A while back, a friend of mine listed her house on the market, hoping for a quick sale since her family would be moving out of state. It was a beautiful home—two stories, updated kitchen, great neighborhood—but the house barely had any showings after weeks on the market.
Another local homeowner recently listed his charming home for sale, with personal changes on the horizon which made a move essential. Three bedrooms, new flooring, fantastic yard—yet it sat on the market for months.
Why did it take so long for these desirable properties to be snatched up? One word: color. These sellers had chosen bold, beautiful colors for each room in their house—colors that they loved, but buyers did not.
Whether they realize it or not, when potential buyers step into a home, they are automatically envisioning themselves there. If they find an element unappealing—even a cosmetic one, like wall color—they are less likely to feel “at home” in the house.
That homey feeling is the reason realtors recommend a fresh coat of neutral paint before listing your home on the market. As much as you love the teal in your guest bathroom and pale pink in your daughter’s room, those colors will always limit your pool of buyers. But which colors are best when you’re trying to sell? Give these proven shades a look.
Interior Walls
Designers recommend taking cues from flooring to make a decision about wall color. Cool neutrals with gray tones, such as Benjamin Moore Stonington Gray, are more popular right now, and thus will attract buyers. However, many homes features warm colored flooring (beige carpets, tan tiles, brown woods) which do not blend well with cool grays. In that case, you’ll want to pick a warmer tone such as Sherwin Williams Accessible Beige or even a mid-range “greige" such as Benjamin Moore Gray Owl.
Ceilings and Trim
Painting a unique color on ceilings and trim is a fun way to personalize your home. But when it comes to selling, those areas need to be repainted white. All whites are not the same, though. For consistency’s sake, it’s best have a custom color match done from another white in your home. If that’s not possible, try Decorator’s White to blend with cool interiors or Simply White to highlight warm colors, both from Benjamin Moore.
Exterior Colors
Curb appeal is the first impression that buyers have of your home, so you want it to be good. Check out other homes within your neighborhood to see which colors are most attractive for the area. Again, it’s often best to stick with a neutral color, such as Canvas Tan from Sherwin Williams. But because of our coastal locale, soft, beach-y colors such as Sherwin Williams Blue Horizon tend to sell well here too.
So what happened to the two sellers mentioned above? Well, they both opted to repaint their homes in more buyer-friendly shades, and had offers within a week. An instant return on investment!
If you’re planning to sell your home, contact our team at Coastal Life Properties. Because of our extensive local experience, we have our finger on the pulse of what’s selling in Brevard County. We’re always ready to help with ideas to highlight your home’s best features!
