Here’s a tip that sounds like total common sense, but I guarantee you almost nobody actually does it — including my competition. Document the paint colors in your rental properties.
It takes about a minute. And future you is going to thank present you for it.
Why Landlords Skip This (And Why You Shouldn’t)
Every landlord and every property management company I know skips this step. Why? Because it’s a problem for three years from now, not today. When you’re painting a unit or turning it over, the last thing on your mind is writing down the exact color and finish for the next time.
But that next time always comes. A toilet ring goes bad. A roof leaks. A tenant damages a wall. And now you’re standing there trying to figure out what color that ceiling was, or what sheen the walls are, so you can touch it up without it looking like a completely different paint job.
The Real Cost of Not Knowing Your Paint Colors
Let me give you a real example. We just had a tenant move out of a property, and the place took a beating. The walls were grimy, dirty, and it needed a full repaint. The good news? The color was still contemporary, still desirable, and we already had it on file.
So we sent in our crew and told them exactly what to use. And here’s where the money comes in.
When a painter has to change a wall color, they have to cut in every single line — where the wall meets the ceiling, where it meets the floor, around every trim piece. That meticulous, careful, straight-line painting is where all the labor cost goes. Painting the middle of a wall is easy. Cutting a clean edge without getting paint on the ceiling or trim is what takes forever.
When you’re repainting with the same color, the painter doesn’t have to cut in perfectly. They can just roll the walls and get close to the edges. The cost drops substantially — we’re talking a fraction of what a full repaint with a new color would cost.
Touch-Ups Are Even More Important
The other big reason to document your colors is for small repairs. A water stain from a toilet leak, a patched hole from a picture hanger, a scuff that won’t clean off — these happen all the time in rental properties.
If you have the paint color documented (and hopefully some leftover paint in the basement), you come in, hit it with a stain blocker, and touch it up. Done. But if you try to color-match a random spot without knowing the original color, it’s going to look off. Every time. Even the best color-match at the paint store is going to be slightly different from what’s already on the wall.
How to Actually Document Your Paint Colors
This part is embarrassingly easy. That’s why there’s no excuse to skip it.
- Write down the property address along with each paint color used
- Include the brand, color name, color code, and finish (flat, eggshell, semi-gloss, etc.)
- Note which room or surface each color goes on — walls, ceilings, trim
- Store it somewhere searchable — Google Docs, a spreadsheet, whatever system you use. Use keywords like the property address and “paint color” so you can pull it up in seconds
If you want to go one step further, take a photo of the paint can label before you toss it. That gives you everything you need.
Small Habit, Big Payoff
This is one of those tiny operational things that separates a professional rental property operation from someone just winging it. It costs nothing. It takes a minute. And it saves you real money every single time you have to touch up a wall or repaint a unit.
The average landlord will skip it because there’s no immediate pain. The smart landlord writes it down because they know the pain is coming — it’s just a matter of when.
But what do I know? I’m just a humble Philadelphia property management company owner doing my best to answer your rental property questions. As always, happy rental property investing.
