Home Staging: How a Fresh Coat of Paint Can Increase Your Chances of Selling Faster
If you are selling your home, it is good to know what homebuyers typically consider when visiting and buying a new house. When homebuyers visit houses, they formulate their first impressions quickly. A clean and well-maintained home may enhance the desirability and perceived value of the property. Five key things that homebuyers commonly look at are location, condition, layout and size, curb appeal, and price. Before you put your house on the market, you may want to make some adjustments to make your home more appealing to buyers.
Homebuyers will be visiting your home, so it is important to stage your home in a way that they can easily imagine themselves living there. Some common suggestions realtors often provide homeowners are to improve curb appeal, to declutter and depersonalize, and to complete necessary repairs and maintenance.
Improving curb appeal means enhancing how your home looks like from the outside. Your home’s exterior is the first thing homebuyers will see, so it is important to make a good first impression. Enhanced curb appeal could capture the attention of buyers and help your property stand out in a competitive real estate market. Realtors frequently recommend ensuring that the front yard is well-maintained and that the entryway is inviting to visitors. This may include mowing the lawn, painting the front door, or repairing any visible exterior damage.
Realtors also suggest decluttering and depersonalizing your home, so that you can present a clean and neutral environment for your buyers. This is important because homebuyers will need to envision themselves living in the space, and a clean and neutral environment can inspire their imagination. To foster this type of environment, remove excessive personal items and minimize belongings in the space. This will create a feeling of spaciousness and will allow homebuyers to focus on the features of the house and think of how they want to make use of the space.
It is also important to address any visible repairs and maintenance issues. Homebuyers want to know that the house has been well-maintained. Homeowners want to feel that they will not face any issues soon after moving into their new home, so they will look for signs of damage such as cracks, leaks, or faulty systems. Realtors often recommend conducting a thorough inspection of the property and making necessary adjustments when preparing a house for sale.
One of the things homeowners can do prior to selling their houses is to repaint. Repainting for home staging, when done well, can enhance the appeal and marketability of the property, which may increase the chance of selling houses faster.
Here are some reasons why homeowners choose to repaint before putting their houses on the market:
Create a positive first impression
First impressions can make or break a homebuyer’s experience. Homebuyers want to walk into a house that is clean and well-maintained. Repainting allows homeowners to present a clean canvas to buyers and to make their houses feel inviting and move-in ready.
Neutralize the space
Homebuyers need to be able to envision themselves living in the house. Bold or unique colors may not appeal to many people’s preferences and may distract homebuyers from imagining how they would want to use the space. Repainting with neutral colors, such as white or beige, will attract a wider range of potential homebuyers and will allow them to focus on the house’s features instead.
Highlight architectural features
Repainting can be an opportunity to showcase the architectural features of the house. If the house has crown molding, trim, or unique design details, a fresh coat of paint can help these attractive features stand out to buyers and can add to the buyers’ perceived value of the house.
Address wear and tear
Homes that have been lived in will eventually go through some wear and tear. Walls and surfaces can get scuff marks, stains, or fading over time. Repainting these surfaces will allow homeowners to address wear and tear and to give their home a well-maintained appearance.
Increase perceived value
Homeowners can create a visually appealing environment when they repaint their houses. With a well-executed paint job, the house can feel more inviting and can make more buyers interested in the property.
When deciding which rooms to repaint for home staging, take into consideration which areas of your home may significantly impact potential homebuyers’ first impressions. In addition, consider the current condition of your rooms and walls and how likely repainting would add to their visual appeal. Some of the areas commonly recommended for repainting are the entryway, living room, kitchen, primary bedroom, and bathroom.
The entryway is the first area buyers see when they enter the house. A fresh coat of paint can create a welcoming atmosphere and set a positive first impression of the house. The living room and kitchen are typically recommended for repainting as well since they are central gathering areas in the home and are thus focal points for homebuyers. Bedrooms are considered personal sanctuaries, and repainting can help foster a soothing and relaxing ambiance for the room. Finally, bathrooms are high-traffic areas, which can influence buyer perception. Repainting the bathroom could create a clean and fresh atmosphere for your home.
Repainting your home can transform its atmosphere. For this reason, it is important that the repainting job is done well. Make sure the walls and surfaces are ready for painting. You may need to repair cracks, holes, or damages and remove or protect furniture from rooms prior to repainting. Consider consulting a painting contractor for home sale while planning for the project. It is important for homeowners to assess their budget, local real estate market trends, and potential return on investment prior to making any enhancements to their homes.
Before refreshing the house’s paint job, homeowners will have a few factors to consider during planning. To set expectations and to minimize any surprises, homeowners should determine the scope of the repainting project. While the goal for repainting a house is to allow homebuyers to easily imagine themselves living there, consider your budget and timeframe when determining the scope of the project. This will allow you to prioritize which areas of your home you want to repaint for home staging.
Depending on the rooms and surfaces that will be included in the repainting project, decisions on the type of paint will need to be made. The type of paint may affect the longevity of the renovation or project, and there are different types of paints with varying levels of durability, moisture resistance, and sheen available.
Another factor to consider in planning for a repainting project is the color palette to use for home staging. Colors that will complement your home’s design will be ideal. Realtors typically suggest repainting with neutral colors to make the house feel brighter and more spacious. Neutral colors will also allow homebuyers to focus on the features of the house and to think about how they can personalize the space. In choosing the color for repainting, also consider how it would complement the house’s lighting as well as the furniture and décor that will be used in home staging.
Staging your home will allow you to showcase the best parts of your house, and repainting is one way to create a cohesive and appealing look throughout the house. At the end of the day, homebuyers want to be able to easily imagine living in the space. Positive first impressions will make your house more memorable and appealing to potential buyers and can help increase their perceived value of the house.
