They say you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover—but houses are not books, and when you’re selling a house, appearances matter. That’s because many buyers want a move-in ready home. Which means an unattractive paint job could really impact the outcome of your home sale.
If you want to make the most out of selling your house, you may want to think about painting the interiors before you put it on the market.
Do you need to paint your house before selling it?
Painting your house before selling is considered by many to be the best return on your investment in real estate. Interior painting has an average 107% return on investment, according to a study done by HomeLight. Simply painting the interior of your house can raise its selling price by 1%–5%.
A new coat of paint will help your house appeal to more buyers. However, the price of paint has been rising in recent years, and that may affect the scope of your home improvement project or whether you hire professionals for the job.
If you’re selling on the traditional market, peeling and chipped paint could mess up home loan applications. You may need a home inspection to inspect defective paint to see if there are any underlying issues—especially if you own a home that was built before 1978. Older homes may have lead paint, and you will likely need to provide disclosure for the presence of lead paint in your house. Having lead paint in your house won’t necessarily hinder your chances of having a successful home sale, but it could make finding a buyer harder.
How to prep your house for painting
Before you start painting your house, you should take some time to prepare. The supplies you will likely need include:
- Drop cloth for painting areas.
- “Paper tape” or painter’s tape to mark off areas.
- Painting supplies, rollers, brushes, paint thinner, and stir sticks.
Once you have the materials, you can start prepping the areas you plan to paint by:
- Cleaning clutter out of the room or space.
- Scraping peeling or chipped paint.
- Moving and covering furniture.
Interior painting can be done pretty easily. You don't need a permit, but depending on where you live you may need a license.
What’s the best color to paint a house for selling?
Paint trends can change fast. A popular or quirky color from 5–10 years ago may seem very outdated now. When painting interior spaces to prepare your house for selling, you’ll want to:
- Avoid loud colors: Bright reds and oranges may be your thing, but home buyers are looking to be able to picture themselves in the house they want to buy. This is easier to do when rooms are painted in softer hues. Loud colors may distract from other features of your home that you’d like to highlight.
- Use neutral or muted paints: Muted grays and off-whites are your best bet when painting interior spaces to sell your house, according to a paint color analysis done by Zillow. These colors let potential home buyers imagine themselves living in the space without potentially detracting from your home’s other features.
- Incorporate color trends: While it’s probably not a good idea to paint an entire room in Millennial Pink, for example, you could always use pops of color to make your space more inviting. This can be done by using a trendy color for bedroom paint, painting an accent wall, or using statement furniture pieces during staging.
Many companies provide consumers with paint charts to help choose the best interior paint.
Best places to paint in your house
Before you begin your home improvement project, you need to know some of the most recommended areas to spruce up. You should consider repainting:
- The front door
- Interior window trim
- Kitchen cabinets
- Bathroom cabinets
- Walls in bedrooms, the kitchen, and the living room
Depending on the condition of your house or the colors already present, you may only need to do a few touch-ups. Remember, it’s important to minimize costs while making these improvements to maximize your potential return on investment.
Do you need to paint a house before selling it?
Choosing the best paint for interiors can be confusing. If you decide you don't want to bother with home improvements, you can sell your house "as is" with We Buy Ugly Houses®. We’re real estate specialists who live and work in Atlanta, and we buy houses in many different conditions. We don’t stop at buying houses—we buy other types of property as well, including apartments, condos, duplexes, townhomes, and even some commercial properties.
With our 3-step home-buying process, we can take you from consultation to closing fast, sometimes in as little as 3 weeks! If that sounds too quick, we do our best to figure out a closing date that fits your schedule. We don’t charge commissions or hidden fees, and we pay all typical closing costs. Our offers are typically discounted below market value in exchange for speed and convenience.
For the past 25 years, we’ve helped home sellers get a fast, simple, streamlined home sale. We have a 95%* customer satisfaction rating nationwide, and that’s because we do our best to cater to our sellers’ needs. Find out what it’s like selling to We Buy Ugly Houses® by reading reviews from other Atlanta sellers like you.
Want to skip the hassle of painting and sell your house “as is?” Reach out to We Buy Ugly Houses® in Atlanta today for a free consultation toward a fast, convenient offer.
This blog is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice.
