Increase Your Home’s Curb Appeal

A Fresh Coat of Paint Can Increase Your Home’s Curb Appeal

According to the real estate website Zillow, there are more than 1,000 homes for sale in Birmingham. If you want your home to stand out from others listed on sites like Zillow and Trulia, the priority should be projects that increase your home’s “curb appeal,” or the attractiveness of a property when viewed from the street. A house with great curb appeal presents itself well and invites potential buyers to come inside and take a closer look. First impressions make a big difference when it comes to selling a home, and a fresh coat of exterior paint is one of the best ways to “wow” home buyers and entice them to inquire further. Check out this article from The Residential Specialist to learn more about why curb appeal matters and some ideas to boost your home’s curb appeal before selling (including repainting).

Repainting Your Home May Increase the List Price

According to Consumer Reports, sprucing up the exterior (including a fresh coat of paint) can potentially increase the value of your home between 2-5%. An article from Reader’s Digest also says that effective use of color on the exterior of your home can add thousands of dollars to its value. Considering that the median price of homes currently listed in Birmingham is $$99,900, an ROI between 2-5% can more than pay for the cost to repaint your home.

Painting Before Selling is the Epitome of “Out with the Old, In with the New”

Selling your home can be hard, especially if you’ve lived there for many years and have lots of memories tied to the address. At the same time, selling your home and buying a new one is the opportunity for a fresh start and new memories. Painting the exterior of your home before selling might make it easier to say goodbye to the home you’ve loved and cherished so much. How? A simple case of mental gymnastics: it may be easier to sell a home that you don’t recognize than one that still evokes all of the memories that make it hard to walk away.

Do’s and Don’ts of Painting the Outside of Your Home Before Selling

New exterior paint is a good idea before selling your home, but only if you follow some basic rules. A professional house painter can provide you with more guidance and details on how to get the most bang for your buck, but for starters here are 10 do’s and don’ts of painting the outside of your home that can help when the times comes to sell:

• DO incorporate color (learn more about painting your home with an HOA) – link to the article on HOAs and house painting
• DON’T use exotic colors or more than three colors in the palette
• DO repeat colors for a cohesive look
• DON’T use so much color coordination that your house looks featureless and boring
• DO make your home stand out with a lighter, darker or different color than your neighbors’
• DON’T pick colors that will clash with your neighbors’ exteriors
• DO emphasize architectural details with contrasting accent colors
• DON’T draw attention to drab features or unattractive exterior elements
• DO hire a professional painting company
• DON’T hire a painter without getting reference