Painting Your Dallas Rental Property

Dallas Property Management Blog

When a tenant moves out of your rental property, it’s important to get it ready to show it to potential renters as soon as you can. An important step in this process may be repainting. The necessity of this step depends on how long your previous tenants lived there and their lifestyles. This will cover any stains on the wall, and make the unit look and feel clean and bright. There are a few things to keep in mind when choosing your paint, however, such as the color, finish, and more. Here are a few tips to help you choose the best paint for your rental property.

1. Choose the Right Colors
The color of paint that you choose can make a major difference in your rental property. Just because a color looks great on a color wheel or even in your own home, it doesn’t mean that it will work for your rental property. Normally, you should avoid bright, bold colors. Colors like these don’t have mass appeal, and you have no way of knowing if the paint will match the new tenant’s taste or preference. It is usually best to go with neutral colors such as white, off-white, beige, tan, and grey. Many decorators suggest painting the trim a similar or the same color as the walls because it is easier on the eyes. If you don’t want to use all one color, go with a shade of white that isn’t overly bright for the trim.

2. Choose The Right Finish
When the new tenant moves their furniture into the unit, the walls can acquire scuff marks when coated with certain finishes. The same is true if the tenant has children or during normal wear and tear. When choosing the finish of the paint, try to avoid anything with a flat/matte finish. Matte finish paint tends to scuff easily, and it is difficult to clean. It is best to go with semi-gloss paint, especially for kitchens and bathrooms, because it cleans easier and scuffs can be easily wiped off.

3. Follow the Proper Process
After you have chosen your paint, it is time to get to work. It is important to understand that if the walls are going to look great, a process needs to be followed.

If the paint you have chosen doesn’t also have a primer, apply one first using a roller.
If you are painting the trim and the walls in different colors, paint the walls first, then the trim/baseboards. Wait for the walls to dry, then use painter’s tape to get a clean line between the walls and the trim.
For best results, apply a second coat.

Attracting quality renters to your property should be a high priority if you want to keep your vacancies to a minimum, and having a fresh, new paint job will help you do just that.

Need help maintaining or managing your Dallas rental property? Specialized Property Management Dallas has a tried-and-true method of screening tenants, as well as efficient teams that will take care of any maintenance, updates, or needed repairs. We also pride ourselves on our ability to keep vacancy rates as low as possible.