A fresh coat of paint can provide the solution to a discolored, worn, scraped exterior. Homeowners can even paint the exterior in a way that reflects their personal style and taste. However, if you own rental property, your goals will be different: more oriented toward garnering, and keeping, tenants.
At Halls Quality Painting, we understand the unique needs of rental property owners, and we’ve brought together a team of professional house painters who can fulfill those needs to the letter. You can depend on us for both exterior painting and room painting services in Fernandina Beach FL. Before you request a pre-project survey, though, let’s make sure you know what factors to consider when painting a rental home.
Choosing the Right Color for Your Rental
Have you ever heard of color forecasting? Color experts like to discuss what the color trends will be for a given year, basing their predictions on such things as social trends, fashions, and psychological studies. Usually, they will nominate multiple colors for their forecast, so taking them at their word won’t necessarily limit your paint options.
Whether or not you take these forecasts seriously, our professional house painters will help you hone in on one single color. First, it shouldn’t be too bold and bright. However, we wouldn’t recommend white or any light color that can easily display dirt. The best option is something neutral, especially brown, black, cream, and beige. Earth tones, which are any tones containing a brownish hue, tend to stay in style. With gray, neutral color though it is, it can be hard to avoid a cold look, but we won’t ever say it’s impossible to pull off.
Choosing the Right Finish
The finish, or sheen, is a measurement of how much light the paint reflects. The more light that reflects off it, the more gloss it’s said to have. How much of a gloss should the exterior have? First, let’s lay out the common types of finish:
• Flat finish
• Satin finish
• Gloss finish
Each is appropriate for a different part of your home’s exterior. The flat, or matte, finish reflects the least amount of light but rather absorbs it; though not the most durable paint, it does hide the most imperfections. Choose this, then, if the structure is already full of holes and bumps. In any case, most exterior walls are painted with a flat finish.
The satin finish strikes a good balance between dull and shiny and, if applied to the trim, can contrast well with the flat finish of the walls. The gloss finish you normally find on front doors and frames. Applied to the walls, it would make the home shine too much and appear garish. Another thing to remember is that the higher the gloss, the more easily imperfections will show.
Outside of these three categories, there are different degrees of glossiness that we could tell you more about. Take the eggshell finish, for example. True to its name, its texture and finish both resemble an eggshell. You could situate its glossiness between that of the flat finish and the satin finish.
Should I Paint the Interior of my Rental Home?
Room painting services being among our specialties at Halls Quality Painting, we think that rental property owners should consider this step as well. Go mainly with neutral colors; tenants won’t appreciate colors that clash with their furniture. Darker neutrals, by creating a cozier interior, can suit the dining room while lighter neutrals would work for the living room. Our professional house painters will likely suggest that you avoid white walls because the barren appearance could repulse potential tenants.
Choosing a finish for your interior doesn’t need to be a hassle. Our experts will keep in mind how much traffic a room will see. Typically, low-traffic areas, such as bedrooms and ceilings, would call for a flat finish whereas high-traffic areas, including the kitchen and living room, may benefit from a satin finish. In between would be areas like the bathroom, which could do well enough with an eggshell finish.
Weighing the Cost
Since you’re a rental property owner, maintenance costs are likely uppermost in your mind. Remember: the glossier the paint, the more durable and low maintenance but, at the same time, the more expensive. You’ll probably want to put more attention on those areas that first draw the eyes of prospective tenants: namely, the kitchen and bathroom. Though house painting has its share of complexities, you won’t need to ask yourself, “Are there any painters in my area who can help me sort through them?” Halls Quality Painting can serve anyone in Fernandina Beach FL. Our painters are fully licensed and insured and boast years of experience. Call today for an appointment.