Making your rental property look appealing may enable you to rent it out faster. It may also help you rent it out for a higher price, says EvolveDenver.com. But how do you make your property look desirable to prospective tenants?
While there are many things you could do to enhance your property’s appearance, giving it a fresh coat of paint can make all the difference. It can turn a dull, lackluster room into a soothing or robust environment and dramatically improve its curb appeal.
That said, choosing the right color is key when it comes to painting. You should choose a color that appeals to the largest population of renters. Unfortunately, this is one area that many landlords, especially those less experienced, fail to execute properly.
So, in today’s blog, we’ll share with you 5 tips for choosing the best paint for your rental property.
Tip #1: Avoid Colors That Are Bold And Daring.
There’s nothing wrong with painting bold and daring colors so long as it’s your own home. But when it comes to the rental business, you want to avoid these bold colors like the plague.
Bright paint colors are a turn-off for many tenants. They are very taste-specific and may not go over well with some of your prospective tenants’ personal decor styles. In other words, people tend to either love them or hate them, and this is a chance you won’t want to take as a landlord.
The same is true for statement colors like vibrant blues, rich browns, and bright yellows.
Tip #2: Choose Neutral Colors.
Neutral colors are easier to decorate around and less distracting than brighter or louder colors. For this reason, they usually appeal to a wider pool of potential renters. Examples of neutral colors include white, gray, ivory, taupe, and beige.
While these colors are generally a safe bet for a rental property, they still need to be used correctly. Stark-white walls can turn off tenants who wish for something interesting and may require more frequent cleaning. Also, there may be no contrast for wall hangings, which may not look good for your rental ad.
Real estate experts usually recommend creams, tans, and grays for income properties. It’s typically better to opt for lighter colors for the most part and slightly darker ones for areas like the bathroom and dining room.
You can also use dark neutrals like black, navy blue, and charcoal gray on accent walls to make a statement. These generally work best in rooms other than the main living areas.
Tip #3: Use High-Quality Paint.
Of course, you want the most bang for your buck. By buying high-quality paint, you’ll not only help reduce maintenance costs but also achieve far better, more lasting results.
A painting expert can give valuable professional recommendations on a variety of quality paint options depending on your needs, budget, and the location of your project.
Tip #4: Use Washable Paint At A Medium Gloss.
Here’s one more reason to avoid stark white walls, both on the exterior and interior. They simply do a bad job at hiding dirt. When you have tenants with children or pets, this can add to your maintenance costs.
Because lighter shades tend to show every speck of dirt, they’re more likely to need regular repainting to hide blemishes. As such, focus on shades that do a better job of hiding dirt.
Washable paint helps make these blemishes less visible and is relatively easy to clean when it gets dirty.
Tip #5: Hire Professional Services.
Regardless of your experience level, it’s always a good idea to consider hiring a professional painting service for several reasons.
A good painter can offer expert guidance and save you time as well as the hassle of prepping your space and cleaning up afterward, not to mention the high-quality finish.
Nevertheless, you don’t want to leave your rental property in the hands of just anyone with a paintbrush and a white van.
A painting project is an investment, so you should make a point of doing your research. Qualify each prospect in terms of experience, licensing and insurance, costs, and guarantees and warranties.
Part of being a good landlord is keeping your property in good shape. This may mean refreshing the look every once in a while. Getting the process right from the beginning can help you avoid many of the common mistakes novice landlords usually make.
With a little bit of luck, this article will help you get everything right the first time.
Feel free to contact us at 866-528-8938 or drop us an email at adam@robinsonpaintingllc.com.
Featured image: iStock Photo License.
Credit: Tgordievskaya.
“FILED UNDER:” PAINTING COLORS
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