| Painting is typically the most cost effective upgrade in showing a home at its best. Outdated paint colors, borders, wallpaper and paint techniques (such as faux finishes) are best updated to reflect the current trends to attract the most buyers. HOW DO I PICK THE RIGHT PAINT COLOR? Choosing a paint color that reflects the current trends will help with selling but will also need to match with any existing items the seller is not changing. For instance, if they are keeping existing flooring in the home, you will need to work around the tones in the flooring. If they are warm, you will not want to pick a cool color as it will feel disjointed. |
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| HOW DO I KNOW TO PICK WARM OR COOL PAINT COLORS? If they will not be keeping any flooring and have white cabinets, you can choose any neutral you like that is in keeping with the current trends. (Google current neutral paint trends if you would like more help. HINT: Swiss coffee is not it). If they will be keeping the flooring or non-white cabinetry, you will want to choose something that goes with those tones. If you squint while looking at the existing materials and see an underlying tone of yellow, you have existing warm tones to work around. If you squint and can see blue or gray tones in the underlying tones, you have cool tones work around. |
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| Here are some examples to get you started: cool neutral – Benjamin Moore Gray Owl OC-52warm neutral – Benjamin Moore Classic Gray OC-23 (Did you know you can get any color mixed at Home Depot or Lowe’s no matter whose paint color it is?) |
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| WHAT AREAS SHOULD I PAINT IF THE SELLER IS ON A BUDGET? While it is nice to have everything painted fresh, sometimes it is not necessary or feasible. If the trim, baseboards and doors are in ok condition, it might be ok to skip but these are definitely front and center when buyers tour. Consider not painting ceilings, closets, and kids rooms if they are in ok condition. Buyers mostly care about the rooms they spend the most time in and what impressions their guest will have so these are the most important areas to consider. Buyers are generally more forgiving when it comes to the kids rooms and may not even notice the closet or ceilings were not painted. |