When guests arrive at a house, the first thing that they notice is the outside appearance of the house. They will notice if a yard is unkempt, or if a home looks like it is leaning. People even notice when a roof looks dirty.

The first thing that most guests notice is the paint job, though. They see the color, and they notice whether it is chipped and unsightly or looks like it was handled by the professionals.

This is why many homeowners take the exterior paint job on their home so seriously. Follow these tips to guarantee that a home looks picture perfect.

  1. Hire Professional Painters

Professional exterior painters are a hassle free way to guarantee that a home looks it’s best. Hiring exterior painters means that a homeowner can enjoy a professional look without having to lift a finger.

These men know the best colors to use, already have the tools for the job, and they are full of useful tips about how to keep a paint job looking new.

  1. Check Out the Company Before Hiring

One of the biggest mistakes that homeowners make is hiring the cheapest company in town. While this might save money at first, it doesn’t mean that it is a good idea. If they do a bad job, a homeowner may wind up spending more money to hire another company to fix the paint job.

They may also use cheap paint, or inexperienced professional that do not know how to properly paint the outside of a house.

Overall, it can lead to homeowners spending thousands of extra dollars to get a high-quality paint job.

Instead of dealing with that, check out the painting company before hiring them. Ask friends and family members for references, and ask the company if they have references that can be contacted.

  1. Pick a Neutral Color

Exterior painters may be full of advice, but color preference is so diverse among clients that this is usually left up to the clients. Most professional exterior painters will recommend going with a neutral color though.

Neutral colors are more socially acceptable, and they are easy on the eyes. This makes this an ideal choice for residential units, especially if the home is being rented out. Tenants will never balk at the thought of living in a home that is painted a bright color, and a nice shade of light brown will not show dirt as easily as a lighter color, like white.

  1. Don’t Forget the Trim and Doors

Most professional exterior painters will paint the trim when they paint the rest of the house, but the door may be something extra. Often, clients think that everything is included. This could mean that the entire house will look brand new, except for the door.

Before hiring a company, make sure to clarify that the trim and doors will be painted as well, and don’t forget to pick coordinating colors for both of them.

  1. Wash the Surface

It is a well-known fact that paint will not stick as well to a dirty surface. This is why professionals usually wash the walls before applying the first coat.

The thing is, not all paint companies wash the surface as well as they should. Some companies have their own powerwashers that they will use, and other companies simply rinse off the house real quick before they get started on the job.

To make sure that the new paint job lasts as long as it should, homeowners might want to give the house a good power wash before the painting crew arrives to get started on the job.

Painting the outside of a house can turn out beautiful or a disaster. Follow these tips to make sure it turns out beautiful.

Article originally published at Source by Josh Berner