Some people seem very conservative and think the stuff with accelerate the decay of the wood, yet others swear that the coatings are the best way to go.Here's a message board post w/ replies from BobVila.com on the subject: http://www.bobvila.com/wwwboard/messages/202587.html

It has been customary in my area for many, many years for people to use Realtor contracts and cut off the bottom or top of the page where it says XYZ Board of Realtors, some just cross through it.I had a recent conversation with an attorney in Ft.

This book comes from my unique experience and dozens fo interviews I'v done with some of the most successful VALUE real estate investors on Wall Street and Main Street.My expertise in value investing and everthing involved with it...nothing elseCraig, I see you are new to our board here and perhaps your post is an effort to pitch for sales of your products/services.

We fully intend to repair the property, but the best option is to use the funds to pay off the note at this point and board up the main unit impacted.

I have one little 900 sf home built in 1940 that has a window unit but it's installed in the wall in the family room down near the base board fully trimmed and out of sight.

With rentals I wouldn't risk it as the HOA board can raise fees whenever they want basically which could kill your cash flow.

I would remove the railings, bench, decking and skirt boards assuming the structure is sound.

It also gives the installer a place to nail the boards down (inside the mated edges so there's no fasteners showing. 

mainly to have something to do if I find myself board on a rainy day in PDX which is pretty often... also I don't generally drive at night so I would only work mornings for a drive or two.. when I take Lyft in Vegas I talk to the drivers most really don't like the night or pick up or delivery from casino as the riders are half the time pretty wasted.I use it in Vegas to from our kids house and the airport.. so that's a pretty easy drive for the Lyft driver . as well as I live in the number one income area of our state so if I only take rides out of this area I should pick up some successful people and we can talk business if it gets to that..

Plus just boarding it up probably wouldn't look very good on a brick exterior.