To paint to sell?

[Jollyjollyjollygoodie]

I’ve de cluttered and cleaned my house. It looks ok, although the walls and woodwork aren’t what you would call pristine. They are reasonable and if I wasn’t selling, I wouldn’t be rushing to get everything painted.

My question is, do I get the whole house painted to sell? Or is very clean and tidy enough?

Thanks.

I think it depends on the type of house/how desirable it is. We live in a sort after location and our house really needs a full re-paint, cosmetic tidy up etc. We didn't bother doing this to sell, just de-cluttered and made sure it was clean/tidy It sold within 3 weeks for same price as another house in our area where it was freshly painted with the same same layout as ours.

I’d not worry too much about painting throughout, but I’d paint anything that’s grubby or chipped. It just gives a better first impression: people see things that look tired or faded and they’re instantly having their attention drawn to work which needs doing and then being more alert to looking about for other work they’ll need to do and price in accordingly.

When I sold, I repainted a couple of room that looked really tired/minor damp patches and needed a refresh (my conservatory) or just needed neutralising (the nursery/box room) and I repainted some of the window sills that were chipping/flaking because I didn't want people to think the windows were bollocksed. Also it gives an impression you take care of the house.

Although I wouldn't have paid someone to do it as you can end up spending 4 figures on decorating nowadays. Having said that if you have a very expensive house, I probably would fork out (if I couldn't do it myself) as you'll probably make it back/sell it faster.

As a buyer and if I saw a freshly painted house, I would:

1. be worried you're hiding damp;
2. expect you to be the sort of person who wants to get the value of the paint job plus a bit more out of doing it, so would be a bit wary that you'll be unreasonable on price. Like a previous thread where somebody was adamant about putting up hanging baskets and putting in a new cheap kitchen to sell a house for a certain price.

Me too - I’d think the paint was hiding damp.

I’ve only ever touched up scuffed areas before selling.

We repainted all the neutral walls. It wasn't to hide damp but it was to freshen them up. I thought clean, freshly painted walls looked better than grubby hand prints at toddler height (and then at older child height as they grew). Initially started with one hall wall where the DC dragged their hands but that made the rest of the walls look drab so carried on.

I also patched up any chips or dents in plaster work on the walls before painting. The house looked better after that.

Wish the people we bought from had done the same as us tbh. It's no fun moving out a house you've just spent time freshening up to then move into a house where you have to hoover kitchen cupboards before cleaning and wash walls before filling a million holes and dents then painting...