Do you think paint colors make a difference (re: selling a home)

katie4253

We have had our house on the market since Thanksgiving.  Still no sale.  It sucks.  The kitchen is a pretty bright green, and now I am wondering if we should have it painted (we are 2000 miles away).  Our realtor is saying paint colors don't really matter.  But, it's come up in the comments a couple of times now (we've had 20 showings).  I just don't know...

Justinlove

I think some people have a hard time looking past color.  While it shouldn't matter since color is an easy change, if it distracts the potential buyer because they can't see "past" the color, then it can be problematic.  Since it is coming up in comments, I would really consider repainting to a more neutral color.

Jhawks482

Justinlove:

I think some people have a hard time looking past color.  While it shouldn't matter since color is an easy change, if it distracts the potential buyer because they can't see "past" the color, then it can be problematic.  Since it is coming up in comments, I would really consider repainting to a more neutral color.

I have to agree. I think a lot of people (especially us D&R greats) can look past something that isn't our taste and realize that a paint color we don't like is an easy fix. To others, it's not and they might walk away. Especially in a kitchen- often THE selling point of the home- people may not see the how great your kitchen is if they don't like the color. Some food for thought- Janell from the blog Isabella and max rooms just painted her kitchen a neutral darkish blue, only to change it back because she felt it took away from the "high end" look she previously had going. The new color just wasnt right in her kitchen. She makes some interesting points here: http://isabellaandmaxrooms.blogspot.com/2012/01/kitchen-paint-progressit-hit-glitch.html

hippie4yahweh

Ditto PP. Every time I watch HH or similar I'm beyond amazed at the stupid things people are swayed by, so if it's come up in the comments more than once it certainly couldn't HURT to have a neutral, fresh paint job in there! 

ilovemygirls

hippie4yahweh:

Ditto PP. Every time I watch HH or similar I'm beyond amazed at the stupid things people are swayed by, so if it's come up in the comments more than once it certainly couldn't HURT to have a neutral, fresh paint job in there! 

This totally.  Watching HH is excruciating sometimes because people make so many comments about such superficial, easy to fix things.  It can be a deterrent.  I think it would be worth the $$ to hire out & have it painted a neutral.  Certainly less expensive than traveling 2000 miles to do it yourselves.  Good luck!

lil_jen051708

Since it's been commented on, I would probably pay to have someone paint it another color.  I don't believe that the whole house has to be neutrals but I think that some colors work better depending on the countertop, cabinets, etc.  So don't necessarily pick out a tan or white but I'm just wondering how bright of a green is in there and is it working with the rest of the kitchen.  Just a few hundred dollars could make a big difference.  Just make sure your realtor or a nearby friend or family member stops by after painting to make sure there isn't a mess and that no one got paint on the cabinets/floors/etc.

kaylie622

I can always see past color and like pp, I go crazy when the idiots on house hunters whine about it. Truly, I think they just have to whine about something. I would suggest painting it not so much because people can't see past it, but a new coat of paint can make the walls look nicer and the room feel cleaner. 

pugznploons

my ILs house was on the market for a year in Parkville.  However it was in a very nice neighborhood, and listed at over $300k to start.  Changes they made over the course of the year: Removed/painted over all wallpaper, updated all lighting fixtures to ORB (they were brass or teal before, ick).  Updated the kitchen to SS appliances and granite (standard in their neighborhood).  They also went through three realtors. The third one made them upgrade the appliances from white to stainless steel and that's when it finally sold (in December).  

in their neighborhood though people expected a move in ready house with updates for that price point.  

if your house is move in ready, not one where people need to come in and remodel/renovate, then I think neutral paint colors throughout would be smart. 

artichokie

We put our neutral-colored house on the market and it sold in 4 months and had lots of activity on it.  Personally, I think paint color does have a lot to do with it.  As people said above, some buyers can't look beyond paint color, plus buyers will be able to live with neutrals without thinking "Oh my, I've got to get rid of that chartruese green or orange living room".  I think it's huge when staging a house to sell.  

aweilba

Honestly, I think it depends who is looking at your home.  Our home had two colors when we bought it: blood red and a dark blue-gray.  Every single room, including closets, had these colors.  It was horrible.  But, I knew that I could paint over it, so paint didn't deter me from seeing the potential in the house.  Every room has since been painted, and although it took us nearly two years to do it, I didn't mind; but painting is something I really enjoy doing.  

Some buyers will not want to do that extra bit of work and will prefer something neutral that they can live with for a while before decided if they want to paint.  If you think your bright green kitchen is a problem for resale, take a weekend and a $30 gallon of paint to paint it something more neutral.  It can't hurt anything.  Good luck!

 Edit: Oops!  Forgot about you living 2000 miles away.  Do you know anybody in the area still that would be willing to swing by and paint if you compensated them?  I really don't think the color should matter, but if you're worried, it's worth a shot. 

Magdala9

You are right.  With so many houses on the market, people are looking for move in ready houses.  Bright green is not a popular color.

Sisugal

Yes, do cover that bright green!

byrne15

Justinlove:

I think some people have a hard time looking past color.  While it shouldn't matter since color is an easy change, if it distracts the potential buyer because they can't see "past" the color, then it can be problematic.  Since it is coming up in comments, I would really consider repainting to a more neutral color.

This....

we had mostly neutral colors when we were selling our house, but had a bright blue on the wall above the fire place.  we had 2 realtors comment on the color and decided to paint it the same color as the rest of the walls.

Knitty

After house hunting with my husband I can tell you it makes a difference. Not so much in liking/disliking a colour, but in having a good/bad feel for the house, and in perception of how light/dark and how big it is.

JackieO1114

Another thing to consider- Changing the paint color in a bedroom is easy and just about any novice can do it.  Painting a kitchen, cutting in and around all of the fixed cabinets and appliances, is a little harder and that may be turning off buyers.  It stinks, but I'd go ahead and have the kitchen painted to a neutral shade and hope for the best. 

Mrs.G123

If it seems like it is hurting your chances to sell, have it painted.

 

Signed,

 

Owner of a lime green kitchen (that we chose!!!)  

SSM&JLM

Absolutely.  While it sux and we think of paint as an easy change or way to add personality to a room, most buyers now think they're awesomesauce and basically want whatever other whiny HH couple wants.

Do you have any family that could oversee hiring a painting company to come in and do everything neutral?

sharonskye

I'll echo everyone else, I'd get a painter in there pronto. When H and I were house hunting last year H had a very hard time looking past colors. I'd see an orange wall and think oh, one afternoon and a gallon of paint and we're good. H saw it as a reason not to buy the house. 

sierramist_03

I would paint the kitchen. Especially in this market. I would rather buy a house with neutral kitchen. Like pp said the kitchen is one of the harder rooms to paint. 

Santorini2011

YES - color is a huge item.  That is like having crap and clutter everywhere and expecting people to think your house is worth top dollar.  People wil view it more as a fixer upper b/c they have to do something.  Shame on your realtor for not suggesting this at the beginning, esp in this market. 

Also, since I am questioning your realtor, is it priced right?  Do a search for comps, or ask him/her for it.  Have you had many tours come through?  Any price comments.

Jena503

In general I'd say no, they don't make that much of a difference... except in the kitchen. Kitchens and baths sell houses they say, so you want that to be as appealing as possible to as many buyers as possible.

We sold our old house with a full room mural painted in a bedroom, but even then we had it in our listing that we would paint it a neutral color if the buyer wanted. The realtor had a handyman that she used a lot and he painted the room for $100 (his normal price was $60, but this included ceiling, baseboards, and doors). If it's an empty house, I'd let the realtor oversee the painting.

AugustBrideCO

Yes, I'd paint it.  It's silly to think that paint could make or break a house sale since it's relatively easy to change, but I do think it makes a big impact in the minds of a lot of buyers. It might not be conscious.... it could just be that the paint colors make the house feel dark or small or cluttered or whatever.  Also, while paint isn't hugely expensive, re-painting a kitchen is a huge PITA.  The house we bought had dark orange paint in the office, master bedroom, and master bathroom. I really think that's a big reason why it hadn't sold when we found it. 

prazenjc

we found that it was very much a factor when we had our TH in NC on the market. once we neutralized the colors that weren't, we had much more success.

truth is, if there are two houses a buyer is considering and all else is equal, if they have to paint one to move in/live/enjoy it and don't have to paint the other, they will likely buy the one they don't have to paint right away.

 

iceefreeze

I think paint color can definitely make a difference, depending on the buyer.  If you are getting comments about it, it is clearly a problem for some of the individuals walking through your house.  I would pay to have it painted.

Mryan209

Knitty:

After house hunting with my husband I can tell you it makes a difference. Not so much in liking/disliking a colour, but in having a good/bad feel for the house, and in perception of how light/dark and how big it is.

I agree with this. Paint color can transform a room and the bright paint may not be highlighting the kitchen as well as other colors might.