A fresh coat of paint is almost a requirement nowadays if you want to increase the value of your property before selling your property.  Prospective buyers are repulsed by smudgy walls, grubby wallpaper, and peeling paint.

If you want to create the right impression to sell your property, you may want to consider investing some money (and time) in painting your home.

Buyers gravitate towards a freshly painted home.  A person will find it easier to visualise how they can decorate a place if he or she is looking at fresh, clean walls.  With so much real estate activity conducted online these days, painting your home before you list can help you showcase your property’s best features.

But how much paintwork do you need to put in to optimise the value of your property?  We asked homely.com.au all the key considerations involved in painting your home to sell at a higher value.

What will painting add to the value of your property?

A professionally finished paintwork can add up to 5% to your sale value.  A freshly painted house is appealing to buyers who are searching for a property online.  If your house looks good, it will generate more views and requests for a private inspection.  Ultimately, painting your house can help you sell your house quicker at the best price.

Which paint colours can help you sell your house?

When it comes to painting your home to sell, sticking with neutral tones is a safe bet.  You are aiming to make the home universally appealing to everyone, not showcase your individuality.  If a person can visualise your house as their home, you are half-way there in selling the place.

Choosing a neutral colour tone does not mean painting your entire property in sterile white.  There are many light and fresh shades you can choose, for example, shades of blues, muted greys, and off-whites.

For example, last year blue was a trendy colour to sell homes.  Last year, periwinkle and powder blue bathrooms were popular with buyers.  For bedrooms, preferred shades ranged from cerulean to cadet blue.

Our advice is to keep the walls, trimmings and frames in neutral tones and use furniture, furnishings, and decorative pieces to accent trending design themes.

For inspiration, check out the following:

Pantone Colour Institute – The consulting arm of Pantone forecasts global colour trends, insights, and colour customisation.  Last year, the colour of the year was coral.

Homely – A Real-Estate search platform with more than 43 million users with lots of interesting interior design ideas for you to style your home for selling.

Elledecor.com – The website incorporates design ideas from Elle Magazine and Metropolitan Home.  It is full of interesting style ideas from classic to contemporary.

How much paint will you need?

Before you start, you will need to decide what needs painting and calculate the area size.   Here are some tips that can help:

1. Determining the area size

Calculate a normal rectangle room

• Measure the length and width of the room. Round off the figure to the nearest half-metre and add together.
• Multiply the total number by the room height then double the result. The final figure is the area size of the room in square metres.
• Subtract 1.5 square metres for every window and 2 square metres for a door.
• Multiply the length of the room by the width to get the ceiling size.

Calculate an odd shape space (For example a stairwell)

• Measure the height and width of each rectangular section to be painted. Multiply to get the area and add to the total area.
• Calculate stairwell spaces by multiplying the lengths of the horizontal and vertical legs then dividing by two.

Calculate trims and skirting boards

• Multiply the length by the width of each trim then add the totals together.
• Multiply the height by the length (which is generally the perimeter of the room) to calculate a skirting board area.

Calculate door and windows

• Allow 2 square metres for each side of a door and 1.5 square metres for a single size window frame.

2. Determining the coverage area

Once you have worked out the total area to paint, you will need to determine the covering capacity of the paint you are buying.

A litre of matt or semi-gloss paint can approximately cover 14-16 square metres of smooth walls.  If you are using finishing paint on porous or previously unpainted walls, a litre of paint will cover considerably less area.

As a general rule, 5 litres of paint is sufficient for a two 4m x 5m room if the walls are smooth or have been previously painted.  The ceiling in the room will require approximately 1.5 litres of paint.

How long will take?

An hour’s work will cover approximately 7 square metres of ordinary surfaces and 5 metres of bare wood or plaster.

To paint a 4m x 5m room will take you approximately 2-4 hours.  If you apply two coats, you will need to allocate time for the first coat to dry before you can apply a second coat.  Water-based paints take about 4 hours to dry while oil-based paint may require overnight drying time.  This means an average room could take you up to 2 days to paint and clean up.

How much will it cost to hire a professional painter?

If you do not have the time to paint your home before you sell the property, you can hire a tradie to do the job.  On average a professional painter could charge between $40-$45 an hour.  This price is for labour only and does not include paint or other materials.

You can also estimate the job based on the area size.  Generally, professional painters will charge between $25-$40 per square metre for exterior painting (if the surfaces are in good condition) and between $10-$25 per square metre for interior painting (with no repair).  Repair work on walls is charged separately based on the amount of work required.

You can easily find professional painters on Gumtree or Airtasker.  We use our trusted painting partners Newline Painting.  If you are using an online platform to hire a painter, please make sure you check their credentials first before you confirm the job.  The last thing you need is a badly painted house that will not sell.

When it comes to selling your property, visuals count.  Investing in painting your home can make it easier for you to sell your home at the price you want or at a better price!

Thinking of listing your property in Keysborough, Noble Park or neighbouring suburbs?  Contact Our Local Agent team.