The One Painting Mistake That Really Decreases The Value Of Your Home

If you're moving and preparing to put your house on the market, you may be wondering how you can bump up the value of your home and raise the list price. There are many practical upgrades you can make that will result in a big return on your investment. According to Homebuilding & Renovating, big projects such as renovating the kitchen or adding an extension to the back of your house aren't the only ways you can increase the value of your home. Suggestions range from replacing the windows throughout the house, to updating the fixtures in the bathrooms, to giving your yard a makeover, to adding wood floors if you have tile or carpet.

One of the biggest and perhaps most obvious ways you can add value to your home is with a fresh coat of paint, both inside and outside. Refreshing the interior of your space with paint costs an average of $967, and brings about a $2,001 increase in value, while slapping a coat of paint on the exterior costs roughly $1,406 and brings about a $2,176 increase in value (via Opendoor). As a matter of fact, chairwoman of the International Association of Home Staging Professionals Jennie Norris told Opendoor, "It's the least expensive investment for the biggest return." 

Just because painting is such a simple and cost-effective way to boost your home's value doesn't mean it's foolproof. Keep scrolling to discover the one painting mistake people make that actually decreases the value of their home.

Everyone has different likes and dislikes when it comes to paint colors. However, if your goal is to increase the value of your home through a thorough paint job, you'll want to make sure to choose the right shades. According to Maximum Real Estate Exposure, neutral colors are the way to go to ensure a good investment return on your house. The more outrageous or bold the color, the more likely the buyer will want to repaint the walls to better match their furniture or to suit their taste. The last thing you want is to invest your money and time into painting your home only to have the buyer want to repaint it when they move in — or worse, not buy your house because of colors. In addition to choosing neutral paints, Maximum Real Estate Exposure stressed that home owners should stick to white when painting the trim. Choosing any other color than that would be a massive no-no.

Real estate agent Karen Kostiw of Warburg Realty reiterated the recommendation to slap on a fresh coat of paint before putting your house on the market (via Martha Stewart). "It gives potential buyers a good first impression and instills the belief in a buyer's mind that the house has been well taken care of." You can't go wrong with light pastels, soft whites, beiges, and warm grays.