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Seller Tip | Paint colors to sell your home in 2023

October 28, 2016 By Doug Francis

Best paint colors for 2020

Updated for 2023

Okay, this is going to help you out right now… Picking paint colors to sell your home in 2023 isn’t going to be as challenging as you are thinking.

Really.

It’s important to know that a fresh coat of paint will return 100+% of your investment. Hiring a professional painter will get it done quickly, and is well worth the cost.

Although I have written about removing old wallpaper, I still see plenty of dated wallpaper in homes for sale in Vienna handed down from owner to owner. Yes, they totally intended to take it down but never got to that project.

It is easy for an experienced pro to remove… especially when it is so old that the corners are dog-eared.

So, let’s remove that old wallpaper please, and paint a color that appeals to today’s picky home buyers.


My recommended colors

Ceilings – Ceilings need to be white, bright ceiling white in a flat finish simply because it appears to give the ceiling height or depth. It almost tricks the eye that the ceiling is higher.

Trim – This includes crown molding, door frames and baseboards need to be white, bright semi-gloss white. I often see impressive crown molding painted the same as the walls essentially disappearing. It needs to stand out, especially in the photos.

Wall colors –

At one point we (Realtors) told home sellers to paint everything white. Then, we told them to paint everything beige, eggshell, or off-white.

Gray is the new beige.

Benjamin Moore Revere PewterRevere Pewter from Benjamin Moore in the Matte Finish HC-172

This is a very attractive color in a living room, dining room, or bedroom.

Overall you can’t go wrong painting the house with this color to appeal to today’s buyers who have seen many shades of gray on those HGTV before and after shows.


BM Horizon Gray

Horizon Gray from Benjamin Moore 2141-50 in Matte Finish

This is a nice color that will add real depth all around the house, and should be considered if you just want one color.

It really is a crisp clean shade of gray.


Sandy Hook Gray Benjamin MooreSandy Hook Gray from Benjamin Moore HC-108 in Matte Finish

This is a nice color in your dining room especially if you are painting with a chair rail around the room. Pantries where there are a lot of white cabinets also look great when the walls are this color.

It can also work well in bedrooms.


Stonington Gray in Matte FinishStonington Gray HC-170 in Matte Finish also from Benjamin Moore

This shade of gray works well in small rooms like laundry rooms, bathrooms, but can work well in your study or home office. It’s very versitile.

It is a little lighter and works nicely where natural light is minimized.


Can of paint Benjamin MooreThe Matte Finish gives a very clean look and really minimizes imperfections in your walls.

Overall look for a paint that holds the color and will look great with one coat. But, plan to put on two coats of paint if you are doing it yourself.


These colors can vary from room to room depending on the amount of natural light and impact you hope to make. This really isn’t too challenging a task for you to start working on today.

For those of you who are locked into your home’s current colors and feel the buyers will want to paint, know that, yes, they may decide to paint. Remember that a positive first impression is critical when you are selling your home and it is important to meet the buyer’s expectations, especially in the 2020s!

Most stores like Lowes, Sherwin-Williams, and Home Depot can produce similar colors. Ask them to see if the color is in their computer database which can combine colors for a close match.

Interested in reading about replacing brass toned light fixtures, hinges, and door handles? Or how to get your home ready to sell?

Let me know if you have any questions or want to talk about your plans.


Vienna real estate realtor Doug FrancisWhen I started in Vienna long ago, the Sunday Washington Post was where everyone placed a tiny four-line ad hoping to catch a reader’s interest. (Just typing that makes me feel ancient!) As you can see here, I embraced the Internet long ago sharing my experiences and “how-to’s” in blog posts marketing client’s homes effectively.

To set up a meeting, go ahead and send me an email now telling me about your specific situation to doug@dougfrancis.com or give me call at 703-304-6827 during the day.

There is more about me here on my About Me Page.

I am available and look forward to helping you too!


Filed Under: Blog, Home Seller Tips Tagged With: Home Seller Tips, real estate, Vienna

About Doug Francis

A Realtor specializing in unique and new homes around Vienna, Virginia, Doug started writing a first-hand blog about his everyday real estate experiences a decade ago. In-depth, helpful and fun has always been the objective. Outside real estate, he was profiled in a commercial for Verisign's "Where the World Clicks" global ad campaign, and was quoted in Money Magazine's Best Places to Live article on Vienna (#3!). He's a Boston University graduate who feels morning coffee is non-negotiable.

Vienna real estate agent Doug Francis

When we bought our house, we were thinking about raising the kids, updating, and building an addition. With our kids now out of college, our plans are looking at our next phase, especially after seeing friends move away and adjust their lifestyles.

So, what’s next after 25 years? It’s a conversation lots of my clients are having with me as they plan to move to the beach, travel, or move closer to grandkids. Helping them see their future, sell their current home, and move ahead to their new plan has been an interesting new chapter.

My background… I am an active licensed agent in Virginia, work at TTR Sotheby’s International Realty in McLean, and sell homes in all price ranges. I donate to the Town of Vienna tree replacement fund, participate in a neighborhood citizens association, and try my best to stay in shape.

Let me help you too: Email doug@dougfrancis.com or call me at (703) 304-6827 to discuss your plans. Cheers!

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Photo of 6808 BROYHILL ST, MCLEAN, VA 22101 (MLS # VAFX2137956)
$2,499,000
49
  • Lot Size
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  • Beds
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Photo of 8807 HIGDON DR, VIENNA, VA 22182 (MLS # VAFX2149464)
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Photo of 610 MEADOW LN SW, VIENNA, VA 22180 (MLS # VAFX2149952)
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Photo of 626 HILLCREST DR SW, VIENNA, VA 22180 (MLS # VAFX2149036)
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Photo of 9838 CORAL BELLS CT, VIENNA, VA 22182 (MLS # VAFX2149568)
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Photo of 10009 MURNANE ST, VIENNA, VA 22181 (MLS # VAFX2149646)
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Photo of 131 KINGSLEY RD SW, VIENNA, VA 22180 (MLS # VAFX2149584)
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Photo of 3005 SPICE CT, VIENNA, VA 22181 (MLS # VAFX2148724)
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    Photo of 102 JAMES DR SE, VIENNA, VA 22180 (MLS # VAFX2150256)
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    Photo of 2511 BABCOCK RD, VIENNA, VA 22181 (MLS # VAFX2149442)
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    Photo of 8807 HIGDON DR, VIENNA, VA 22182 (MLS # VAFX2149464)
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    Photo of 610 MEADOW LN SW, VIENNA, VA 22180 (MLS # VAFX2149952)
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    Photo of 626 HILLCREST DR SW, VIENNA, VA 22180 (MLS # VAFX2149036)
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    Photo of 904 DALE CT SE, VIENNA, VA 22180 (MLS # VAFX2149540)
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    Photo of 9838 CORAL BELLS CT, VIENNA, VA 22182 (MLS # VAFX2149568)
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    Photo of 10009 MURNANE ST, VIENNA, VA 22181 (MLS # VAFX2149646)
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    Photo of 131 KINGSLEY RD SW, VIENNA, VA 22180 (MLS # VAFX2149584)
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    Photo of 3005 SPICE CT, VIENNA, VA 22181 (MLS # VAFX2148724)
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About Doug Francis

I am a Realtor with TTR Sotheby's International Realty® just outside Washington D.C. in Northern Virginia. I have been a full-time Realtor licensed in Virginia since 1991, and cover a big territory specializing in the Vienna real estate market and custom homes for sale.

I have unique knowledge of digital real estate marketing, and my marketing starts here. My clients have been attracted to my results-oriented strategy for years, and I am accepting new clients for Fall 2023 right now.

Thanks for reading, and feel free to contact me at 703-304-6827 or email me at doug@dougfrancis.com anytime!

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