Does it matter what color your walls are when reselling a house?

Question

My fiance and I are redoing the bathroom. He wants white and I think white is hideously boring.He thinks that when we move and sell the house, it will sell faster because more people like a light colored bathroom. I think that is completely antiquated and we should love what we have while we're here and not worry about what the next owner will like. They may want red and teal on the wall and we're certainly not putting that on our walls.

Answer 1

Always go with neutral colors when selling, bieges, creams etc. I agree with you white is boring, try the cream or light beige colors and use colorful accents, towels, soap dishes etc.

Answer 2

The best thing to do in a case like this is an off-white; usually an eggshell type color is the best. What you want is a light, neutral color that is so middle of the road it could not possibly offend anybody. Remember the idea is to sell the house, not to try to second-guess what any number of unknown buyers might like. You are trying to create an impression of clean and bright. Never paint any dark colors. If a potential buyer is thinking some other color let them paint it in their mind's eye, and a blank, clean white canvas works the best.

Now, if you will not be selling immediately, go ahead and paint the walls orange and green with tiger stripes. When it comes times to sell, cover it all over with a clean off-white.

Answer 3

I agree, why live in a house for someone else. Paint is cheap!! I just bought my Fifth home six months ago, I paint like crazy! I use colors I like for my home because I'm the one living in it! I've been pretty bold! The first home, sold 4 days, the second~35 days (right after 9/11), the third~10 days, the fourth~40 days! I have used such colors as stallion red, tawny buff (terracotta), burnished copper, wheatgrass, wildwood, bungalow gold, smoke, sueded leather in all my homes. The most important thing in selling a home is creating an inviting environment! If you have well organized, well designed room that invites the buyer you got a winner. Put away the clutter! Touch up paint, make sure everything is clean, make the closets appear spacious, No knick-knacks! Make it smell great! So my suggestion is paint it what you want! (I get all my paint from Lowe's~American Tradition Lines)

Answer 4

It really depends on when you are selling the house. If you plan on living in it for years to come you should paint the walls what you want them to be. You can always put a coat of white over them when the house goes on the market. If you are planning on selling the house soon, then paint the walls in a light color.
People are more likely to buy a house with neutral or white walls. With blank walls it's easier to imagine a new color on them, it brightens the room, and makes it appear larger. These are all things people look for in a house when they are going to buy it.

Answer 5

I think white is dull, but cream is a rich in between shade, and bright accessories add the character and style.
Strong colors age and change...and they do not suit everyone, especially if an investor wants to buy the property and not put money into changing it too much.
I agree that a classic basic color scheme is the best if you are planning on selling the place to make money.
People buy what you project..and if you project a young outlook, you restrict your market too much.
Better to paint walls in classic basic colors and add lots of 'wild' curtains, vases, painting, drapes, rugs, room dividers, statues, etc etc..that you can then take with you to the next place.
Good luck..have fun with your house..

Answer 6

I think stark white is wrong for a bathroom because it makes your face look drained in the mirror. There are different shades of white that might work for you. What will make the house sell better is the condition of the room - not the color.

FATSAUSAGE needs counselling!

Answer 7

If you really want to sell you house, you will paint your bath a neutral color....no,not white; but something that's sort of warm and will go with any other decor a potential buyer might want. Coordinate it with nice shower curtain and towels. Neutral is the way to go!

Answer 8

Yes. Can you imagine a black wall?

Of course you can paint it black if you like, and repaint
it in a neutral color before selling. How come you never thought of that?

Answer 9

We sold our house with colorful walls, but I'm sure a house will sell much faster with neutral colors.....

Answer 10

It is one of many factors and depends on the buyer.

Neutrals or pastels will appeal to more people than anything else.