If you’re planning to sell your home in the near future, you might be wondering what work is worth doing before you list it. There are a few rooms that are worth the effort to paint prior to putting your home on the market. According to Remodeling Expense, a new coat of paint in your living room can yield an estimated return on investment of 125%. Let’s take a closer look at some of the rooms you might want to talk to your local painters about repainting when you’re ready to sell your home.
1. Living Room
Common living areas are an important consideration when buying a new home. When you work with your local painters to update your living room, your home will be more attractive to potential buyers. If you decide to give your living room a new coat of paint, it’s important to choose a neutral color. This choice won’t detract from the overall look of the room, and it won’t make it feel too personal.
Many home buyers find it difficult to imagine living in a home that strongly reflects the personality of the current owner. Light colors will also help to make the room look larger and brighter. These are two factors that are often used by buyers to make their decision. Most homeowners prefer large rooms that are light-filled and cheerful.
2. Kitchen
Often described as the heart of the home, the kitchen is a pivotal part of any home. Even if you aren’t able to update your appliances and countertops, a fresh coat of paint can make your kitchen look more attractive and inviting. When it comes to presenting your kitchen in a listing, the brighter the color, the better.
Soft yellows are often a good choice, as are bright whites. If your kitchen has a farmhouse design, blue with red accents always works well. Your painting contractor can provide good insight into the colors that are currently popular in your area. Your listing agent is another great resource when it comes to choosing the perfect paint color for your kitchen.
A deep clean will also help you present your kitchen in its best light. Taking the time to ensure that your kitchen is bright and welcoming can help make your home a more desirable choice for potential buyers. Be sure that countertops are uncluttered and personal effects are removed before creating your listing. The better your kitchen looks, the more likely potential buyers will continue their tour with interest. When a potential buyer walks into a kitchen that looks dated and cluttered, they may begin to worry that the house will require too much work for them.
Kitchens are one of the most popular rooms for renovations. The important thing is to make it look clean and inviting in a way that prospective buyers can imagine themselves and their families enjoying their meals in the space. There’s no need to go with anything trending when choosing the small updates that you want to do. The simpler, the better.
3. Bathroom
For reasons similar to those affecting your kitchen, your bathrooms will benefit from a new coat of paint. Again, if your fixtures are older, a fresh paint job will help to minimize their effect when someone reviews the entire room. An off-white or light rose color can help to make the space look clean and fresh. Any small fixes are also worth considering, from buying a few new towels to updating the towel rods.
Again, it’s important for the space to look uncluttered and not have too strong of a reflection of your design personality. For smaller rooms, you can take a counterintuitive approach and opt for a dark and dramatic color. This is a popular choice for powder rooms that are small in size. Because most powder rooms are in the public areas of the home, it’s alright to make a few dramatic choices. And, because of their small size, a new buyer can easily make changes to more closely reflect their taste.
Take the time to give all the bathrooms in your home a thorough review. You’ll be able to spot deficiencies and areas for improvement. Painting all of your bathrooms the same color can add to the flow of your home tours and give viewers a feeling of calm and order. There’s no wrong way to stage your home, but some options are better than others. By having a design plan in place, you’re sure to present your home in the best possible light. All of your bathrooms should be spotless and given a new coat of paint before you take your listing photos or begin home tours.
4. Primary Bedroom
When buyers are considering their next home, the primary bedroom is often a very important consideration. This is a room that will house the parents and is often thought of as a private, sanctuary space away from the kids. No matter the size of the room, it’s important that it’s presented in the best light. If your current paint color is dramatic, choosing a more neutral shade is a good move.
Bedrooms need to be calm and inviting, and for many people that means painting the walls with a dark and heavily saturated paint color. While this is great for living, it’s not a good idea when selling. The more neutral the color in the primary bedroom and en suite bathroom, the better.
A neutral color will also help the room look bigger. The right furniture placement can also make this room look larger and more spacious. This is one room that you’ll want to make sure to get right. Remove most of your personal items and be sure that the closets are well organized. During the home tours, many prospective buyers will want to take a peek at your closets and storage areas.
It’s important to have sufficient storage options as this can be another deciding factor when a buyer is down to one or two home choices. Even if you don’t have a lot of storage in your primary bedroom, it’s important that the space doesn’t look cluttered.
5. Dining Room
A formal dining room can make a house feel like a home. It’s a space for families to gather and share meals and celebrations together. If it’s been a while since your dining room has received any attention, giving it a fresh coat of paint is a great idea. In many ways, a dining room is a bonus space, especially as many of today’s floor plans no longer include them. A clean space with a bright paint color can make your home stand out from the competition. Separate dining rooms are making a comeback as more people revisit the importance of spending time together at home.
Selling your home can feel like an overwhelming experience, especially when you want to make a few changes before you update it. Fortunately, there are local painters like us at Westlope Painting who can help you get your house ready for listing. Give us a call today to schedule an appointment to review which rooms you should repaint before you sell. We look forward to working with you!