If you have a client who would like to squeeze a few extra dollars out of their property, a fresh coat of paint just might be the answer. But before they get to work with cans, brushes and rollers, picking the right color might make all the difference.
According to a CNBC report, a quick coat of paint can be a cost-effective way to increase a home’s curb appeal, with service site Thumbtack noting the project may cost clients an average $1,141 nationwide.
Neutrals win inside the home. Hot interior paint colors for 2016 include grays and shades of white, along with natural-looking greens.
According to a recent report from Zillow, the color could have an impact on the sale price of a client’s home by hundreds or even thousands of dollars. In its report, Zillow reviewed more than 32,000 photos from recently sold homes, making comparisons against similar homes with white walls. Svenja Gudell, Zillow chief economist, noted breaking out the brushes might be a good idea for your clients.
“A fresh coat of paint is an easy and affordable way to improve a home’s appearance before listing. However, to get the biggest bang for your buck, stick with colors that have mass appeal so you attract as many potential buyers to your listing as possible. Warm neutrals like yellow or light gray are stylish and clean, signaling that the home is well cared for, or that previous owners had an eye for design that may translate to other areas within the house.”
When it comes to kitchens, the best colors are light blue to soft gray-blue. The survey found that homes with these colors sold for an average of $1,809 more than a home with white walls. Stay away from yellow in the kitchen.
The Zillow survey found that the best colors for the bathroom are blues and purples and their variations. These colors seemingly had a big impact on sales prices, adding $5,440 more than homes with white-walled bathrooms. Again, the worst color, according to Zillow, is white and some subtle variations. These can lead to a hit of about $4,035, on average.
Deeper purples bring regal elegance to small rooms, without making visitors feel claustrophobic, according to Allison Grimes, owner of Chromatics Interior Decor in Ottawa, Canada. She recommends Benjamin Moore’s classic color, Super Nova.
“This bold, deep purple is well-used in a hallway or powder room, accented with gold accessories.”
Hues of blue seem to add value to the bedroom, particular shades of light cerulean to cadet blue. Homes with these colors sold for more than $1,800 more, according to Zillow. Pinks can hit the value.
If your client has a red dining room, it may be time to get out the brushes. Homes with shades of red sold for an average of about $2,000 less, according to the survey. Blues, especially slate blue and pale gray blue seemed to add value, bringing an average of more than $1,900 than white walls.
Living rooms in hues of brown, including light beige, pale taupe and oatmeal performed well, selling for an average of about $1,800 more. Blues, including pale silver, pastel gray and light blue, didn’t fare as well, coming it at more than $800 less than white walls.
