Author: Corey Boldt

Contrary to what many believe, buyers don’t want to paint — they want a home that’s move-in ready. Paint is one of the least expensive, highest impact ways to improve the look of your house and to get buyers feeling like they won’t be left with a laundry list of “to-do’s” once they move in.

A simple way to prioritize your painting projects is to focus on the high-traffic areas of your home, like entryways/foyers, main hallways, and the kitchen and family room. These spaces are focal points in a home, and a fresh coat of neutral-colored paint will go a long way to make a great first impression when buyers first walk in.

Touching up paint or applying a fresh coat in certain rooms is also critical because of the impact it has on photographs. Remember, buyers are often going to determine if your house makes their showing list based off the photos they first see. If paint looks outdated, scuffed or is too colorful, it can turn buyers off and reduce the chances they ever come see your home.

Here are a few ways to get your house paint-ready.

Pro Tips:

  • Do a thorough check. Although you might invest more time and money into repainting high-traffic areas, scuffs and blemishes on any walls, ceilings, doors, etc., will impact a buyers impression of your house. Set aside time to walk through every room and space in your house and make a list or use small post-it’s to mark areas that need attention.
  • Determine if you can DIY or need an expert. As you make a list of painting projects during the thorough check of your house, be honest about your abilities and note which tasks you think might be better handled by a professional. Your agent can help recommend experts that will get painting projects done right the first time.
  • Go neutral. Selling your house isn’t the time to be creatively expressive through color. Neutral colors provide a feeling of warmth and help a buyer more easily picture their own belongings in the space. You can use accessories and accents to add pops of color.
  • RECOMMENDED COLORS: Benjamin Moore White Dove & Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray
  • Paint your front door. We’ve focused a lot on the interior of your home, but one of the cheapest, easiest ways to make a big impact on the exterior of your house is to apply a fresh coat of paint to your front door. Work with your agent or a designer to pick a color that will give you the best curb appeal.

Need help prioritizing painting projects or need color recommendations? Contact us to speak to one of our experienced agents and design consultants for help.

 

About the author

Corey Boldt is the owner and heart of the Double Boldt Real Estate team. As a lifelong resident of Wauwatosa, Corey couldn’t imagine raising her family in any other community, and nothing feels more at home to her than working with the people directly in and surrounding this area. With 15 years of experience in sales management and 5 years of experience in residential real estate, Corey has the business background needed for negotiating contracts and the realty expertise wanted to find your dream home. Corey works with you through every step of the process—buying, selling, staging—to deliver consistent results and help you find exactly what you’re looking for in a home.