The Best Colors for Selling a House Quickly in 2024
When you’re getting ready to sell, all the dings, scratches, and stains on the wall suddenly become glaringly obvious. While they may appear small on their own, together, they can affect the overall first impression of a home and its listing photos. Luckily, a fresh coat of paint is a quick, easy, and inexpensive fix to brightening your home. Here’s why you might want to consider painting and our suggestions for the best paint colors for selling a house.
Should You Paint Your House Before Selling?
Absolutely. Painting is one of the first things we suggest, and it’s the best way a homeowner can prepare their house to sell. When you combine a fresh coat of paint with good staging, you can instantly give an older, dated property a facelift. You’ll shed 20 years off your home easily!
In a 2022 Zillow survey, painting was the top home improvement project, with 40% of homeowners painting before selling. Recent sellers said it was also the top project that helped sell their home the most, with 27% reporting that interior painting helped.
Painting is relatively affordable but has a significant impact. Potential buyers need to look at your home and envision themselves living there. Creating a neutral pallet will help potential buyers fill in the blanks with their own furniture and décor.
The only exception to a fresh coat of paint is if you have recently painted the home. However, we suggest a new neutral paint if the house has bright or multiple colors throughout.
Should I Avoid Color?
While a colorful house is full of personality, it’s not as marketable to potential buyers. Colors can distract the buyer and make it difficult for them to picture themselves in the home. Neutral colors tend to appeal to more buyers and are a safe choice when selling.
White, of course, is the most standard and simple option. Immediately, it brightens up the home and can even make it appear larger. White provides a blank canvas for any color palette a homeowner may have.
On the other hand, choosing a good white can be a challenge. White can easily appear too cold and a little bland. While you don’t want to overload the house with personality, you still want the space to feel warm and inviting.
The Best Colors to Paint a House’s Interior
So, if not pure white, what are the best colors? When selling, it’s best to paint the entire house one color. It’s generally less expensive, and it will make the house feel larger and more cohesive.
At Wall to Wall Home Staging, we have a few trusty favorites. Here are some of our go-to neutral paint colors to consider for selling a house:
Accessible Beige - Sherwin Williams
White Dove - Benjamin Moore
Alabaster - Sherwin Williams
Revere Pewter - Benjamin Moore
Edgecomb Gray - Benjamin Moore
Classic Gray - Benjamin Moore
Greek Villa - Sherwin Williams
Don’t Forget to Consider Paint Finish
While the paint color itself is the most important choice you’ll have to make for the painting process, you also want to consider the different paint finishes.
Matte, flat, and eggshell finishes are the best choices for walls. They tend to have the most pigment and coverage, ensuring you completely cover your walls without needing lots of paint layers. A matte/flat finish will also help blend imperfections like scuffs, making the walls look smooth and fresh. An eggshell finish is best for high-traffic areas and/or busy households because it’s easily wipeable.
Use a satin or semi-glass finish for trim and moldings.
Get a Custom Paint Color Recommendation
At Wall to Wall Home Staging, we know a thing or two about paint color. As part of our Staging Consultation, we provide a list of recommendations, including paint colors, suggestions to improve curb appeal, what to declutter, and other minor upgrades to consider before listing to gain maximum equity out of the property.
If you are considering listing your home or just want a General Paint Consultation, we’d be happy to help you. Please Contact us here to get started.
