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By now, you already have an idea of what is a fix-up plan and how to deal with contractors from Parts 1 & Part 2 of “How To Fix Up Properties For Maximum Curb Appeal And Resale Value“. So what’s next…..
Give The Property An Industrial Strength Cleaning
The first step in the property fix-up phase is to thoroughly clean the property’s exterior to include the roof and all walkways and parking areas. You can apply an industrial strength cleaning to any type of property by using a pressure washer with a minimum capacity of 3500 PSI at 3.5 GPM. Pressure washing will remove all dirt, grime, soot, oils, and other pollutants from all exterior surfaces. I recommend that you hire the services of a competent professional pressure washing service that uses state-of-the-art equipment and the proper chemicals. The main objective in having your property’s exterior thoroughly washed is to be able to see what is beneath the last five year’s worth of dirt, filth, and grime. It’s really amazing what a professional pressure washing can do to a property’s appearance. Plus, pressure washing eliminates a lot of labor-intensive work such as scraping paint. In most cases, the only things necessary prior to applying the finishing coat of exterior paint will be caulking and priming the surfaces. Lastly, a thorough pressure washing will expose any rotted wood and other building materials needing replacement.
Always Complete The Exterior Facelift First
Rule number one in the fix-up of any property is to always complete the exterior facelift first. This way, the property looks enticing from the curb and helps to lure potential buyers inside for a further look.
Don’t Scrimp On Paint
Don’t scrimp on the quality of paint or the cost of a quality paint job. An amateurish looking paint job done by an inexperienced painter with cheap paint, sticks out like a sore thumb, while a professional looking paint job will literally add thousands of dollars to a property’s resale value. Fact is, there’s no greater return on investment than the increased value brought by a top quality, professional looking exterior and interior paint job. I am constantly amazed at how a good quality paint job can drastically upgrade the appearance and resale value of any property.
Choose A Color Scheme That Enhances Your Property’s Curb Appeal
It’s extremely important that you choose an exterior paint color scheme that will enhance your property’s curb appeal. I use a three-color exterior paint scheme that my wife, Barbara, came up with in 1995. It incorporates three tropical colors that people generally associate with Florida. For example, I paint the body of the building one color, the fascia and exterior doors one color and the drip edge around the roof and window shutters one color. Go to paint related Web sites online or visit your local paint store for suggestions on the exterior color schemes that will best accentuate your property’s character and charm.
Select An Interior Color Scheme That Uses Neutral Colors
The interior walls and ceilings should be painted in light neutral colors, using quality interior flat latex paint. The interior trim and doors should be painted with latex semi-gloss enamel paint. For example, I use a two-color interior color scheme: flat white paint on walls and ceilings and antique white semi-gloss on trim and doors. Please keep in mind that a professional interior paint job using quality paint will enhance a rental unit’s appearance and increase the property’s resale value, while a shoddy paint job using cheap paint will detract from a rental unit’s appearance and do nothing to contribute to the property’s resale value!
Apply Textured Coatings To Rough Interior Wall And Ceiling Surfaces
You can avoid the cost of replacing interior walls and ceilings that have rough surfaces by applying a textured coating to them. A professional looking texture job will greatly enhance the appearance of your problem walls and ceilings. In most cases, the best and least expensive texture to use is premixed joint compound. Joint compound will bond to most wall and ceiling surfaces such as drywall, lath and plaster. And, pre-mixed joint compound is less expensive and easier to apply than conventional plaster mixes.
My Property Fix-Up Motto Is Clean, Repair Or Replace As Needed
Being a parsimonious Yankee from New Hampshire, my property fix-up motto has always been clean, repair or replace as needed. In other words, first try cleaning it, and if that doesn’t do the trick, try repairing, and if that doesn’t work, replace it with a pre-owned replacement from a reputable source. The following is a listing of items that must be cleaned, patched, repaired or replaced when fixing up a property:
- Walkways and parking areas. Clean, repair, patch and seal all walkways and parking areas as needed.
Diann’s is a sanctuary in the center of Super Bowl Village, which will be filled with throngs of fans. We’re offering limited tickets each day and a second story view to people watch.