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10 Ways to Paint Your House to Make it Stand Out
Here are 10 tips and tricks that will help you beautify and sell your home in 2021!
It goes without saying that move-in ready homes sell faster than houses that need a lot of work, and curb appeal is a huge factor. Even if your house is move-in ready on the inside, a poor paint job on the outside could deter potential buyers from coming to view your home because it will seem like a fixer upper. The way your house is painted is one of the first things potential buyers will notice and can make the difference between a good and bad first impression. Before you put your house on the market, give your home a leg up against the competition with a fresh paint job. To give you a head start, we compiled 10 tips and tricks for how to best paint your house to stand out in the current housing market in 2021!
Use Neutral Colors
While painting your house prior to selling will generally raise its value, you will get the most bang for your buck by picking the right color. If you are about to put your house on the market, we recommend painting your house with neutral colors, such as white, gray, or taupe. Earthy tones may also be a good choice, such as beige, or an off white that almost looks yellow. While bright and bold colors can be fun, it may be harder to find a buyer who will appreciate a home that’s painted in a unique hue. The key here is to let a potential buyer look at your home as a blank canvas, and an overpowering paint job may distract a buyer from envisioning themselves pulling up to your home.
Consider The Finish
If you haven’t heard the term before, a finish describes the way the paint looks once it dries. Typically, finishes can range from shiny and reflective, muted, and smooth and soft. There are a variety of finishes that can be used when painting a home, and you will want to consider the pros and cons of each one when deciding which option is best for your paint job. Exterior finishes are typically flat or matte finishes. Shutters, window trims, and front doors can be glossy. We recommend opting for flat or semi-gloss finishes. These options are typically less expensive than a high-gloss paint, and will do a decent job of hiding any imperfections in your wall.
Consider Your Home’s Style
While you really can’t go wrong with using neutral or earthy tones to paint your home, you will also want to consider the style of your home when picking your colors. For example, a contemporary home with lots of windows may look best in all white, while a Spanish-style house would look amazing in different shades of beige and brown. Meanwhile, Tudor homes look best when a traditional color palette is used, but you have some more freedom to experiment with color in mid-century modern homes.
Use High Quality Paint
While it may be more expensive, you will not regret splurging to use high quality paint, such as those offered by Behr, Sherwin-Williams, or Benjamin Moore. High quality paint is more durable, and will typically look nicer for much longer. You also want to select a paint that is easy to maintain and can withstand cleanings. Using cheap paint that isn’t easy to maintain may lead to a need to redo the paint job several times before the house is sold to keep it looking nice, which will ultimately cost you more time and money than if you had used high quality paint the first time.
Have A Warranty
Similarly to using high quality paint, try to hire a painter that offers a warranty with their services. Even when using the best people and products, mistakes can still happen, spots can be missed, and minor maintenance issues may arise while you are selling your home. If you notice a problem with the paint job after your painters have left, you will want the option to call them back to touch it up without having to pay additional fees.
Paint Everything
When you paint the exterior of your home, make sure no surface goes untouched. Paint everything at the same time to keep your entire property looking fresh and trendy. If you were to only paint your house and forget to refresh your fencing, mailbox, or garage, these could create eyesores that potential buyers will definitely notice.
Coordinate Colors And Texture
By now, you’re probably tired of hearing us emphasize the importance of using neutral colors. However, we also have to remind you to not just use one color. Instead, use a matching color scheme with different parts of your house to add texture and dimension to your home. For example, a beige house may look lovely with chocolate brown shutters or a chocolate brown garage door. Similarly, white houses with black trim or gray houses with white trim look elegant and classy. Take care to make sure your shutter color and trim colors complement each other, as well.
Don’t Forget The Prep Work
Your home’s new paint job is only as good as the work that is done in preparation. Before beginning any new paint job, the walls of your home should be clean, dull and dry. Your house may need a good cleaning or power washing prior to painting to remove any dirt, chalk or mildew. In addition, you may want to cover your landscaping with plastic or tarps for protection from rogue drops of paint, remove old caulk, and repair or re-putty windows where needed. Cracked or peeling paint from your house’s current paint job may need to be scraped off, and your home’s walls will need to be sanded and primed for the new color. Lastly, properly seal any cracks in your home’s wall prior to painting, or they will likely make a reappearance soon after the new paint dries.
Sherwin-Williams’ 2021 Color Of the Year
Sherwin-Williams annually names a paint color to be the hottest and trendiest color of the year. This year, Sherwin-Williams chose Urbane Bronze because of the natural sophistication and warmth it brings to any space. It is inspired by the nature that surrounds all of us, and aims to inspire feelings of relaxation and serenity. Urbane Bronze is best described as a dark-gray paint that has hints of bronze and brown undertones. It may be a bit dark to be used for painting your entire house, but could potentially be a trendy choice for painting windows and trims, or for refreshing garage doors and front doors.
Get Approval First
There is a common saying that states “it’s better to ask for forgiveness than permission.” However, painting your house is not one of those times. If your home is under the jurisdiction of a homeowners association (HOA) or you share a fence with a neighbor, make sure you receive approval to paint prior to starting the job. Doing so will save you a lot of stress and money, and could potentially even help you avoid legal consequences. Plus, asking permission will help you leave your neighborhood on good terms, and the new residents will be moving into a more cordial and welcoming environment.
Taking the time to properly prepare your home before putting it up for sale may seem like a big endeavor, but your hard work will certainly pay off. When potential buyers arrive to see a beautifully painted home, you will be starting all your open houses and showings on the right foot with a good first impression. The painting and extra TLC you show your home prior to listing it will likely lead to better offers coming sooner rather than later, which will certainly make any time, money, or energy spent more than worth it!
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