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When it comes to selling your home, there is no denying the importance of making a good first impression. That starts with your home’s interior and exterior painting, from colors to quality and finishes. We asked top real estate agents and home developers across the country for their best tips on how to maximize home value with paint.
1. Stick with one shade for exteriors.
The exterior of a home is often the first thing potential buyers see. Real estate agents tend to agree that this initial encounter is a major driver of sales and that multiple colors enhance curb appeal. While a single curtain can easily encompass an interior space, the large and varied surfaces of a home’s exterior require a more layered palette to create visual interest.
2. Choose a tone that makes the room appear smaller.
In reality, paint can’t make a room bigger. But interior designers and painters consulted by Trulia say that certain colors can give the illusion that a room is larger than it really is. Tried and true favorites? Airy neutrals like Benjamin Moore’s Cloud White, PPG Paints’ Swirling Smoke, and Farrow & Ball’s Skylight.
Make a space appear larger by painting the walls and trim them the same color.
Lauren W. Glenn
3. Using bold red in the wrong places.
Red may conjure up American favorites like cherry pies and one-room schoolhouses, but when it comes to interiors, it doesn’t score highly with prospective homebuyers. “Overbearing colors are more likely to alienate,” explains Pam Hopgood of Perfect Match Homes, a Florida home-staging company. “Since red is especially fiery and assertive, it’s the hardest for buyers to overlook.” The one place where red is favorable? Entry doors, where it’s a classic choice with near-universal appeal.
4. Neglecting the roof.
Often overlooked square footage can have a serious impact on a buyer’s overall impression of a space. “A freshly painted bright white ceiling can make a room appear brighter and the ceilings higher,” explains one Santa Barbara-based agent. Nick Svensson from Compass. Since buyers are constantly looking for airy, bright spaces, this is a big plus.
5. Exaggerate in the kitchen.
There really is nothing better than a white kitchen. Pick up any home decor magazine and you’ll see that white kitchens reign supreme. Real estate agents agree that a fresh look, which makes it easy for homeowners to incorporate their own accent colors, is best when it comes to resale.
