Townhouse Living: Whose Responsibility is Exterior Painting Prep?

Find out whose responsibility it is to prepare the exterior of a townhouse for painting. Learn how your public offering statement will outline the extent of your maintenance responsibilities as the owner of a townhouse.

LESLIE: Now we’ve got Helen from California on the line. What can we help you with today?

HELEN: When I bought this place I didn’t know that I had to, you know, do prep work and stuff on the outside. My other townhouse I didn’t have to do that. But anyway, that is what is required and so now I have to, you know, see about the painters and on one of them …

LESLIE: Helen, are you supposed to get on a ladder and patch holes and fix caulking and sand things as well?

HELEN: No, I have to have somebody do whatever has to be done to get it ready for the painters which I think …

TOM: Uh-huh, and how many units altogether?

HELEN: Four-seventy-five and …

TOM: There’s obviously a lot of units. You need to dig out something called your public offering statement which is a document you would have gotten at the time of closing and it specifies who needs to do what. But the idea that the homeowners have to do the prep work for the painters is ridiculous. Thanks so much for calling us at 888-MONEY-PIT.