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Paint to Sell

If you're trying to sell in a "buyer's market," chances are you and your Real Estate agent have already done quite a bit to attract buyers. But, have you considered your walls?

If your real estate agent hasn't told you yet, you may need to consider painting. This is especially true if you have some bold/bright/loud colors on your walls right now.

A fresh color on your walls may even lift your mood while you wait for The Right Buyer!

You may really like your navy blue walls in your tiny powder room, or the stunning fire-engine red on your dining room walls, and if you weren't trying to sell your home, I'd tell you to rock on with your creative self. However, since you are actually trying to sell your home to a person who is not you, I will tell you this with certainty: potential buyers probably will not appreciate your color choices. Unless they have the exact same decorating taste as you, most buyers will find your dark/loud/bright walls overwhelming, if not ugly, and potentially, a total turn-off for your house.

I can hear you now: "But I don't want white or beige walls!" I know you don't, and I don't want you to have white or beige walls either. What I do want is for your walls to be a soft, welcoming color that allows potential buyers to see THEIR furniture and belongings in YOUR house.

So, how do you create that soft, neutral, welcoming palette without going stark white? And how do you choose a neutral color without it looking dirty or too washed out? Well, first of all, DON'T tune in to HGTV for starters. Many of the "real estate" shows on those do-it-yourself networks are highly animated, scripted, and as far from "real" as Velveeta cheese.

What you can do is start with a color you absolutely love on a paint swatch card. Then, look about 2 or 3 shades lighter on the same card (or go to the next card). You'll still get the hue you want, without all the saturation. Softer, more muted colors are also more appropriate than brighter, bolder colors. Think soft browns, tans, and dark cream colors to start. Go with your gut, and if you really can't choose, ask your real estate agent to choose or the folks at the paint counter.

Here are a few of my personal favorites:

• Benjamin Moore's "Bar Harbor Beige" - A nice clean beige with salmon undertones with just enough warmth.
• Dutch Boy's "Brazilian Tan" - A soft yellowy tan, perfect for any room.
• Olympic's "Prairie Dust" and "Navajo White" - They're on the same swatch! With warm tan, green, and yellow undertones, these colors literally morph throughout the day and the movement of the sun, but remain a fabulous neutral backdrop.

When you finally do pick up the brush and roller, a few tips:

• If you don't have a steady hand, use painters tape. Sloppy paint jobs are just as bad as bad color choices. And be sure to remove the paint tape before the paint has completely dried.
• Prime, prime, prime! Primer will make ALL the difference. If you've got very dark or brightly colored walls, get a high-hide primer. Have it tinted to the new shade. You'll thank me later.
• Prep the walls. Fill in large holes, don't just paint over them. Be sure to sand those patch jobs really well, too - otherwise your walls will look like they have cellulite. No one likes a fatty wall.
• Take your time. A rushed job is a sloppy job and we already know that buyers don't like sloppy. If you don't have time to paint, hire a trusted friend to do the job, or have a "painting party." Offer pizza and beer in reward for service, and get a friend to do each wall. Save the beer for after the painting is done.
• Cover those gorgeous hardwood floors and neutral carpets with tarps or old sheets. This should just go without saying.
• Take my advice. Not many professionals offer advice for free.

If you'd like to sign up for our Seller Newsletter for more tips on selling, simply drop us a line at: cpmartin@comcast.net

Until next time, happy painting!

Welcome to Our Blog!

Greetings and salutations! Welcome to our real estate blog! We are Chris & Andrea Martin and we are real estate professionals in the Southern New Jersey area. We started this blog to keep past, current and (hopefully) future clients abreast of what's happening with real estate in the South Jersey region, as well as nationwide. We also hope to have some fun stuff here, too, like community events, local history, school info, and photos from around the area.

And, the best part, we want you to be a part of this blog, too. Ask us your real estate questions and you could be featured here on our blog! Just send us a message, email, or comment and if we choose your question to be featured here on our blog, we'll not only answer your question online for all to see, but we'll also send you some cool stuff!

So, check back soon for updates, or subscribe to our blog to be updated when we post. In the meantime, feel free to check out our main real estate site for great information and advice (for free!) at: www.ChrisMartinRealEstate.com

See you soon!