Spring has sprung, and with it comes the peak season to sell a house. If you’re considering that option for your home, you will need to prepare it for the market. Among the assorted tasks for readying your house for market is having it painted.

Painting your house for the purpose of making it more attractive to home buyers is a good idea. Curb appeal is critical to the real estate market, so a freshly painted exterior will definitely help.

Choose Paint Colors that Sell

Painting strictly to attract home buyers requires more than just repainting with the same colors or ones that you like. Your intent is to use colors that will appeal to the general public. The tips below can help you choose the best shades of paint for that purpose.

  1. White or off-white siding is a great choice. It’s classic and timeless for any style house. White will pair well with complementary trim colors and a front door painted in a contrasting color that pops.
  2. Yellow reflects a sunny, bright façade. You instantly think “happy” when you approach a house painted in this cheery color. A word of caution, however: choose lighter shades to tone it down or else it can be a bit too bright.
  3. Shades of blue, ranging from pale for the siding and darker hues for the trim, are appropriate for any exterior. Blue creates a calm, tranquil look.
  4. Gray is the new beige, and rightfully so. It blends with most other colors and looks great in lighter or darker shades.
  5. Taupe, or “greige” is another neutral shade that works in almost every situation. It’s a classic neutral color that never goes out of style.
  6. Green can be a good choice as long as it’s the right shade. Go with a reserved color, leaning toward the grayish green to avoid having your house blend in with the lawn.
  7. Brown siding, especially in dark, earthy tones, works well for any home. Add contrasting, brighter shades of trim or shutters to brighten up the look.
  8. Red can be combined with white trim to create a clean, bright look for your house.

Interior Paint Colors

You’ll want to make sure the interior is also free of peeling and faded paint. Otherwise, it gives house shoppers the impression that you didn’t keep up with other maintenance either. You can’t go wrong by sticking with basic whites, beiges and greys indoors. There are some timeless shades you can use if you want to go outside the basics in certain rooms but do so carefully.

To Paint or Not to Paint

If you are selling your house, you may think that shelling out money to paint a house you won’t be living in long is a waste. However, the money you spend to spruce up your home will benefit you by reducing the time your house is on the market and increasing its value.

Here are some reasons to consider painting your house before putting it up for sale:

  • There are visible holes, peeling paint, scuffs, or stains on the surface.
  • The current colors are too bold, dark, or bright.
  • The color schemes are outdated.
  • You have walls that are wallpapered.
  • Odors from smoke or pets have permeated the walls.
  • It’s been over 7 years since your exterior was painted.
  • The exterior paint is faded or worn from weather exposure.
  • The siding or trim has been damaged, or mildew is visible.
  • Fresh paint makes nicer quality photos for the listing, which appears better in online listings.

Benefits of Painting Your House Before Selling

Besides the reasons noted above, there are intangible advantages that you’ll get from a fresh paint job. These will be beneficial in generating more interest in buyers. Individuals who are looking for a new home are usually not drawn to those that appear in disrepair, are cluttered, dirty, or very outdated.

A fresh paint job makes your house look cleaner and brighter. Besides being more visually appealing, fresh paint (especially the low- or no-VOC types) has a pleasant smell that conjures up a certain emotional reaction in buyers.

Unless they’re looking for a fixer-upper, home buyers don’t want to have to do a lot of work when they move in. Painting is just one more burden on them, in addition to the moving, unpacking, organizing, etc. They may pass on your house if it appears to need a new paint job.

Painting is worth the investment. Depending on the paint job and your local real estate market, you can expect a 50% to 500% return on your investment. It will greatly impress potential buyers if your house has a professional finish with sharp cut lines along ceilings and trim.

Call the Professional Painters to Help

If you need your house painted for any reason, contact the experts at ACP Painting. We will transform your dull and flaking paint into a bright and cheery home.