Jason Bernabei, TriCastle Realty, Mortgage, & Home Improvement, The Realty Insiders
“Painting your Home’s Exterior”
DEL MAR: February 18, 2019 – Goooooooooddd Monday morning Sannn Dieegooo!!! Last week I discussed ways that you could get your home buyer-ready (to sell) for relatively small dollars. Today, I offer more of the same, as promised, by informing how to paint your home’s exterior.
Few things at small dollars improve a home’s curb appeal more than a fresh coat of exterior paint. Many homeowners are intimidated by the thought of painting their home’s exterior themselves, and choose to hire a third-party to handle the work. But, you can do it yourself and SAVE MONEY, with these easy steps. First, before starting, you’ll want to inspect your home’s exterior walls closely. Examine all walls, look under the eaves, and pay particular attention to doorframes and windows, places that aren’t easily visible, but that will be checked out in all likelihood by a prospective buyer, and/or their inspector. Be on the lookout for peeling paint, mildew and rough surfaces and make a note of where they are.
Next, you’ll need to ascertain the tools you’ll need to do the job, and do it well. Go to Ace Hardware or Home Depot, or your favorite hardware store, and get the following: a power washer, a 2-3” inch putty knife, a wire brush, a sander, Chlorine bleach, and an electric sander(which you can rent for a day or two).
Then, in order to create a clean surface on which to paint, power-wash the walls with plain water. Detergents can be problematic depending on the kind of exterior, and may not work as well as plain water.
Follow-up your wash with the putty knife and wire brush to remove the remaining paint. Take care to note where paint has peeled, blistered or wrinkled. Avoid gouging the surface by holding the putty knife perpendicular to the wall, and by using moderate force.
Last, sand your home’s exterior smooth by using an electric sander. While there are more inexpensive methods, you ought be able to rent this equipment for a weekend for under $60, and it will get the job done and save time.
If during the cleaning process, you find mildew, you ought remove it. A simple mix of chlorine bleach ought take care of it easily. Don’t make the mistake of trying to paint over mildew, as it will show through the new coats of paint. Get rid of it from the start.
Spring is fast coming to the winter-lands of the U.S., but here in sunny San Diego, there is no time like the presence, and for these small dollars, there are simply no excuses not to get this done before you look to sell, and thus reap higher profits upon selling.
If you are looking to buy, sell, qualify for a purchase mortgage loan, or refinance an existing mortgage loan, please contact me, Jason Bernabei, of TriCastle Realty & Mortgage, and myself and my fabulous team of industry professionals will be happy to help! J
Jay’s Outlook: sunny
Jason Bernabei, TriCastle Realty & Mortgage, The Realty Insiders
