Should You Paint Before Selling Your House?

When preparing to sell your home, every decision can impact its appeal to potential buyers. You may be asking yourself, ‘Should I paint my house before selling?’ This is one of the most debated questions, alongside how much value painting your house adds to the sale price. Fresh paint can significantly enhance the property's visual appeal, create a positive first impression and increase its value.

Understanding when, where and how to strategically use a fresh coat of paint can help sellers stand out in a competitive real estate market.

Benefits of Repainting Your Home

Repainting your house before selling can be a game-changer when you are preparing for a sale. Making updates that enhance your property's appeal streamlines the selling process and delivers a solid return on investment (ROI). When you do a strategic repaint, you can enjoy the following benefits:

• Improved curb appeal: A fresh coat of paint signals that the property has been cared for. It can dramatically improve your home's curb appeal, as buyers often form opinions before they step inside the house. 
• Highlights key features: Repainting can highlight your home's architectural details or create visual continuity between rooms. Outdated or personalized color schemes can dampen the home's appeal.
• Addresses normal depreciation: Repainting freshens up surfaces and signals that the home is move-in ready. Buyers may be willing to pay more for a property that requires less immediate updates.
• Affordable and customizable: Repainting is relatively cost-effective compared to other pre-sale renovations. To keep your expenses low, focus on high-impact spaces like the primary bedrooms, front doors or bathrooms.

Interior Painting

Interior painting is one of the most effective ways to refresh your home and enhance its marketability. You will get an average of 107% ROI on painting the interior of your house before selling, meaning the cost of repainting is often fully recouped. 

When You Should Repaint the Interior

Over time, walls can fade and accumulate scuffs or stains that make a home look tired. Repainting your interior walls every few years is good practice, especially in high-traffic areas or rooms with exposure to moisture. Assess their condition when you start considering selling, and be proactive to ensure a fresh upgrade. 

Design trends evolve, and colors that once felt modern can become dated. If your walls feature bold or highly personalized hues, repainting with a more current, neutral palette can also help modernize your home.

Estimating the Costs of Interior Repainting

Costs for interior painting vary based on several factors:

• Square footage: The larger the room, the more paint, primer or two-in-one will be required. Each wall should have a primer layer and paint layer at a minimum. 
• Paint quality: Premium paints, which can start at around $57 per gallon, offer better coverage, durability and finishes.
• Labor costs: Hiring professional painters will add hourly costs, depending on your project's complexity. Most professional painters charge between $2 and $6 per square foot, which typically excludes ceilings, trim and intricate features like molding.
• Prep work: Homes with damaged walls, peeling paint or textured surfaces may need extensive preparation, which can increase costs.

Exterior Painting

Repainting your home's exterior is a major undertaking that can yield significant aesthetic and financial benefits. You can expect an ROI of high as 107% on an exterior paint job, though the amount often depends on the color you choose.

When You Should Repaint the Exterior

The timing of an exterior paint job depends on several factors:

• Paint age: Exterior paints' life span depends on the paint age, quality, climate and exposure to the elements.
• Visible damage: If you notice cracking, peeling or fading, it is time to repaint. Neglecting these signs can lead to costly repairs if the underlying materials are compromised.
• Seasonal considerations: The best time for exterior painting is during the mild, dry weather of spring and fall. It should be at least 50 degrees Fahrenheit for paint to adhere properly. However, at Aboff's Paints, we offer an excellent exterior paint option, Element Gaurd, which can be used at temperatures as low as 35 degrees Fahrenheit.

Estimating the Costs of Exterior Repainting 

The cost of repainting a home's exterior varies widely based on size, materials and labor rates. You can generate an estimate based on these factors:

• Home size: Painting your home's exterior can range from $1,500 to more than $10,000, depending on how many stories it has. It costs an additional average of $1 to $3.50 per square foot for each painter if you invest in professional labor. 
• Paint type: Premium exterior paints usually cost up to $100 per gallon and last longer, reducing the need for frequent touch-ups.
• Surface condition: Additional costs will accrue if the exterior walls need extensive prep work, such as caulking, scraping or power washing.
• Additional features: Painting trim, shutters and doors adds to the expense but can dramatically improve curb appeal.

Finding the Right Color Balance

The right colors to paint your house before selling can make it more appealing to buyers and increase its value. Both interior and exterior color choices should create a welcoming, move-in-ready atmosphere. Homes with specific color choices, such as pale blue bathrooms or charcoal front doors, tend to sell for more than expected.

Exterior colors set the first impression and should appeal to a broad audience, with neutral, versatile shades being the wisest choice. White and off-white convey cleanliness and elegance, while light gray pairs well with various architectural styles. Beige hues are warm, creating an inviting appearance, and soft greige is neutral but sophisticated. Use black, dark gray, deep green or navy blue as accent colors for trim and features to create a polished look or focal point.

For the interior, choose colors that make rooms feel larger, brighter and more versatile. Use the same colors as the exterior in living areas and hallways to create a cohesive palette, but try something different in the rest of the house. Soft blue or pale green are calming shades that pair well with warm white or neutral beige in bedrooms. Kitchens benefit from neutral whites or light grays that create a modern backdrop.

Start Shopping for Paint Supplies at Aboff's Paints

Still wondering if it is worth painting your house before selling? First impressions matter. It is not a one-size-fits-all solution, but painting makes a property feel newer and more valuable. By carefully selecting specific colors and prioritizing visible, high-impact areas, you could get a decent ROI while making your property more competitive in the market. While repainting requires an upfront investment, this approach can enhance your property's marketability and potentially boost its sale price.

Aboff's Paints offers a variety of paint colors that help make a home feel well-designed and inviting, helping buyers envision themselves living there. We are the largest independent retailer of Benjamin Moore paint and supplies on Long Island, with over 95 years of industry experience to guide you in your paint choices.

Shop online now and pick up in-store at one of our 32 locations.