House for sale - must all walls be white or cream?

[Anonymous]

We haven't gotten a realtor yet but are thinking about selling our house this summer.

I know that popular wisdom is to have all walls white and no photos on the walls. Does this really hold true? Are some colors okay, think pale yellows or taupes, as long as you avoid really deep and bright colors? DD's bedroom is a pale pink that could easily be painted over by a new owner. Our kitchen is a soft yellow that compliments the off-white cabinetry and I think white walls would make the room look really washed out. Our bedroom is a café au lait color. It's all stuff that's easily painted over, but I worry that the house will look so barren that it won't show as well.

What is the DCUM prevailing wisdom? Would you not buy a house if some of the rooms have color on the walls?

[Anonymous]

The colors you described are perfectly fine. The only one I might consider painting is the pink one. And that's a weak "might." But the others sound great and most likely enhance your home more than a white or cream color would.

[Anonymous]

I would never pass on the right house because of wall color. That being said, I've heard it mentioned many times how some potential buyers can truly (unbelievably) not see past the current paint color. I don't think you'll have a problem with neutrals like taupe, but anything bright or colorful could possibly be an issue.

[Anonymous]

It is also that fresh paint makes places look better, and if you are going to repaint the whole house it is easier to use one color.

A bit of color doesn't do any harm though - if everyone tells you that it is inoffensive.

[Anonymous]

I think any neutral color is fine. If anything, I would have a tough time looking past the house looking cookie cutter. I also don't mind a small amount of wall art. I like houses that look like I can actually live in them. I think it is possible to over stage a house. If you go overboard to make it look empty and boring. I worry it will look overfilled and mundane with my stuff in it.

I would not paint unless the paint looks not fresh. If the link were in a living room I would consider painting that, but not if it's in a little girl's room.

If it were me, I would declutter, then declutter again, then get a deep clean, and then list.

[Anonymous]

Paint the whole place cream/beige. Better to put your best foot forward from the start for a few hundred dollars worth of paint than wonder why your house is sitting or not selling.

[Anonymous]

Agree with all PP so far. Our entire house was professionally painted prior to being listed (we are the buyers) -- a basic neutral builders beige color. While it looks nice, it is getting old. We are about to start painting various rooms. Previous owners may have smoked, though, so all the walls were cleaned, painted, etc. Neither us not our agent could tell there was a dog and a smoker. It was nice to walk into a freshly painted house, but not having that would absolutely not have been a deal breaker.

[Anonymous]

When I purchased my first house, the walls were all sorts of interesting colors. I had no problem seeing past it and changed the colors to my liking. Our second house was builder white with sparse furnishings. It was much easier to see how I would paint it. It's like a blank canvas versus one that already has art on it. It's easier to see your vision on a blank canvas than one that has already been laid before you. Some people just cannot see anything than what is already there. I think if you are a creative type, it comes more naturally.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Paint the whole place cream/beige. Better to put your best foot forward from the start for a few hundred dollars worth of paint than wonder why your house is sitting or not selling.

Totally agree with the freshly painted walls in off-white colors. This is the biggest bang for the bucks.

[Anonymous]

We just sold last summer. Painted most of the house a neutral cream with lighter cream trim. Some of the rooms, were painted colors, so we left them. Kids rooms, bathrooms were colors. We sold quickly, so it was all right. Everything must be super clean, all picked up, no clutter, put half your things in storage. Your "staged" house is practically unliveable -- it has to look like a magazine, very hard to do with kids, but you only have to do it for a short time, so it's worth it. It would kill me to have the house on the market for a long time, but it's worth the effort to clean it up and stage it. We sold for more $$ and faster than other houses on our block for sale at the same time.

[Anonymous]

PP here. The new owners painted every room a new color (neighbors told us), so in the grand scheme of things, it really doesn't matter what color you paint it, as long as the buyers can envision themselves in it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: Our kitchen is a soft yellow that compliments the off-white cabinetry and I think white walls would make the room look really washed out.

If you decide to paint this room a more neutral color (like beige), the color needs to make the room look good, otherwise you'll be taking a step backwards.

Also, OP, what color is your current trim? Is the whole house the same color trim?

[Anonymous]

OP, what neighborhood are you in? We're looking now, and there's no way the paint colors you describe would deter me. Like PPs said, if the paint looks reasonably fresh, then you're fine. Spend that money on some other improvement like landscaping or whatever.

[Anonymous]

OP, talk to your realtor. I think the yellow kitchen sounds great, but you might consider painting the bedrooms.

Our house was painted all one neutral color, and for the first few months I was desperate to brighten it up a bit. Really not necessary, though, and we will do it over time. In the mean time, I am just glad for the fresh paint everywhere!

[Anonymous]

OP it sounds fine, but remember people look on the internet for a very short time at each home. Those with bright outdated colors, or dark outdated colors make the buyer feel that the house is old, or not for them, or dated (even tho the house IS old!) Same with art. People look very quickly then move on.