The Power of Exterior Paint when Selling Your Home in Portland OR
When your home is on the market, its curb appeal is the first impression that buyers have and its often a deciding factor in whether or not they want to see the inside of the house. Professional home stagers often provide our homeowner clients with neutral paint colors that will be appealing to their target buyers, along with other curb appeal tips.
When I met with the sellers of this home recently, the first thing I noticed when driving up was the bright yellow paint. Although the paint job was less than a year old and in good condition, the color was much too taste-specific for selling. It also didn't blend in well with other homes in the neighborhood.
During our Verbal Consultation service, I advised the sellers that in order for their home to look its best, that the exterior paint color needed to be more neutral ~ and that a new color would also blend in better with other similar homes on their street.
The sellers had already guessed that their bright yellow paint might need to be changed, so they were interested in finding out my opinion, and my color recommendation. Since the house was painted only a year ago, I wanted to limit their expense as much as possible. Their home has some stone trim on the front of the house, along with white paint trim, black shutters, and gray cedar shingles. To save them considerable expense, I suggested that they keep all of the trim colors as they were, thus avoiding having to repaint those areas. For the house body color, I selected a true taupe (between gray and brown) -- which worked well with the other three paint colors on the exterior. I also advised that they paint the front door black, which gave a much more updated look than the previous natural wood stain. The end result is a classic, more sophisticated color palette that today's buyers like. As a result, the online photos are so much more appealing.
This color is Benjamin Moore's Taos Taupe
Before you list your home, contact your local professional home stager for a very reasonably-priced Consultation. We can help with paint colors, furniture placement, easy cosmetic updates, and lots of excellent advice on how to make your home "move in ready" for potential buyers.
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Maureen Bray is a professional home stager based in Portland, Oregon. Her staging company, Room Solutions Staging, has experienced phenomenal growth because of the excellent results they deliver to their clients (homeowners, Realtors, investors, trustees, banks, and builders). Average Days on Market for their staged properties is 28 -- in a market where the current average DOM is 135. Room Solutions offers a menu of home staging services including Staging for both Vacant & Occupied homes, home staging Consultations, Color Consultations, Redesign Services, and New Home Move-in Services. For a complimentary no-obligation estimate, call 503-246-1800.
Licensed • Insured • Accredited • Certified
2012 Professional Home Stager of the Year - Western U.S.
(Real Estate Staging Association)
Copyright © Room Solutions Staging LLC 2006-2012
"Staging That Sells Portland Homes"
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The curb appeal is one of the most important aspects of a home on the market for sale.
Curb appeal is so important. Sometimes what we feel will work and what the sellers are willing to change are two different things.
I like the way the house turned out in the end with the different colored paint.
As difficult as it can sometimes be, I mean let's face it, we're talking about someone's home, it's still important to gently get the seller to understand why certain changes will help them in the long run.
Thanks for the post.
Good work. It is often hard to convince people to pay for a change when they recently completed that big expense. What is the name & brand for that color-I like it.
Maureen-
Now the Sellers will "get the Buyers at hello". I have had some different paint colors in my own house but when I go to sell, they will be neutralized. It is all about appealing to the "most amounts of Buyers"....Great advice you gave your Sellers!
Great job and great advice. What's weird though, is that a painter shared a study w/ me saying that yellow paint for exterior was the best for selling homes. so, not sure if this yellow was too bright or if this is something reasonable or if the color just looks a bit whacked next to the black. I do like the new color though.
WOW!!! What a difference the paint color has made. Well worth the $$ spent. Excellent selection Maureen.
Tim ~ You're so right about that! Curb appeal has to be carefully considered. Without it, buyers won't want to see the inside.
Kimberly ~ That's why we explain to sellers that they're selling a "house" that is no longer their "home." It's important that they disconnect from their house emotionally, so that buyers will be able to imagine it being their home. Since many Realtors find it difficult to have that conversation with their clients, professional home stagers can guide sellers about what changes are necessary, and why.
Michelle ~ Even these sellers knew that the very bright yellow paint would not be appealing to buyers. When I brought it up, the homeowner said, "I KNEW you were going to ask us to paint the house!"
Marianne ~ So true, we must make the home appealing to a wide range of buyers!
Debbie ~ That study may be from years ago ... or it may be a regional thing too. Here, bright yellow exterior paint is considered quite dated. Newer construction is all neutral colors in various shades.
Michele ~ Since none of the trim had to be repainted, and that's the biggest labor expense, just painting the body was quite reasonable. Thanks for your comment!
WOW oh WOW......what an improvement in style. It is positively a standout now. The yellow seemed so dated and the taupe you suggested blends seamlessly with the trim colors! GREAT choice!!
Maureen ~ the end result definitely is a classic, more sophisticated color palette that today's buyers like! Vast improvement!
Hello Maureen -
The interesting aspect about paint is that it is going to cost X number of dollars to paint it the wrong color, and that exact same amount to paint it the right color. The right color is going to make the house appear to be more valuable, so it's not the place to goof around!
And KUDOS to you on the choice of the front door color. I say this all the time, because it's true: You never see a painted black door in a cheap neighborhood!
It seems to be something only seen on the finest homes. Instant increase in perceived value!
Excellent job!
~Michelle
Kathy ~ since we try to keep expenses to a minimum for sellers, finding a color that would work with the existing trim was important. Thanks for your endorsement!
Laura ~ Glad to hear that you agree!
Michelle ~ So true, painting it the right color makes the house appear more valuable. The bright yellow just made it look cheaper. And I'm glad to hear you like black doors too -- I think they're always a classic statement.
WOW, oh my goodness, what a difference. From Country bumpkin to Very Classy!! I think you Maureen, could sell snow to eskimos. Great job and I LOVE the changes. Suggesting and reblogging!
Ginger ~ Thanks for your nice comment .... the house does look quite different, and for a reasonable investment in paint.
Maureen - Your choice of colour for this home was spot on! The home looks very sophisticated now, and goes perfectly with the black shutters and door and is in keeping with the historical style of the home.
Sally ~ Sellers may paint their home any color they like when living in it, but when selling -- they need to give buyers what they like and not another "project." Thanks for your support!
Maureen how beautiful.
I would have passed the yellow home by without a second glance but this new colour is stunning!
Liz ~ Thank you! You know, I felt the same way you did when I first saw this house. With the too-bright yellow, it just didn't look at all appealing. I got out my paint fan decks and found just the right body color so that they could keep the existing accent colors.
What do they say ... that we have just seconds to make a good impression? Obviously true about homes as well as people. This was proof of that and a wonderful transformation. One word regarding my opinion of your suggestion, Maureen ... "brilliant" ...
Gene
Hi Maureen. I have seen this many times...and often with the color yellow for some reason..especially in the Pacific NW. You're color recommendation was spot on and the curb appeal soooo much better!!! Kudos to the sellers who listened and I bet the listing agent is just loving you both for this!
Ah, that yellow. Great job and advice you provided the sellers. Makes a big difference and creates great curb appeal.
Sue of Robin and Sue
It's hard to go wrong with a good Taupe, Mareen...nice work. While I don't dislike yellow houses, it's true that certain colors work best on certain architectural styles. Yellow was NOT one of them for this place. :-)
This new color compliments the stone and the cedar shakes so well. Even the landscaping looks better with the taupe! So glad you were able to convince the homeowners to invest in this change!
Gene ~ The first impression is a lasting one, that's for sure. Thanks so much for your feedback! (I hope that sweet little granddaughter of yours is doing well :-)
Cindy ~ Curb appeal just has to be right, or you can lose the buyer before they even see the house. The sellers are glad they made this decision. P.S. Thanks for reblogging my post :-)
Sue ~ Glad that you agree!
David ~ The yellow was chosen by the homeowners last year when they didn't know that they'd be moving again. It suited their needs very well, but to a current buyer it might be viewed as an expensive "project" and cause a lower offer.
Leanne ~ Thanks, I was so glad too that they agreed. It was a win-win investment for everyone involved.
It looks fabulous, Maureen. Nice color choice. I'm so impressed with the sellers for doing whatever it takes to get the house sold. Congrats on the Feature!
Maureen - you did a great job guiding your clients to a much more neutral - and appealing - colour choice. As nice as the yellow is - I reserve it for accents only (like cushions for the outdoor chairs) not for a whole house. The house now looks classic and extremely upscale which should really help attract serious buyers.
Sharon ~ Thanks! I was also impressed with the sellers' willingness to make the necessary changes to get their home sold!
Christine ~ The house does have a different personality now, you're right.
Heather ~ Like you, I use yellow in accents only, and think it looks great in smaller doses.
Okay...let me be the only person to say I like color. A showed a very colorful (and tasteful) home today that the buyers loved because it wasn't bland like all the other homes they'd seen.
The taupe, in my opinion, makes the house very boring. The yellow was pretty bright but I think the accent color is the problem. That blue really distracts in both color schemes. And the black shutters and doors don't help. I know I'll get slammed now but that's how I see it. Color can be an enjoyable relief.
Bob ~ Color is such a personal issue, and my advice was based on our local market area -- what buyers expect here in that home's price range. You may find the taupe boring, but it suits the style of this home, and it also blends very well with the other homes on this street. I think homeowners should paint their home any color that they love, but when it comes time to sell, neutral is better. Thanks for joining into the discussion.
Maureen - As you talk about local market area, I have to tell you from a Midwestern's point of view, the yellow looked fine, bright and cheery to me. The taupe looks stunning as well, so no complaints there, but since the paint job was fresh, couldn't the money have been spent elsewhere to improve the home....after all money is a finite resource.
Bill ~ Thanks for your feedback. This home didn't need any other cosmetic improvements -- the inside was in immaculate condition and only needed some minor furniture editing. When the sellers first contacted me for a consultation appointment, they said that several Realtors had told them that the bright yellow was going to be a hard sell in this area. They wanted me to see the house so that I could give them my professional opinion. Since none of the trim had to be repainted, it was a reasonable expense.
Maureen:
The big task is to convince the owner that the color they chose to paint their home (and recently) needs to go. You must be a very persuasive person. I agree, neutrals are always best for home sales.
Maureen: I love what you did. The difference is compelling. The color sophisticated. The result fantastic, and I kept reading to see the name of the color. Would you by any chance be willing to share the name of this fabulous hue? Just asking.
Maureen, the color change made quite a difference. The home stands out much more. Good Job!
Claudette ~ The sellers already knew their home needed a more neutral paint color -- they just needed the color choice from me, so I didn't have to persuade them.
Patricia ~ Glad you like the color -- it's Benjamin Moore's Taos Taupe.
Michael ~ Thanks for your feedback
Lovely transformation. It is interesting to see your post as I just heard a stat that indicated white homes sell fastest and in second...yellow. As you said, not in this neighbourhood! Good luck to you at RESA.
Hi Maureen -- Your photos say it all. Great color choice. Market value is always driven higher by more exposure, and exposure increases when more buyers are interested, and more buyers will be interested when the home appeals to more buyers, and your suggestions increases appeal in a HUGE way! :)
Christine ~ Thanks for the info .... it goes to show that color trends vary in difference areas! Thanks also for your good wishes.
Chris ~ What a great analysis you have in your comment ... "Market value is always driven higher by more exposure, and exposure increases when more buyers are interested, and more buyers will be interested when the home appeals to more buyers..."
Your support is much appreciated!
I like the colors that you picked out for the exterior. It is more traditional color for that area.
Thanks, Harry. This home's style is traditional, and the exterior color needed to honor that.
I am always looking at flip projects and the flips/rehabs that other people do and the curb appeal seems to be the one thing people in the Seattle area ignore every time. Half the time the paint scheme looks horrible and they consider landscaping to be some new $5 bushes and 5 bags of bark. Curb appeal is the shine that gets people into the house..
Drives me nuts sometimes I tell ya!
What great color you chose! Love the change. It looks also higher end now. Great job!
Chris ~ So true that curb appeal can get people into the house. I'm surprised whenever I see homes where curb appeal is ignored ... those homes usually take longer to sell.
Birgit ~ Thanks, glad to hear you like it!
What a fantastic difference.
The house has a sophisticated look
Virginia ~ The new color definitely looks more upscale, you're right! Thanks for joining the discussion.
I couldn't agree more, that transformation speaks for itself. However dealing with most homeowners limited improvement budget, given the choice to spend $2000 on staging the interior vs. $5000 in getting the house painted... I think I might go with the interior...???
Iran ~ Fortunately, this home didn't need any interior staging, other than the tips I suggested the owners take care of themselves (no-cost or very low cost ideas).
Painting just the body of the exterior was much, much less than $5000! Fortunately, the trims were all in good condition and that would have been the labor-intensive part.
Hi Maureen,
Since the exterior photo is usually the 1st photo in the MLS line up, the color choice is critical!
Awesome representation of what a change in color can do on a home! Your before and after picture speaks volumes.
Kathy
Susan ~ Nice to see you again! You're right about the MLS line up being so important ... more sellers would benefit if all listing agents were as smart as you are about this!
Kathy ~ Color can enhance or detract from a home's appearance, you're so right.
It is so interesting to read the comments and see how people react to different changes - I actually think the taupe colour is gorgeous!
What a makeover, Maureen! The house gained style and looks more upscale now. I love those makeovers done with the color. Great job!
Terrific transformation Maureen!! I love it!! The home now looks expensive!! HA!!
Karen ~ I agree, the conversation is fascinating! People react so personally to color.
Eve ~ I'm glad to hear that you liked the new color --- me too!
Cathy ~ It definitely looks more expensive than when it was yellow, you're right!
"Personally", I think the yellow was better. It made the home look larger. It made it distinctive instead of bland.
But, what do I know: I live in a yellow house.
With that purple door.
Jim ~ A different style of house could look just fine with yellow paint, and in a different neighborhood. But it wasn't working in this one :-) Besides, I'm guessing that your house isn't on the market?
I agree the yellow color in another region may have been fine but you really have to go with your local market. As stagers we need to let the sellers know where best to spend their staging budget-- where they are going to get the greatest ROI. I think your advice was spot-on! This home went from "cheesy" to sophisticated with just one color change. Amazing!
This also is a case where the homeowners would have benefited greatly by consulting with a home stager before making a big change to their home, such as painting the exterior. If they had asked you a year ago, they wouldn't have had the expense involved now. Even if there were no plans to move right then, they could have avoided making a big change that would have decreased their home's value and appeal.
Great work! (And best wishes to you too at RESA!)
Sorry I missed this post; but glad i caught up with it today. I love the transformation. This is a great post to share with a wavering client! Good job Maureen (as always!)
Michele ~ Thanks for your feedback! It would have been so helpful if these sellers had contacted me a year ago, before they painted the house yellow -- you're so right about that.
Thanks also for your good wishes, much appreciated!
Karen ~ Glad you liked the change!