Interior painting - grey ceilings?!

[James C Frank]

I've got a 3/2 "C" row home in the Middle River area, Section 8 (it's been well maintained by the same tenant for the last 7 years- she just moved out because Section 8 worked and she was able to save enough to buy a home of her own!).  

Typical wear and tear, now the place needs the interior repainted ASAP to get it back on the market.  I've been getting quotes for antique white throughout.  The quotes are running high because there are a few colored rooms that will need additional coats.  

Management co is saying their guy can do it cheaper, but they're recommending grey throughout, including the ceilings (?!)...  Their argument (just like mine with the antique white) is that bypassing corner work will save time and lessen the expense- sure, but a grey ceiling??  Also saying that grey will clean up easier and use less coats to cover the old paint in some of the rooms.  

Am I being too picky here?

[Marcus Auerbach]

Depends on your standards. I have abandonned the "it's just a rental" mindset years ago and I see a clear difference in my portfolio - the "before" properties stand out, and not in the best way. Financially the difference is subtle at first, becasue you may not get higher rent, but you will get better tenants and it will generally rent faster. Better tenenat means less headaches and less cost at the next turn over.

If your mindset is "it's just a rental", don't be surprised if the tenant thinks the same way and treats it accordingly!

And after all, you are the owner of the asset (even though it's a C class) and anything you do will decide on the future value of your asset, tangables and intangebles. So I will say do it right, pick a nice color like SW Agreeable Grey, and paint the ceiling in a flat white like SW Snowbound White. It will make the rooms feel bigger and brighter for years to come.