When looking to list a home, sellers want to get the most bang for their buck. Adding value to a property means making investments of your own, both from a financial standpoint and in the form of sweat equity. Even common household updates can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars but this doesn’t make sense for a space that you don’t intend to live in.
Strategic updates are key to keeping costs down while getting the greatest return on investment and a fresh paint job can accomplish both of these. A coat of paint, both indoors and out can add character to any property and can update appearances, encouraging offers. The right colour and application can make even the most high traffic areas appear fresh and clean, make rooms appear larger and give the illusion of updated and more modern fixtures, like cabinets.
Where and What to Paint
A fresh coat of paint is the least expensive improvement that you can make, but it carried the highest rate of return on investment. The reason for this high return rate is that it makes a home look more cared for, but replacing old paint can also help to create an updated appearance and even change the overall look of your space.
Indoors
As a potential homebuyer, it can be difficult to imagine yourself living in a technicolor rainbow. Bright colours can be off putting but neutrals are always welcome. Soft and neutral colours create a blank canvas that is easy to imagine yourself in. In addition to being a blank canvas, neutral colours can make a room appear larger than it actually is.
Depending on what a room should be used for, choosing the right colour is key to properly setting the scene. While lighter colours can make a room appear larger and more functional, darker colours create cozy environments. In addition to choosing the right paint colours, it is important to not leave anything out – and this means baseboards and trim. White trim can create a clean and refined look while paint matching the trim to the walls can elongate surfaces, making living space appear even larger.
Outdoors
Homes that are constructed out of bricks do no often warrant a paint job but other materials like stucco or vinyl siding can always benefit from a sprucing up. This can benefit an aged or peeling paint job or can boost curb appeal with an updated colour scheme. Instead of sticking to your walls alone, create a cohesive property look by painting unattached garages, sheds and fences.
