintain quality control. We guarantee our work with a 5 year warranty so ensure our clients remain happy long after the job is completed. Hiring Prim Painting will result in an excellent experience and we hope to build a long-term working relationship with you to continue bringing you great results.