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Home Sellers: You gotta paint!

October 7, 2011 By Doug Francis

Sandy Hook Gray

Classic colors are essential

Ever had a moment when you realized, “Hey, I’m one of those people!”?

That happened to me when I was showing “newer” homes to a client and kept pointing out how the homes would show much better properly painted. After 3 to 5 years they were still “builder’s white” and looked dirty.

As I walked into my own house at the end of the day, I realized that, yikes,  I was one “of those people” too.

Pick a color that will appeal to home buyers

Painting is probably the easiest thing to fix when you are planning to put your home on the market. It is essential to think strategically, which is Realtor Code for painting a color that will appeal to today’s home buyers. Finding an “in-color” is tough, but easily enough achieved thanks to countless Pottery Barn catalogues, Google, HGTV, a home stager/designer or a plugged-in real estate guy.

I have seen paint totally transform a 1950’s Vienna Virginia rambler, and shock the owner of a five year-old colonial in Clifton. After seeing the photos online of the finished job the homes looked totally different, and that is essential since your first showing is now taking place online from the comfort of the home buyer’s kitchen counter (you buyers know where you are, Panera?).

House Painter Northern Virginia William Gonzalez

William Gonzalez

For the rambler in Vienna, it was easily painted by my trusty handyman John Blizard ( jblizard@comcast.net ), but for the bigger jobs I suggest calling in a painting crew. Recently some clients have used William Gonzalez’s (wgmypainter@gmail.com) company, My Painter which is licensed and insured to get the house prepped and painted  (takes 3 to 4 days). The speed and quality of a professional crew makes is well worth the expense.

Some recent paint selections:

  • Hawthorne Yellow – Benjamin Moore, flat/matte finish
  • Sandy Hook Gray – Benjamin Moore, flat/matte finish
  • (to see more photos of a home with Sandy Hook Gray, click here)

Take a look at the exterior of your house close up to see if there is paint chipping or fading. Some people wind up with black spots all over their nice white trim boards. That actually comes from all the wood mulch you spread around your house (at least here in Northern Virginia) and is a natural mold. With so many homes here built with vinyl or HardiePlank siding, often a good power wash solves the trick… but your trim work still needs some painting.

Home buyers will be staring at your front door

Last, but not least, one of your most important “first impressions” is your front door. From my experience, often a full minute is spent at the front door as the Realtor is opening the lock box, fiddling with the keys or ringing the bell waiting for you to get your arse to the door. So make their wait special with a freshly painted door, and, by the way, that old door handle and knocker may need replacing too.

After I painted my own house, it was amazing how much more comfortable it was. So don’t wait until you plan to move to make it look like you live in an episode of Divine Design.

 

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

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

I’m so excited that you found me! Yes, this site covers real estate, but also a lot about lifestyle and  living in Vienna, Virginia outside Washington, D.C.

There is a lot of info here, and you can also contact me with any specific real estate questions. And, at home consultations are available too.

My background… I’ve been an active licensed agent in Virginia for 25 years, 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: Email doug@dougfrancis.com or call me at (703) 304-6827 to discuss your plans. Cheers!

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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.

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