Ok this is an easy one.  One the house is sufficiently empty, everything is in good working order and depersonalized, it is time to swing a paintbrush.

 

Paint is one of the cheapest and easiest ways to improve the look of a home.  It is also really, really cheap.  I spent an afternoon the other day on the couch with the home improvement channel running.  Each and every home improvement included new paint.  It accomplishes all the things we have already discussed in this series.  It looks fresh, and bright.  It can be used to make a room look bigger or in the case of painting ceilings and molding draw attention to height of a room.  It also has the effect of depersonalizing and giving the impression of a well maintained home. 

 

A few tips on painting however.  You get what you pay for.  If you are not a great painter, don't do it yourself.  Quality shows and you don't want to cut corners on what is already a super cheap fix. 

 

Secondly, stay away from white.  We aren't selling a sanitarium here.  We are selling a home.  Soft warm colors are the way to go. 

 

Ceiling colors should not be white either.  I know this goes against convention, but if you blend a little of the wall color into ceiling white, it looks more seemless and cohesive.  Try a 4 to 1 ratio of white to your wall color for the ceiling.  PS - crown molding should be the same color as the ceiling.

 

The same goes for the outside of the home.  Paint on the outside should not be peelilng or dingy.  Power wash and give it a fresh coat.  And don't forget the front door.  It is the single most important thing to pain on the exterior.  Feel free to choose a bold color and have fun.

 

More later.