When it comes to putting the best face forward on your home, sometimes a "lipstick" renovation is all that is needed to make a potential buyer fall in love.
"Fresh paint, new address numbers and a good cleanup can really make a difference," advises real estate consultant Ozzie Jurock.
"Such lipstick renovations can really pay off."
"First impressions are everything when selling your home, and paint is the easiest and least expensive way to create an appealing atmosphere for potential buyers," says paint expert Alison Goldman, of CIL paint. "The more attractive and comfortable you make your home, the more it will entice prospective buyers to make an offer."
According to Goldman, vendors can be a bit daring with their colour choice. "Contrary to popular belief, colours with personality have been shown to be more effective at closing a deal. In fact, soothing shades of green, brown and yellow paint may even help a home sell faster than white or beige."
She recommends earth tones such as muted shades of green, brown, yellow, blue, red, grey and tan.
"They create a warm and inviting environment."
There are some tips when freshening the home for suitors, er, buyers,
. Look at the property from a buyer's perspective. Don't think of it as your home anymore. You're selling a product now.
. Since your furnishings will be going with you when you move, select a colour scheme best suited to stationary items, such as flooring, cabinetry and countertops. When choosing paint for a living or dining room, for example, hold paint swatches right next to the floor, not only in the middle of the wall, to ensure the tones work well together.
Painting a focal wall in a warm colour adds personality to a room and may draw increased interest from prospects. This technique is especially effective in key rooms like the master bedroom and dining area, where a splash of colour adds charm to a space without overwhelming it.
Use colour to highlight impressive features of a home or detract from less desirable elements. For example, upgrades such as crown moulding can be accented by painting them a colour that contrasts slightly with the walls.
Smaller spaces can be visually expanded with shades of cool blue or muted green, and a dark entryway can be warmed up with sunny yellow to maximize the play of light. "For a minimum invest-ment, paint can help yield maximum return when selling your home," Goldman says.
