Selling your home can be a serious business. Most of the time, sellers are expecting to receive what they think is the right price but is actually an above-market price for their homes. They are usually overwhelmed with house projects (within a limited budget), especially when the potential buyers only spend a few minutes looking into their homes.
One way of increasing the value of your house without costing you too much is to paint it before selling. You should consider painting the walls and ceiling to improve the overall appearance of your home. If you’re up for the challenge, you can paint it yourself, but that would be a waste of time and energy, especially if you’re on a deadline.
Your best choice is to hire professional painters!
But why should you consider investing time and money in painting the house if you’re going to sell it anyway?
Reasons Why Should You Paint Your House Before Selling
It Increases the Value of Your Home
Painting your home can be a perfect idea, especially if your goal is to attract more buyers. A buyer’s perspective can change once they see the actual look of your home. Usually, people would want to purchase a house that is in great condition and only requires minimum repairs.
If they see that your interior has ripped wallpaper, chipped paint, and discoloured walls, they can ask for a lower value for your home. Worse, these can dissuade them from committing to a sale.
It’s Easier to Take Good Interior Home Photos
One of the ways that you can increase your chances of getting potential buyers is to take better real estate photos, starting from the interior.
This is very important because most people who begin the online buying process must be impressed with how your home looks on the inside, not just on the outside. And you can achieve this by taking pictures of your home seriously.
Without the new paint job, your home would look old and less captivating. Painting your walls and ceilings will also make them look cleaner and brighter.
Here are some facts when painting your home:
- When you paint your home, you make the marketing process faster.
- Homes that have more photos online would spend less time in the market.
- Homes with high-quality photos sell 32 percent faster than those without photos.
- Interior home photos help sell a house on an average of $3,000 to $11,000 and even more.
It Creates a Good First Impression
The first thing you need to think about is what your potential buyers would think the first time they see your home. When they scroll the photos online or tour around your home, your main goal should be to impress them. As many real estate professionals say, you need to create a good environment where buyers can imagine themselves living there.
Highlights Architectural Features
A new paint job can attractively highlight your home’s details and architectural features. Different types, colours, and sheens of paint can emphasize unique aspects, making your house stand out from the rest on the market.
Neutralizes and Modernizes the Space
Tastes and preferences differ. Painting the interiors of your house with trending, neutral colours help to create a clean and modern palette, allowing potential buyers to visualize their belongings in the space better. It also helps them see the home as a “blank canvas” to project their preferences and lifestyle.
Covers Up Stains, Marks, and Odours
Time inflicts marks on every home, including stains, marks, and patches. Besides, certain odours get trapped in old paint. A new paint job effectively covers these and gives your house a fresh, clean look and feel. It significantly improves the overall ambiance of your home, creating a positive effect on viewers.
Faster Sale
With all the benefits mentioned above, it’s not a surprise that houses that have been freshly painted generally sell quicker than those with outdated or worn-out paint jobs. The more attractive your home is, the more potential buyers it lures, providing you with a swifter sale.
With this in mind, painting your home is the best choice you can make to boost the overall appearance of your home and, thus, increase your chances of sealing a good deal with a buyer.
A coat of fresh paint can do wonders for a property’s overall curb appeal. So make sure that you prioritize a new paint job so that your home’s value and chances of having great offers will increase.
Tips on Choosing the Right Colour of Paint When Selling Your Home
Selecting the right colour for your home before placing it on the market can significantly affect its appeal to potential buyers. Here are some tips to guide you in choosing the best paint colour when selling your home.
1. Stick to Neutral Colours
Neutral tones such as white, beige, grey, or ‘greige’ (a mix of grey and beige) resonate most with potential buyers. These colours will most likely suit a more comprehensive array of tastes, furniture, and décor options. They also allow potential buyers to imagine their belongings and design ideas in the space. Black and red are two colours to avoid when selling your home, as they tend to make rooms appear smaller and more closed off.
2. Consider the Room’s Purpose
The colour of a room can influence its perceived mood or atmosphere. For instance, soft, cool colours like light blues and greens can have a calming effect, making them great for bedrooms and bathrooms. Warmer, social colours like red, orange, or yellow are often suitable for communal areas like the kitchen, dining area, or living room.
3. Take Advantage of Natural Light
Rooms with ample natural light can handle darker colours better than those with limited light. Dark paint in a low-light room can make the space feel smaller and gloomier. Opt for lighter shades for rooms lacking natural light to brighten the space.
4. Don’t Forget About the Exterior
Curb appeal is crucial when selling a home, so choose an exterior paint colour that blends well with the surroundings while still standing out. Shades of white, gray, or blue are safe best for exterior colours. Avoid overly bright or unconventional colours, which may deter some buyers.
5. Use Colour to Highlight Features
You can use paint to draw attention to attractive architectural features. For example, paint a mantel or built-in bookcases a contrasting colour to make them stand out.
6. Think About the Flooring
The colour of the flooring is an essential factor in choosing the wall colour. The paint colour should complement the floors, whether tiled, carpeted, or wooden. If the flooring has a warm tone, it’s typically better to opt for paint with similar undertones and vice versa.
7. Test Colors before Committing
Purchase small sample cans of paint and apply them to different wall areas. Observe how the colour looks throughout the day under varying lighting conditions. Make your final decision only when you’re satisfied with how the colours look in all light.
8. Consult a Professional
If you’re unsure, consider consulting a professional painter or interior decorator. They have a solid understanding of colour theories and trends and can provide valuable advice.
Remember, the goal is to appeal to the most potential buyers. While you may love bold, vibrant wall colours, it might be the turn-off for someone else. Therefore, keeping it neutral and universally appealing is the key when preparing your home for the market.
What Not to Fix When Selling a House
When preparing to sell a house, home sellers often face the dilemma of what to fix and what to leave as is. It can be hard to determine which fixes will yield a positive return on investment and which won’t. Here are a few things that several experts suggest you might not need to repair:
1. Old Appliances
We often think new appliances are sure to attract buyers. While shiny, new appliances have a certain appeal, they are usually not the deciding factor for potential buyers. If your current appliances are old but functioning well, there is no need to replace them. Consider this a low priority unless your appliances are worn out or broken.
2. Major Renovations
Large-scale renovations like replacing a roof or remodelling a kitchen or bathroom might seem like they would dramatically increase the value of your home.
However, these costly repairs may not provide a significant return on your investment. Potential buyers might have different tastes or plans for the space; they might even prefer to remodel according to their preferences and style.
3. Cosmetic Paint Colours and Wallpaper
While you might not appreciate the neon green colour in the guest bedroom, painting an entire house can be a pricey venture that is often unnecessary. Likewise, removing that dated wallpaper in the dining room might seem like it will make or break a sale, but it’s not typically a deal breaker for most buyers. Fresh paint or new wallpaper in a neutral colour might make rooms look clean and well-maintained, but buyers know they can easily and inexpensively change wall colours after the purchase.
4. Outdated Decor
Similarly to cosmetic paint colours, the outdated decor isn’t typically a barrier for home buyers. Many buyers plan to customize the decor as personal tastes vary widely. Indeed, some buyers see outdated decor as an opportunity to put their personal stamp on their new home.
We recommend consulting with a local agent to help you sell your home and determine which repairs will provide the greatest return on your investment. These professionals have a keen understanding of the specific market dynamics in your area and can provide personalized advice on how to approach repairs before listing your house.
Small steps – such as cleaning, decluttering, and increasing your curb appeal – can be affordably managed on your own and significantly improve your home’s attractiveness.
Remember, selling your house doesn’t necessarily mean transforming it into a showroom property. You want potential buyers to see your house as a canvas where they can paint their dream home. So, prioritize those fixes that will improve your house’s overall perception, and rest easy knowing not everything needs fixing before a successful sale.
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