When repainting a rental home, two of the outcomes you want are a rental property that is attractive to would-be tenants and paintwork that does not need to be redone frequently. How you go about choosing the paint you use in the rental determines if you meet these two objectives or not. Painting a rental property is somewhat different from painting the home you live in. When painting your home, you only think of what your family loves and the main goal is to make the home as pleasant as possible. Any colors or designs that help you achieve your goals are permitted. But when painting a rental property, although you want to make the home attractive, you first have to ask who determines what is attractive and what is not. Are you going to paint the home from the perspective of what is attractive to you or what is attractive to your potential tenant? In addition to wanting to make the rental look appealing, you have to think of the utility of the paint you use. Will the colors you choose for the home allow renters to easily add their own décor? Will the paint finish you choose be resilient enough to withstand abuse from your tenants? Paint selection for a rental property must be an intentional process. The wrong kind of paint will cost you by keeping away tenants away from the rental. To avoid wasting time and money on the wrong paint, here are the steps to follow when choosing paint colors for your rental property. 4 Tips for painting your rental property Tip #1: Use neutral colors The main difficulty when choosing colors is deciding which colors prospective renters will like. It is hard to tell the colors your future tenants would like because you don’t know who that tenant will be and the tenants in a rental are always changing. The way to solve this problem is by using neutral colors. Neutral colors have widespread appeal; most tenants are going to like it. They also won’t clash with the tenants’ décor and furnishing. Moreover, neutral colors create the illusion of spaciousness. Examples of neutral colors are gray, taupe, and beige. You may also use colors like navy blue and charcoal gray in small measures. Tip #2: Avoid using bold and bright colors You might be tempted to try and make a statement with the colors you choose; resist that temptation. It is all right to use statement colors in your home but following the popular color trends when painting a rental will create problems for you. Bold colors are very taste-specific; some tenants will adore it; others will detest it. Using such colors shrinks the pool of potential tenants who will want to rent the home. Examples of bold colors to avoid are: pink, yellows, rich browns, and vibrant blues Tip #3: Use paint that doesn’t show dirt This should not be taken to mean painting the rental in dark dull colors such as mud brown and grimy gray to help you hide dirt marks on the walls. Instead, this means you should avoid very light shades of color that reveal every stain. It could also mean using textured finishes; a textured finish in high-traffic areas will help hide fingerprints and splatters. The best technique for hiding dirt, though, is to use a medium gloss paint that is washable. A high-gloss finish, though washable, will create reflective surfaces that many people find unattractive. Tip #4: Use good-quality paint The difference in the prices of low-quality paint and high-quality paint is negligible, but the difference in outcomes is massive. Low-quality paint is more likely to fail because it will not adhere as well as high-quality paint. It will also fade faster since it cannot withstand the impact of the elements. When you use low-quality paint, you will have to repaint the rental sooner than you may want to. But, this does not mean you should go out and buy the most expensive paint in the market. It does mean you should not choose paint solely because of how much it costs. Paint finish and where to use each one The paint finish you use matters as much as the colors you choose. You have five types of finishing to choose from and each one serves a different purpose. • Flat or matte finish: A low-sheen finish that is great for hiding surface flaws, but it cannot be washed. It is best for low-traffic areas. • Eggshell finish: A non-glossy finish that withstands cleaning better than a flat finish, but tends to show surface flaws. It is best for moderate-traffic areas. • Satin finish: A slightly shiny finish that is easy to maintain, but it reveals brush strokes. It works well in areas with low moisture exposure. • Semi-gloss finish: Creates a radiant finish that is highly durable and easy to wash. It is perfect for areas with moderate-to-high traffic and high moisture exposure. • Hi-gloss finish: Creates an ultra-shiny surface with an oily appearance. It is the most durable and easiest to clean finish; suitable for high-use surfaces.