Should I Repaint My House Before Selling It?

Exterior paint

Curb appeal is vital for making a fantastic first impression with buyers; it sets the tone for buyers’ expectations of your home’s condition. Fresh paint can go a long way in enhancing buyers’ initial impressions.

Resale value and ROI

Repainting the exterior of a house can be pricey — especially when you hire a professional to paint a sizable home. It’s only natural to want to recover a high return from your sale proceeds. In recent years, consumer reports have shown that adding a fresh layer of exterior paint, even with minimal touch-ups, can increase your home’s financial value by 2-5%.

Cost to hire a pro to paint the exterior of a house

According to Angi, hiring a professional to paint the exterior of a house costs an average of $3,165, but ranges anywhere from $1,810 to $4,524. Repainting the exterior of a 1,100-square-foot single-story home, for example, can cost as little as $1,500. But for a 3-story home with 3,000 square feet of paintable area, the paint job can cost up to $12,000. Expect to pay between $1.50 and $4 per square foot, depending on factors such as siding type (wood, stucco, brick), home size, and necessary prep work.

Cost to paint the exterior DIY

To do the job DIY, your main expense will be the paint. The price of paint per gallon ranges from $20 to $70. You can calculate how many gallons you’ll need by measuring the exterior walls by square feet (length x width = square footage). Don’t forget to measure the eaves, dormers, gables, and trim.

It’s also important to factor in the cost of painting materials such as brushes, sprayers, rollers, tape, and drop cloths, as well as painting prep supplies, including a power washer, caulking supplies and tools, and sandpaper.

Signs you need to paint the exterior

If you’ve painted the exterior recently, a good power washing might be all your house needs. Here are some signs that indicate your exterior walls need repainting.

• The exterior paint is faded: Prolonged exposure to the sun and the elements can cause paint to fade. If the paint appears dull or faded, it’s time to give it a refresh.
• Your paint is flaking and peeling: These issues can ruin curb appeal in an instant –– and give buyers the impression the home has been poorly maintained. If your home was built before 1978, it could have lead-based paint and will need to be repainted to satisfy a lender.
• Your house has cracks, gaps, and wood rot: Cracked caulk, gaps between siding, wood rot, and cracked wood warrant a new paint job and replacing damaged materials.
• Your house has water damage, mold, and mildew: Moderate signs of mold and mildew can often be removed with a special cleaner. However, if mold or severe water damage penetrates through the surface of your exterior walls, you’ll need to repaint them.
• The color clashes with houses in the neighborhood: According to the National Association of Realtors®, choosing a paint color that’s radically different from other homes could have a negative impact on a buyer’s perception, which can affect the sale.

Exterior painting tips from the pros

From cost savings and aesthetics to repairs and more, consider the following tips from the experts when repainting a house for sale.

Interior paint

Refreshing the main interior walls with a coat of paint can make your home look fresh, new, and more attractive for showings and open houses. The right neutral color on the walls can also give the home a cohesive look and the appearance of more square footage.

Resale value and ROI

Repainting interior walls increases home value by an average of 5% and nets an ROI of 107%. That means a home valued at $400,000 would increase in value by $20,000.

While top Rhode Island real estate agent Sam Alpern never advises his sellers to take on substantial home renovations before listing, he does see the value in taking a weekend to paint a couple of rooms.

Cost of interior painting

According to Angi, hiring a professional to paint just one room costs an average of $1,100, though it can range anywhere from $150 for DIY projects to $4,800 for high-end cases. Living rooms are usually the most expensive to paint, while bathrooms and kitchens are on the lower end of the spectrum. Your professional painting project will typically cost between $2 to $6 per square foot, though it varies depending on the type of room.

The cost you’ll pay for interior painting depends on several factors, including:

• The size of each room
• The number of rooms that need painting
• How many coats of primer and paint are needed (one gallon covers 400 square feet)
• The quality and sheen of the paint
• The total square footage of a house
• Architectural details like wainscoting and millwork
• Additional labor, such as painting high cathedral ceilings
• Contractor rates in your area

Painting the interior DIY will cost considerably less, ranging between $1 and $3 per square foot for paint. If you choose this option, make sure you’re a neat painter to appeal to buyers.

Signs you need to paint the interior

If your walls haven’t seen a paintbrush in the last five to seven years, it’s likely time to freshen things up. Throughout the years, walls can absorb moisture, grease stains, and sun filtering through the windows and show dirt, scuffs, fingerprints, and paw-prints from the people and pets who inhabit a home.

Here are some signs it’s time to repaint.

• The paint is faded and discolored: Sun shining through windows can discolor the paint on walls. Darker paint colors fade faster than lighter shades, but all colors fade eventually.
• The color palette doesn’t appeal to buyers: Mike Katona, a DIY and home improvement enthusiast, had trouble selling his home. Buyers couldn’t get past the pink, purple, and mint green painted walls. After receiving agent feedback, he repainted the rooms a neutral white, and the house sold on the next showing.
• Your interior paint is peeling and chipping: You can remove some dirt marks and stains from interior walls with a deep cleaning, but chipping and peeling require sanding and repainting. Other signs it’s time to repaint include tough scuff marks, deep scratches, and grease stains.

Interior painting tips from the pros

When repainting your house before selling, take a cue from the pros with the following expert painting tips.

Skip the Painting and Go Straight to Selling

With HomeLight’s Simple Sale platform, you don’t have to worry about additional repairs, prepping your home for listing, or showings. Request an all-cash offer for your home today to get started.

Learn More

To paint or not to paint: Key takeaways

So, is it worth it to repaint your house before selling? If you have the time and money for it and your exterior or interior is worse for the wear, go for it. Painting is one of the easiest projects you can take on before you sell.

“I don’t think it’s always necessary, especially in homes that are already in fair condition or at a higher price point. But the homes that are in low price points that need a pretty good cosmetic overhaul, it can make a significant impact,” Alpern summarizes.

Header Image Source: (Clay Banks / Unsplash)