Yes! As one of those contractors whose business is built on the property owners maintenance requirements it seems appropriate to provide a few helpful hints or suggestions to those responsible parties whose job it is to get a good job done but with a keen eye on the budget.

Actually the budget will be much less worrisome if a “keen eye” is kept on the condition of all the surfaces that do require paint or treatment every few years. Naturally, weather conditions will play an important role and they vary widely in Southern California.

The San Fernando and San Gabriel valleys experience a greater “chalking” and “flaking” condition than the beach areas. The beach areas, on the contrary, are often affected by excess moisture due to fog.

All that we’re saying is that it is advisable to know what the weather in any area will do to your property. We have noted that stucco should be painted in regular intervals before the surface begin to “chalk”. When that happens, unfortunately it would require a sealer over the entire surface before a finish coat could properly be applied. Naturally, no owner is delighted to learn that the paint job is going to be more expensive when a sealer is required in order for the contractor to guarantee his job against premature peeling and flaking. All

door and window frames should be inspected routinely because too frequently these are the areas affected by dry rot and termites.

Certainly if a building is maintained in a clean and attractive condition the owner avoids excessive cost for painting and general repairs but also gains the advantage of having

an attractive building which invites prospective tenants and keeps current tenants happier. No one has to tell an owner that a full house is usually not bad in poker and certainly helps the bottom line or budget postion in the area of property management.

So, we at City Wide Maintenance suggest:

a) Potential buyers of a property include a professional evaluation of the building surfaces along with the routine inspections of roof, plumbing, electrical, etc.

b) When painting is necessary be sure to utilize quality paints and licensed professional painters. Make good color choices that have excellent eye appeal so your property will stand

out in the immediate locale.