Today we’ll look at one area of home improvement that home sellers typically ask me about prior to listing their home: painting your home. 

My answer is almost always “yes” when I’m presented with the question of whether to paint. It’s very inexpensive, and it’s worth the effort to make the house feel refreshed, cleaner, and newer. 

Understandably, it can be a hassle for some. Sellers that wish to put their home on the market quickly or who have kids and/or pets might feel pressed for time or simply decide that painting is not within practicality. If it’s a feasible option, though, it’s a fantastic way to earn more bang for your buck. 

At the outset, you’ll need to decide on the color you’ll go with, which should be centered around the elements of your home. For example, if natural wood is a predominant feature of your home, the color we use will be different than what we’d use for a home with, say, a lot of granite or gray highlights.

“An important distinction for you to remember as a seller is that you’re not painting to decorate, you’re painting to stage your home.”

I’m often asked what the “hot” color is at the present time, and what seems to be taking the market by storm of late are bright shades of white, namely Chantilly Lace, which give the home a modern, chic look. Another that I’ve come to rely on is Pale Oak—a  neutral beige that meshes well with wood and draws out a warm feeling.   

Although grays remain popular, it’s important to remember that they’re not all the same: Something like a Stonington Gray has hints of blue in it, so you’d want to determine whether the blue harmonizes with your home or not, and sunlight will make the answer shine through! 

My personal favorite in the way of grays is Balboa Mist, due to it being a subtle, neutral shade. Those who lean toward darker colors, however, can’t go wrong with Revere Pewter. 

You may be tempted to paint every room a different color, but a word to the wise: Go with a single color throughout your home. An important distinction for you to remember as a seller is that you’re not painting to decorate, you’re painting to stage your home. A single neutral color will give the greatest number of buyers the best impression.   

And as a final word, I’ve found Benjamin Moore historical colors to be the most viable in our Boston market with the older architecture; it’s available in most area hardware stores.  

If you have any questions or comments for me about today’s topic or anything else real estate-related, you can contact me by phone at 617-398-0018 or by email at Chris.Remmes@NEMoves.com. I look forward to hearing from you!