Exterior Painting Can Sell a Home Faster
Selling your home in a tough market requires all the creativity you can muster. If your home sits on the market for a long period of time, realtors show it less and less, and your opportunities for a sale get fewer and fewer. Have you considered painting the home’s exterior to help bring about a quick sale?
To sell your home, it needs to be the best value on the market for the price. It is important to show that your home is a step above other, similarly-priced houses. A fresh facelift can be exactly what is needed to make a favorable first impression, and get a “sold” sign on the front lawn.
How to Choose a Color
First, consider the neighborhood. You want your home to stand out, but not to clash, with the surrounding homes. Look at the colors in the neighborhood. If you live in Florida, it would be smart to paint the home turquoise, pink or peach. If you live in Denver, this would not be a good idea. Pick a color that will blend with the environment.
Do Some Colors Sell Better?
According to Jeanette Joy Fisher, in her article entitled “Using Color Psychology to Sell Your Home,” homes that sell quickest have a yellow exterior. If you choose a shade of yellow, be sure it is a light, sunny yellow. Avoid bright yellows or shades with a green undertone.
What is the price range of your home? Ms. Fisher states that if you are selling an upscale, more expensive home, muted or complex colors attract buyers from the upper income bracket, with a higher level of education. These colors are generally a combination of colors blended with grays or browns, like sage green. Buyers in a lower price range favor pure colors, such as tan or yellow, with a similar trim.
Make sure your paint color blends with the color of the roof and the landscaping. Paint stores offer brochures showing color combinations. You don’t need to limit your paint color to just one shade. Often the most attractive homes use two or three shades to enhance architectural details.
Also consider the predominant colors used in your home’s interior. Blending the exterior color with the interior colors will make the home feel pulled together and complementary. Look at your primary color in the living area and consider painting your exterior a shade darker in the same color family.
How Much Will it Cost to Paint?
The going rate to repaint your home is $1 – $1.79 per square foot. This takes into consideration the average costs of material, hourly labor rates, and the services of an insured, licensed contractor. Makes sure to get several estimates before choose the contractor.
A freshly painted home, in a carefully selected shade, will be a plus and will set your home apart from others on the market, leading to a quick and successful sale.
For more home ideas and photos check out Modernize.com. For more painting strategies for selling a home I recommend this article from Realtor.com.
– Article by Tim Smith
