Philadelphia property managers reason to use semi-gloss and how it can improve your rental properties profit.
Hi, there! Joe White here from Grow Property Management, your trusted property management company in Philadelphia.
I just got back from doing a move-out inspection at one of the properties my wife and I personally own. Every time I do one of these, it reminds me of a piece of advice I give constantly – but that often gets ignored by property owners. I always recommend using semi-gloss paint on trim, windowsills, and similar areas. It seems like a small detail, but it makes a massive difference, especially when tenants move out.
When we first bought this property, it was a shell. We renovated everything from top to bottom, including repainting with semi-gloss where it mattered. It’s more expensive upfront, sure – but it saves time, money, and frustration later. That extra bit of shine allows for much easier cleaning. When you bring in a housekeeper to prepare the unit for the next tenant, they can just wipe the trim down. There’s no need for repainting unless it’s actually damaged.
Here’s why this matters: trim collects all the gunk – oils from human skin, pet dander, hair, and everyday grime. If that surface is flat paint, it absorbs everything. You can’t just wipe it off. No matter how wet your rag is, flat paint doesn’t clean well. You’re left with stained, blotchy, even sticky surfaces that look terrible.
When landlords try to save money by using flat paint on trim or sills, they’re only deferring the cost. Eventually, someone’s going to have to repaint. And painting trim isn’t simple – cutting in along the top and bottom edges takes time and skill. Even if you’re repainting with the same flat color to avoid sharp lines, it’s still a labor-intensive job. And that labor adds up, whether you’re hiring someone or doing it yourself.
On the other hand, when you use semi-gloss paint, you can usually get away with just wiping it down between tenants. You don’t have to pay a painter or spend your own weekend taping and cutting and fussing. You preserve the quality of your renovation for far longer.
We recommend semi-gloss upgrades to all our property owners when tenants move out – but many of them don’t go for it. They either don’t understand the long-term benefit or they just want to minimize upfront expenses. I get that, but in this case, they’re wrong. The small additional cost now can save hundreds later, especially if the property changes tenants every couple of years.
In my experience, you can’t paint over the same gunk three times without the trim starting to look rough, wavy, or even needing full replacement. Semi-gloss gives you longevity, lower turnover costs, and a more presentable unit. It’s a simple change that goes a long way in rental property maintenance.
So yes, I push this advice hard – not because it’s theory, but because I see the proof every day in our own properties. As always, I’m just a humble Philadelphia property management company owner doing my best to share what works.
And as always, happy rental property investing.
