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Painlessly painting your home’s exterior
Clean it up!
Use a low-pressure hose to rinse weather stains, muck, webs, or other dirt off your home’s exterior. Be sure to move outdoor furniture, vehicles or other décor out of the way first. This is especially important when you’re paying someone else to do the job — pay them to paint, not redecorate.
Fix it up!
You may need to finish some other stuff on the “honey-do” list before you get to painting, such as fixing small holes in the siding and caulking cracks where moisture tends to collect. Be mindful whether the issue is crucial to the pre-painting process or a distraction that can wait until later.
Scrape it up!
Tools required: 1) Paint scraper. 2) Sander. 3) Tenacity.
When your house was built before 1978, the paint may contain lead you need to check out. Go to www.epa.gov/lead for information on how to safely remove lead paint.
Prime it up!
Treat yourself: splurge and apply wood primer before the color topcoat — it makes your job easier and adds luster. Then the topcoat is far less likely to crack and peel as your home ages.
Talk it up!
When you plan to outsource your paint job, be sure you negotiate the details of the work with your contractor. Once you’ve reached an agreement about liabilities, delegations and pricing, make sure the contractor puts the details in writing.
Keep it simple!
Think two-tone, not Picasso (and definitely not Pollock!) Stick with colors and designs that won’t seem garish in a couple years.
Want to know more ways to prepare your home for a sale? Call me today for all your real estate questions.
