Painting the exterior or interior of your commercial building is a sure way to refresh its look, give your tenants a small but welcome change of environment and possibly dissuade them from finding something different. Painting is probably the least expensive renovation you can do that has the biggest return on your investment.
However easy and quick it may sound, the job may turn out to be more complicated and demanding than you initially anticipated, so to avoid any potential disasters, here are several tips to keep in mind when planning your property’s next painting project.
Invest wisely
For any property manager, painting is the most cost-effective form of maintenance as it revitalizes and spruces up the space for the least amount of money. A new coat of paint every four or five years goes a long way in boosting your tenants’ satisfaction and motivating them to stay for one more term. Home improvements and renovations done by landlords are the most common method of attracting tenants. First impressions are very important, and a paint job done well is crucial to your building’s appeal.
It’s recommendable to time this service within at least two years of renewals. Trends and colour styles constantly change, so it’s a smart move to have a designer consult and recommend the exact colour to emphasise the space. This is a costly move, but it will make all the difference in the quality of end results, and it’s this quality that is vital to the creation of long term landlord-tenant relationships.
Protect your property
While the contracting job is still in progress, one of the main concerns is not only protecting your property, but also ensuring the health and safety of both tenants and workers. All commercial paints in use nowadays are low- or no-VOC and meet LEED standards, so they are safe for indoor use while tenants are present.
However, there are still some products that have strong and repellent smells, but for the most part, their use is timed after hours or when no one is around. Therefore, as property manager, you need to make sure your contractor cooperates with your tenants to organise work professionally by taking into consideration the work environment itself and all safety issues that arise.
Choose the right contractor
Choosing a professional and reliable contractor is crucial for your project success. To ensure the satisfaction of all parties, you need a contractor who treats tenants as their own clients, so you as the property manager will not have to worry about activities at the job site.
Good contractors will offer extensive consultation, followed by a detailed site inspection and cost estimate. They will also fully cover workers’ compensation and carry liability insurance in case of an accident. In addition, they will make sure they stay within your budget and time frame limitations, and will also have a joint inspection of the property with the tenants to ensure everyone’s satisfaction with the results.
For instance, this Sydney-based commercial painting expert provides full, high-quality service that covers all aspects of the job, from fast quotes, painting the exterior, interior and touch-ups, spotless clean-up, even their own line of manufactured paints and a painting contractor that will oversee the entire process from beginning to a full finish, without disrupting yours or your tenants’ daily routine.
On your part, to ensure a successful painting job, clean the space thoroughly before the painters arrive, as dirt and debris can affect the quality of the job. An experienced contractor will cover all the other details, such as sanding and cleaning rough areas, filling in nail holes and smoothing stains and caulking cracks.
Be cost-effective
In order to get the painting job done without breaking the bank, consider getting a quote for the paint job and its time frame in the low season. Since the supply and demand dictate the prices, in this way, you can save up to 20%.
Finally, choosing the right line for products and conducting the proper preparation process for your painting project is vital to the longevity of the painted surfaces, especially on the exterior. This may be more expensive up-front, but it could save you from doing annual maintenance, which adds up over even a short period of time.
When it comes to painting your commercial property, there are ways to be cost-effective and still get the best end results both you and your tenants deserve. All it takes is the right contractor, the right choice of products and the right timing.
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