As a Phoenix rental property owner, you likely know a thing or two about keeping your investment’s appeal, especially when your property is vacant and needs attention. After all, the best way to get tenants interested in your rental property is to make a lasting first impression. And this happens the moment a prospective tenant pulls up to your rental.
However, there is more to a rental property than its exterior paint job, landscaping, and window sills.
A good interior paint job can do wonders for your rental property. And the best part is, painting the interior of your rental doesn’t have to cost an arm and leg. So, if you’re ready to paint the interior of your Phoenix rental, but can hardly call yourself a professional, keep reading. We’ve gathered all the best tips and tricks for painting your rental property’s interior and keeping the first impression tenants have when they walk up to your property.
Tips for Painting the Interior of Your Phoenix Rental Property
1. Choose the Right Color
One thing that all paint jobs have in common, whether it be an exterior or interior job, is the fact that you have to pick a paint color before painting.
Of course, when it comes to favorite colors, everyone has a different opinion that they are sure is the best. In fact, many people get very emotional and attached to certain colors. However, owning a rental property is a business and the rental should be viewed as part of that business. In other words, you have to keep your personal opinions about paint colors out of the equation when choosing an interior paint color.
Here are some of the best tips for choosing the right interior paint color for your Phoenix rental:
- Don’t Try to Be Bold and Daring. This is not the time to pick out the trendiest color circling the fashion, art, and designer world. Your tenants don’t want to look at a bold color scheme every day of their lives. Plus, the trendy color you pick today likely won’t be trendy next month. This includes colors like camouflage, bright neons, or patterns.
- Do Try to Pick Neutral Colors. Your tenants will move into your rental with all their personal belongings. You never know what their taste in furniture, colors, or style is. That’s why picking neutral colors like grey, beige, tan, and off-white is always going to be best.
In the end, the first step to success when it comes to painting the interior of your rental is selecting the right paint color.
2. Be Picky About the Paint
In addition to choosing the right paint color, you must be particular about the type of paint you use.
Landlords are always looking for ways to increase their annual profits. This means saving money is going to be a priority. However, when it comes to certain things like paint, going cheap never works. You’re going to want to invest in high-quality paint and lots of it so you can add several coats.
Check out the most common paint finishes so you can make an informed decision:
- Hi-Gloss Finish: ultra-brilliant sheen, hard, reflective, protects against moisture. Best used on high-use surfaces or common areas.
- Semi-Gloss Finish: highly durable, radiant sheen, easy to wash. Good for high-traffic areas around the property.
- Satin Finish: slightly glossy, not impervious to moisture, reveals texture such as brush strokes. Perfect for moderately trafficked areas and areas with some moisture.
- Flat or Matte Finish: low sheen, non-reflective, conceals cracks and patches. Great for low trafficked areas such as bedrooms and ceilings.
Lastly, remember that walls are tough to clean. And let’s be honest, most tenants don’t make an effort to scrub your property’s walls all the time. Not to mention, dirty walls just look bad. To prevent filthy-looking walls, use washable paint in a medium gloss. This type of paint reduces the light reflecting on it and hides dirt, grime, and other blemishes.
3. Make the Paint Affordable
While having high-quality paint is important for many reasons (e.g., it coats better, lasts longer, and looks better) the truth is paint can become expensive if you’re not careful. Not to mention, painting the interior of your rental is going to be a recurring task.
Remember that most paint jobs will require two solid coats, which means you’ll need a lot of paint depending on the room. So, if you want to avoid a mistake that may cost you big time, you must create a budget and do some research before diving into your paint job. This means you need to check out what type of paint you’ll need, price check it, and make sure the cost is worth it.
4. Have a Plan Before You Start
There’s nothing worse than whipping out your new paint supplies, brush and all, and starting the job without having a plan. Luckily, there are lots of things you can do to prepare for the task of painting the interior walls of your rental.
For starters, you’re going to want to mask off things like walls not being painted, floors, and baseboards/trim so they don’t accidentally get painted.
You will also want to:
- Remove all electrical outlet plates and light switch plates
- Take out all nails in the walls and have patches finished
- Scrub the walls with water and dishwashing liquid
- Remove the curtains or mask the blinds
If you allow smoking in your Phoenix, AZ rental property, you’re going to have additional steps in the painting process. The reason is, if you paint the walls without removing the areas with smoke residue, you’ll just trap it into the paint job. This makes for a bad job and a smell that won’t go away.
5. Choose the Same Paint for All Your Rentals
If you only have one Phoenix rental and that’s enough for you – kudos to you! You are one step closer to financial freedom than those without rental properties.
However, if you have decided to grow your portfolio like the 29.7% of property owners looking to do the same, this is a critical tip for painting your rentals’ interior walls.
Use the same paint color on all your rental property walls.
In other words, whether you have 2 or 50 rental properties, you’ll want to paint them all the same color every single time. Remember, you are not an interior designer looking to impress anyone. You are a landlord that needs their rental properties to look neutral and fresh. Plus, when you use the same color on all your walls, you never have to waste time color matching when there is damage, or the walls need a refresher.
6. Learn About and Use the Right Tools
There are so many different types of paint tools out there, it’s enough to overwhelm anyone. That’s why while planning for your paint color purchase, you should make a list of must-have painting tools to get the job done:
- Rollers for painting large, flat areas in a short amount of time
- Brushes for the trim or tight sections and lots of detail
- Sprayers for getting a big job done quickly (despite the price tag, it can be worth it)
- Painting sticks for reaching high sections
- A bench, step stool, or ladder for reaching near the ceiling
- Protective eyewear, especially if you’re painting the ceiling
Again, do some research while at the hardware store to make sure you buy the right kind of tools at the right price.
7. Know When to Paint the Ceiling
If your Phoenix rental has the type of ceiling that can be painted, it’s a good idea to paint the ceiling from time to time.
That said, the best time to paint your rental’s ceilings is when you change the flooring. Ceilings are difficult to paint without making a mess below. If you paint them when the floor is being replaced, however, it doesn’t matter. The result is less time spent preparing and cleaning up, as well as a brightened room with a fresh new coat of paint on the ceiling for tenants to enjoy.
Final Thoughts
Are you in need of a reliable Phoenix property management company you can trust? Then contact us today and see how we can help.
At Brewer & Stratton, we know the importance of keeping a rental property beautiful both inside and out. We also know that property owners are always on the lookout for ways to boost their bottom line and tenant satisfaction.
Our experienced property managers understand the housing market and how an interior paint job can affect your tenant pool, rent rate, and overall ROI. We also know what tenants look for when trying to find a home to lease. Let us share our knowledge with you and help maximize your property’s potential. And while we’re there, you might as well let us handle everything else like rent collection, maintenance and repairs, and property inspections. All you have to do is hand over the keys and enjoy your investment.
