Most Towson rental properties must have regular maintenance to remain in good condition. A portion of this maintenance includes painting the interior walls. It seems like a pretty simple task to roll or brush some paint on wherever needed. But an easy painting job can instantly become a nightmare if you are not properly prepared. Regardless of whether you are getting your rental home ready for a new tenant or giving your property’s walls a much-needed facelift, there are certain tricks the professionals use to ensure a better outcome. By applying these pro tips and tricks, you can build your next interior paint job to both look better and become easier to accomplish.
Prep the Right Way
As anyone with experience painting interior walls will tell you, preparing your surfaces before you start to paint is half the battle. Not only will you need to prep the walls to be painted, but also it is necessary to protect any adjacent surfaces, furniture, and light fixtures. To plan like a professional, start by removing all light switch and outlets plates, window coverings, and anything else on the walls. Afterward, utilize a tack cloth to clean your walls and trim. Tack cloth is a specific kind of cheesecloth designed to remove dust and debris from painted surfaces without water. After you’ve wiped down your surfaces, it is probably the best time to mask off adjacent surfaces using low-stick painter’s tape and masking film. When utilized correctly, you can easily cover windows, light fixtures, and floors. It would be best if you also used several larger drop cloths to cover furniture and to protect your floors from drips and spills.
Use Quality Materials and Paint
As the majority of Towson rental property owners, you’re most likely budget-conscious. However, wanting to cut costs by purchasing cheap materials and paint is not a good idea. To obtain a professional result, invest in good-quality brushes, rollers, and paint pans. You’ll also need to use quality paint. A cheap paint may seem like a deal, but chances are you’ll end up needing multiple coats to get the same coverage that a better-quality paint can achieve in one. Possibly you would end up buying more paint and spending more time painting your interior walls to get better quality than if you had originally purchased a higher quality paint.
Paint Like a Pro
When you are about to start painting, make sure that you have everything you’ll need on hand. Many pro painters will wear latex or nitrile gloves to keep their hands clean. You might want to cover your hair and clothes, as well. Paint rollers tend to splatter a bit, especially when painting ceilings. Begin with the edges of the room and work your way toward the center. It will help avoid roller marks. After this, if your paint job will take a couple of days, wrap your brushes and rollers in plastic overnight. Just don’t forget to make the wrapping airtight. That will prevent them from drying out and save you time cleaning them in between painting sessions.
Or Hire a Pro
Unquestionably, one of the ideal ways to get a professional result is to hire professionals to paint your rental property’s interiors. It can be a challenge to know who you can trust to do a good job, and simply picking a name off a list is not a good idea. A quality painter can be found by asking around, especially at your local paint or hardware store. Other great sources include local real estate professionals and the experts at Real Property Management Metro. Once you’ve got a shortlist of names, it is advisable to get at least three bids for the job. You may be pressed for time, but that doesn’t mean you need to pay over the market rate for quality work. Lastly, never pay the painter upfront. This is a huge red flag and may mean they are trying to scam you. If the painter you hired asks for payment in full before starting the job, find another painter.
Painting your rental property’s interiors does not have to be a dilemma. This is especially true if you know all the tips and tricks the professionals use to get beautiful results in no time.
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