Fresh Paint Can Be a Difference-Maker When Selling Your Home
November 30 2011 - 12:15PM
Business Wire
Unless you’ve been living on a desert island, you know how tough
it is to sell a home these days. In some neighborhoods, “For Sale”
signs are as common as mailboxes. And the challenge is the same
whether you live in a small row house or a McMansion.
Still, there are ways to get a competitive edge: Realtors know
that well-maintained homes tend to sell faster, sometimes for a
much higher price. . . and there are some inexpensive ways to spiff
up a house.
“One of the best ways to get your home to stand out from the
crowd is to apply a fresh coat of paint in psychologically
important areas,” says Debbie Zimmer, paint and color expert for
the Paint Quality Institute. “At the top of the list are the front
door and key parts of the home interior.”
You’ve no doubt heard the phrase “falling in love with a home.”
That feeling starts at the entranceway, so your front door should
create a favorable first impression. Fresh-looking paint on your
front door tells potential buyers that you care about your home,
giving them a comfort level even before entering.
“Next, take a hard look at the space just inside the door,” says
Zimmer. Is it warm and welcoming? Is it well maintained? If you
can’t honestly answer “yes” to both questions, it’s important to do
something about it. Zimmer advises home sellers to repair any
imperfections in the walls and paint the space in a “quiet” color,
such as white or off-white. “Studies show that these colors appeal
to most people, and they’ll enable potential buyers to more easily
picture their own furnishings in your home,” she says.
As for the rest of your interior, Zimmer advises repainting any
room with loud or overly bright walls in a neutral paint color. You
should also critically evaluate the condition of rooms where your
children or pets spend time -- as adorable as they may be, they can
take their toll on your home interior. Fresh paint can quickly and
easily restore these areas.
Should you find it necessary to take on several of these
painting projects, don’t be put off. You can probably handle most
of them yourself, and even if you need to hire a professional
painter, the jobs shouldn’t be too costly.
Things get more complicated when it comes to your home’s
exterior. As with the front door, the overall condition of your
outside walls and trim are part of a home’s curb appeal... or lack
thereof. Touch-ups can be helpful here. However, if your entire
exterior is in need of a new paint job, you’ll have to decide how
much you’re willing to invest to improve its appearance prior to
sale.
If you’re the handy type and your home isn’t too large, doing
your own exterior painting can be relatively economical,
potentially returning much more than the cost involved. But the
calculus of hiring a professional painter is different, so weigh
your options carefully. In doing so, you may want to consult with a
knowledgeable realtor who can offer valuable advice on the wisdom
of painting the exterior.
Whether you do your own exterior painting or hire a contractor,
it’s best to complete the work before putting your home on the
market. Then, when you do, be sure to promote your brand new paint
job. Not needing to paint for a while will be a big plus in the
eyes of prospective buyers and could help you seal the deal!
For more information about home painting, visit
blog.paintquality.com or www.paintquality.com.
About the Paint Quality Institute (SM)
The Paint Quality Institute (SM) was formed by Rohm and Haas
Company (now a wholly owned subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company
(“Dow”)) in 1989 to educate people on the advantages of using
quality interior and exterior paints and coatings. The Paint
Quality Institute's goal is to provide information on the virtues
of quality paint as well as color trends and decorating with paint
through a variety of vehicles, including television appearances,
newspaper and magazine articles, and instructional literature.
Please be sure to visit the Paint Quality Institute at
www.paintquality.com
About Dow
Dow (NYSE: Dow) combines the power of science and technology
with the “Human Element” to passionately innovate what is essential
to human progress. The Company connects chemistry and innovation
with the principles of sustainability to help address many of the
world’s most challenging problems such as the need for clean water,
renewable energy generation and conservation, and increasing
agricultural productivity. Dow’s diversified industry-leading
portfolio of specialty chemical, advanced materials, agrosciences
and plastics businesses delivers a broad range of technology-based
products and solutions to customers in approximately 160 countries
and in high growth sectors such as electronics, water, energy,
coatings and agriculture. In 2010, Dow had annual sales of $53.7
billion and employed approximately 50,000 people worldwide. The
Company’s more than 5,000 products are manufactured at 188 sites in
35 countries across the globe. References to “Dow” or the “Company”
mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries
unless otherwise expressly noted. More information about Dow can be
found at www.dow.com.
Union Carbide Corporation is a chemicals and polymers company
that has been a wholly owned subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company
since 2001.
Rohm and Haas Company is a premier specialty materials company
and has been a wholly owned subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company
since 2009.
®TM Trademark of The Dow Chemical Company (“Dow”) or an
affiliated company of Dow
Dow (NYSE:DOW)
Historical Stock Chart
From May 2024 to Jun 2024
Dow (NYSE:DOW)
Historical Stock Chart
From Jun 2023 to Jun 2024