Should I Paint My House Before Selling It? When Should I Paint A House I Just Bought?

A fresh coat of paint can breathe new life into any home. Whether you just bought a new house or you’re thinking of selling your home soon, getting an interior or exterior paint job might be on your list of things to do. You might be wondering if painting is even worth the time and effort. Or maybe questioning when its the right time to start a house painting project. Whatever stage you’re in, you can find helpful insight below.

Everyone knows that exterior and interior makeovers require a lot of commitment, in terms of both time and money. When it comes to paint jobs, most people want to ensure that a fresh coat of paint is worth the substantial investment before taking the plunge. Rightfully so.

If this sounds like you, we have some great news! Painting the exterior or interior of your home comes with a handsome return on investment (ROI) (“How exterior painting leads to a home value boost ahead of listing”) in the form of increased property value. We’ll explain below.

On average, exterior paint jobs offer a 55% ROI. That means that if you spend $3,042 (the average cost of an exterior repaint), the value of your home will increase by $4,715. Exterior paint jobs are considered one of the least expensive and least time-consuming investments you can make for the best return.

Interior paint jobs almost double the ROI of exterior painting at a whopping 107% ROI (“Should I Repaint My House Before Selling It in 2022?”). Keep in mind, interior paint jobs can also cost more than exterior painting depending on what needs to be done. These factors can include the following–

Updating your house paint also adds functionality that safeguards your home. An extra layer of paint means an extra layer of protection against weather elements as well as insects (“Paint as Protection Against Weather and Insect Damage”). Professionals will seal any cracks or holes on surface areas in preparation for paint, which keeps water and pests out. Besides the sealing of openings in walls, newly painted interior walls and trim generally helps to seal moisture out (Abrams) which reduces mildew and mold issues.

The upgrade of new paint means that common exterior problems such as rot or discoloration will be kept at bay. Which will help extend the life of your home’s siding. Meanwhile, when updated by professionals, new interior paint will maintain a crisp updated look for years to come.

Of course, not every exterior or interior paint job will add instant value. The key to getting the most out of your investment is choosing the right colors and the right contractor.

You might love the color neon green, but a neon green home can be off-putting. Not just to potential house buyers, but also to your community. Some colors, like neon green, can actually decrease the value of a home, no matter how good the paint job is. If you want the greatest return on your investment, stick to colors that are neutral, muted, moody or soft. Look up trending colors of the year to see what’s popular for homebuyers in your area. If you’re in the Portland metro area, JK Paint & Contracting has a color consultant that helps homeowners choose the best color for their home if they need help doing so.

Pro Tip: Interior and exterior paint colors can differ. It’s wise to get a second opinion or do some house color research before investing in colors that won’t be appealing on or in your home.

Moving into a new house is exciting. It’s also stressful. You have to clean, organize, and pack up your old home, and then clean, organize, and unpack at your new home. Often, homeowners also like to paint their new homes—both inside and out.

When deciding on an exterior paint job, you can’t go wrong with painting it before or after moving in. When it comes to interior painting, that’s where the decision depends on personal desire. Either way, painting is an easy and inexpensive way to modernize a new home and make it feel more personal. Especially if the previous owners didn’t update the paint beforehand.

Pro Tip: Buying a home with old paint can often mean that the property value is lower than it could be with a fresh coat of paint. Re-painting your new home will add value to your property if you ever decide to resell it in the future. The same stands true for houses with lead paint. The selling price is usually lower. De-leading the home after purchasing and giving it a safe, fresh coat of paint will significantly raise its resale value (Gassett).

If you paint your new home before move-in, you won’t have to do as much prep before you start painting. That’s because your house is already a blank slate. There won’t be any furniture or décor to remove or cover. If you’re opting to DIY, all you’ll need to do is throw down a tarp, remove any outlet covers, put some painter’s tape on the walls, and get to painting. The less prep you have to do before painting, the more time you save.

Still having a hard time believing that this new place is really your home? A house doesn’t really feel like home until you’ve added your own personal touch to it. Painting before the move will make move-in day much more pleasant. You’ll feel at home immediately instead of feeling like an intruder. The house will feel like yours.

As previously mentioned, an empty house is much easier to paint because there’s nothing to get in the way. If you hire contractors, they’ll be able to move from room to room much more easily. This will allow them to finish your project faster. It’ll always be wise to paint when the house is empty (Joseph).

Pro Tip: If you’re paying an hourly rate instead of a flat rate, the shorter the project, the less you have to pay. If your budget is tight after purchasing a home, painting before you move is one way to save money.

If this is your first home, you might not have bought all the furniture and décor for it yet. In this case, painting your house before you move is a great idea. Choose the color palette for your walls first and then base your furniture and décor decision on that palette. This will enhance the interior design.

Pro Tip: Different colored walls call for certain colored accents. Are your walls painted navy blue? Look for furniture or accents that are one or two of the following; bright white, dark/sage greens, other shades of light blues, black, gold or brass, terra cotta or other reds/leather colors (Bihl).

Thinking about painting your home once move-in day is over? Here are some pros of painting after you settle in.

Want to make sure your walls and furniture won’t clash? Paint after the move instead of before. This way, you can see what your furniture and décor look like in a space and choose a color palette that you know will complement it instead of trying to figure it out afterwards.

Since you’ll have a clearer idea of what you want your space to look like if you paint post-move instead of pre-move, you’re much more likely to be satisfied with the final result. A good final result means you won’t have to spend extra time and money on a do-over.

If you paint your house before moving in, there’s a higher chance of messing up the new paint job. While moving furniture into place or just shuffling boxes back and forth, newly painted areas could get hit or scraped in the process. Painting the walls (“PAINTING: BEFORE OR AFTER I MOVE?”) after moving in reduces the risks of damaging the hard work that was done.

Waiting until after move-in day to paint your home gives you extra time to mull over your many options. You might even change your mind on the color you chose, because this option gives you more time to make a final decision. People who paint pre-move are more likely to make hasty painting decisions that could lead to a messy or unsatisfying final result.

Need help with interior and exterior painting in the surrounding areas of Portland, Oregon? JK Paint and Contracting can lend you a hand. Our expert painters will help you choose the best colors for your home and paint your home to perfection. We’ll even handle cleanup so you don’t have to. Contact us to discuss your vision!