Everything New is New Again

Get Your Property Ready for Spring

It's almost that time. People are starting to think about spring and that means that soon they'll be moving in, moving out, and moving around outside. For property managers, that can mean gearing up for a lot of beautification work: fixing old issues, landscaping, and putting on a fresh coat of paint.

Get ready for spring: we've got a new Dunn-Edwards product you can use to refresh and renew your property, plus a special pro tip to help you attract quality renters.

New! EZ-PRIME® Select Exterior Wood Primer

The newest product in the Dunn-Edwards line, EZ-PRIME Select has arrived just in time for spring outdoor maintenance projects. EZ-PRIME is an exterior acrylic primer that provides very good enamel holdout and tannin stain resistance on woods such as redwood and cedar, which are subject to stain bleeding. It is also recommended on exterior plywood and T1-11 siding.

Since the best time to stain a deck, porch, or balcony is either the spring or the fall, and since exterior paint jobs are best performed in 50-85° weather, this is the perfect time to start planning for those types of projects now. Here are some key stats to help your team prepare for using EZ-PRIME Select:

• Recommended Brush: Polyester/Nylon
• Roller: A standard 3/8” to 3/4” nap Pro White roller cover depending on the substrate
• Spray: 2000-2500 psi and 0.015 to 0.019 spray tip
• Practical Coverage: 250-300 sq.ft. per gallon
• Dry Time @77°F/25°C
• Dry to Touch: 30-60 min
• Recoat: 2-4 hours

Until now, most painters used a multi-surface primer on exterior wood. But none of those are specifically formulated to resist tannin stains. EZ-Prime Select was specifically developed to make all of the exterior wood around your property look better longer. Try it out this spring and see the difference it can make. Learn more about EZ-PRIME Select

New! 2021 Color of the Year: Wild Blue Yonder

While Wild Blue Yonder (DE5855) isn't a new color, it is bringing a new sense of energy and optimism to homes and buildings everywhere. This light, airy, soothing tone complements nearly any design style, and it can be used with interior and exterior paints.

If you normally repaint your property in white or other neutral colors, consider switching it up with this breath of fresh air. Wild Blue Yonder pairs beautifully with Swiss Coffee (DEW341) and Natural Tan (DE5212). It would look great in a kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, or even as the primary color on the exterior of a building. It is also a standout choice for a front door color on properties with darker siding.

Spring is a time of optimism, and this color fits it well. Wild Blue Yonder lifts us up and reminds us that brighter days are ahead.

Learn more about Wild Blue Yonder and the other factors that can help you choose a paint color for your property.

Pro tip: Attract higher quality tenants with this little trick.

We all know that things like location, square footage, and special amenities (pools or fitness centers) are some of the main factors that play into property value and rental appeal. But as a manager of an existing property, there's not much you can do about those. That doesn't mean you can't attract top quality tenants in other ways.

Behold the kitchen trick: according to realtor.com, the kitchen is the most important room in the home. Listings with luxury kitchens sell faster and command higher prices than homes with the same square footage in comparable neighborhoods. Does that mean you should dump a lot of money into custom cabinetry and chef's appliances for your rentals? Of course not! But you can borrow some of the elements that make kitchens so appealing to home buyers and use them to make your property irresistible to high quality renters. When it comes to kitchens, even a small investment can make a big difference.

Here are a few inexpensive ways to turn a boring, rental-grade kitchen into a kitchen that will have your prospective tenants lining up to sign your lease:

• Faucet upgrade: Ditch the bottom-shelf fixture option for a slightly higher priced gooseneck faucet. It will stand out to discerning prospective tenants and provide more sink room. This is especially important if a unit does not come with a dishwasher or if it has limited counter space.
• Cabinet facelift: Instead of spending thousands to remove and replace all of a kitchen's cabinets, simply swap out the doors for new ones. Better yet, keep your existing doors and paint them! A set of tired old oak cabinets can look like a high-end install when painted in a nice clean white, or better yet go for the hottest kitchen design trend and paint them blue (naturally, we recommend Wild Blue Yonder). Finish them off with new handles and drawer pulls to match the upgraded faucet and you'll be amazed at the result.
• Counter cultural: Are your property's countertops bringing it down? Granite and quartz can be expensive, and color and style preferences frequently change. Don't spend a ton on an element that will date your property in just a few years. Wood is timeless, easy to maintain, and as it turns out, it's much less expensive than most countertop options. Butcher block counters will make renters drool, and they'll keep your expense sheet in a happy place.

Coming Soon: The Spring Rental Rush

We hope these products and tips help you prepare for the upcoming busy season. With a little product knowledge and some easy upgrades, you're sure to have one of the most successful rental seasons of the year.