BiggerPockets

For mine I use Antique White flat with Semi-Gloss white on the trim for nicer rentals.

For lower end rentals I just a 1 color flat ceiling white.

We use Duron's "shell white" flat on the walls and ceilings since most of our rentals are low end. The nicer houses get ceiling white on the ceilings. We use "shell white" semi gloss on the woodwork. For exterior front door we use Essex Green. The front doors in our houses get beat up from bicycles.

Like Mike we use the same paint in all our houses. This way we can always touch up or 'share' materials among the houses and its never a memory problem for me.

Recently I have taken to leaving a small paint touch up kit and a gal of paint in all the rental houses, since the tenants are supposed to give the house back like they found it minus reasonable wear and tear. They have taken the hint and done some touch up prior to leaving the house - a big help to me.

Diane Menke

Another vote for Antique White. Very neutral, goes with anything, and absolutely glows with nice hardwood floors.

I even painted my primary residence with it.

On my own house I cut in with a nice bright white. On my low-income rentals I just use Antique White everywhere. Last time I painted a college rental I used two colors, but that was reallllly stupid and I won't do it again.

wait, you guys actually paint rentals????

joking, joking!

rich, i know brown bag. i used it in my old house. my wife liked the name (and that's how she chooses paint colors for the most part). we used brown bag as an accent wall with dapper tan on the others....

I just dont know what brand I should use to strike a balance between quality, longevity, and price. I guess I will check out consumer reports also,

The quality of the paint is not the problem in rentals, the problem is the tenants. So, I would strongly suggest just going with the cheapest paint you can find. That's why I use WalMart paint. It's cheap and I've never had a problem with the quality or longevity.

Mike

behr brand from home depo, flat and semi gloss. I had them make a custom formula to try to match the original paint in one of our apartments, and I've used that formula for all our units ever since.

I've heard that expensive brand names like Dunn are better paints. But I've not had any problem with behr. Also I don't want to pay premium price when some of our units turnover every 1 or 2 years!

Rich,

I really like the paint scheme - it's beautiful, but certainly too nice for my renters!

Mike

NOT! The only thing that would improve my low income tenants' care of the property are concrete walls, floor, and ceiling along with steel bars instead of doors! Oh, and a nice stainless steel commode and sink!

Mike

not get off topic but what primer do you guys use?