White paint? Not necessarily.

When people begin thinking about selling their home, many of them take on some renovations beforehand. Sometimes it’s about completing that project that never quite got finished. Sometimes it’s about repairing minor damage; those dents and dings in the walls, that cracked lampshade or that baseboard trim that the dog chewed on when he was just a pup. No matter the size of the project, many people are unsure of how much work to do to get the maximum return on investment. A good rule for whether to paint or not is this; if you can’t recall the last time the walls were painted, if your walls have never been repainted in the years you have owned the house or if the wall colour is...let’s just say non-traditional, it would be a good idea to add that to the list of things to do before listing your house.

Wall colour is one of the first things buyers notice and a bad colour choice can actually drive potential buyers right out of the house. Some people will say “Paint everything white!” but I disagree. White can be a very stark and cold colour and may not work with the rest of the colours in the house. The best way to choose a colour is to look at the finishes that can’t easily be changed; flooring, cabinetry, tile, etc, and then find a more neutral colour that will work with these finishes. Avoid doing any bright colours or any fancy textured finishes. Faux finishes can have a place in your home but they will not help sell your house. Stick to neutrals like creams, grays or even beige. It doesn’t have to be white! Also, if you’ve never painted before, now may not be the best time to attempt it. You’re trying to impress your potential buyer, not make them wonder if the quality of the paint job is an example of the rest of your home maintenance. A professional painter will be an additional expense but, if you’re a painting novice, hiring a professional will get the job done faster and better than you ever will. Bonus: this also means you don’t have to clean up the mess, cleaning paint brushes and rollers is a hassle. However, if you do know what you’re doing, don’t forget to properly prep your walls to give the best finish possible. Either way, giving the whole house (or at least the main rooms) a fresh coat of paint will go a long way to impressing every potential buyer that walks through your door. ​
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Remember, if you’re afraid of making a bad choice, you can always hire a colour consultant like myself to help you find the best colour for your space. 

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Benjamin Moore
2019 Colour Trends