When Should a Landlord Paint their Rental Property?

For landlords, there is always the decision to make about whether or not a fresh coat of paint needs to go when a tenant moves out or one is moving in. interior paint is a practical need in rental properties, along with an aesthetical boost so it’s important to keep the wall colors well-maintained.

The questions are, how often do landlords need to paint? Should they do it themselves or hire someone? What type of paint should be used for such a project that may have to be done often? Here is a look at all of these questions for landlords dealing with paint and their rental properties.

Should I paint myself?

Unless you are experienced in painting, it’s a good idea to hire a professional paint service. They can make it look professional in a short amount of time and it will be easier to have a paint crew that knows the correct ways to apply the paint.

You’ll have to decide on the right finish depending on how much coverage you need and durability over the years. Your options include:

• Saint for high-traffic areas including hallways and children’s bedrooms
• High gloss for easy to clean, durable paint that dries with a shiny finish perfect for cabinets and trim
• Semi-gloss for areas like kitchens and bathrooms that have moisture
• Eggshell for living rooms and offices that don’t get a lot of traffic
• Flat or matte for a rich and thickly coated room like adult bedrooms

How often do paint?

If the tenant moves out and you see rooms that really could use a retouch, then do so. Take a look around the property for damage and clean the walls of any smudges, dirt, scuffs and oils that may come off without repainting.

You can always paint only the high traffic rooms but consider if your property is in a hard-to-rent area in which new paint may be necessary to stand out. You’ll want a paint job that lasts 7-10 years but you should repaint if the walls look dated or damaged.

Keep these tips in mind when deciding how often to repaint your rental properties.