If you’re thinking about putting your house up for sale but it’s looking a little bit too ‘well-loved’, there are several ways to spruce it up. Tired, old homes can be given a makeover with a simple fresh coat of paint. This can not only make your property look more modern and appealing, but it can also potentially increase its property value. Both interior and exterior paint jobs can lead to great Returns On Investment (ROIs). A newly painted home will be worth more and it may also attract a higher number of buyers. So, should you paint your house before selling? Here are some painting tips to get you started.
Painting the Property’s Exterior
The importance of a good first impression on buyers cannot be emphasized enough. And the first impression that potential buyers have of your home is its exterior. It’s vital to make sure that the front of your home is as well-presented as possible. Badly maintained homes or those with a distasteful paint colours will be off-putting to buyers and may well cause them to offer a lower bid or simply look elsewhere. By painting the outer walls of your property, you can increase ‘curb appeal’ and make your home stand out from the neighbours’ houses. Neutral colours are generally recommended because they will appeal to a wider range of potential buyers. Although bold colours can be exciting, they may fall out of fashion or make your home stand out for all the wrong reasons. You can play around with colour by painting the trim a bolder shade, to make your property really pop.
Benefits of Painting the Interior
Making a good first impression with a tidy exterior is important, but the interior of your home should be given just as much attention. Peeling paint inside your home will signify to buyers that you haven’t taken good care of the property and that there may be other problems lurking below the surface. Wallpaper usually turns potential buyers off as well, because it often features busy patterns and makes the house seem outdated. We recommend choosing light, neutral colours for both the interior and the exterior of the home. This is because light colours can open up even a small space, making it appear brighter and larger. Neutral colours can also allow the buyer to visualise themselves living in your home. This helps to de-personalise the property and create a clean slate. We advise against painting entire rooms in bold colours, for the same reasons as above: they go out of fashion or tend to stand out for the wrong reasons.
Painting Tips
If you do decide that your property could benefit from a fresh coat of paint, be sure to take care of it before you take photos to advertise the property. For the cleanest, most efficient painting job, you may wish to hire a professional. They will have the equipment and experience to get the job done right. You could also decide to take on the painting yourself if you have the time and the inclination to do so – or even split the job half and half. For example, you could do the interior walls yourself to save money and then hire a professional to take care of the trickier areas such as the exterior and ceilings.
Before painting, you’ll want to smooth over any blemishes or cracks in the surface. Using putty or plaster will give you a good, clean finish. A quality primer can also provide you with a smooth area to work on. Although this may seem like a time-consuming step, primer can make a big difference in how professional and clean your finished walls appear. Primer allows you to apply a more even coat of paint, saving you time and money on additional coats.<
Be sure to use drop-sheets, and masking tape on all the areas where you don’t want the paint to get to. It’s a messy process and the last thing you want is to have to spend time cleaning up dried paint after you’ve finished.
If you decide that you don’t need to paint the whole house, the property might at least benefit from a few touch-ups in weathered areas. Outer regions such as the front door and window sills can take a beating from constant sun and moisture. Extensive sun exposure can cause the paint to blister or buckle in these areas.
Whether you prefer to paint the exterior, the interior, or both areas of your home, you’ll find that creating a fresh new look can be a worthwhile investment. The clean look of fresh, neutral paint can increase your property value and make your house more appealing to a wide range of buyers. A good paint job helps show buyers that you care about your property and that it will serve them well in the years to come. This can lead to a great ROI when you achieve a sale.
Painting before selling – what’s next?
A good place to start is talking to a real estate agent. They’re aware of current buyer trends in your area, and can help you pick colours and styles that buyers are looking for in the current market. You can compare real estate agents here.