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Written by Dana Gutwein
When preparing to list a home in Denver, one of the most common questions we get is, “do I need to paint this?” (and sometimes, “please don’t make me paint.”)
Before you grab your brush and bucket of paint, let’s walk through some recent examples LaDawn and I worked through with clients. In each of these examples, the sellers had different goals, and the reality is, no two situations are exactly the same. If a seller is looking to get on the market quickly, versus one that has more time, budget and/or sweat equity to make improvements, our answers will vary greatly. At the end of the day, we work with you to come up with the most strategic plan that fits your unique situation.
It has been so much fun to see LaDawn’s experience at work here. With more than a decade serving the Denver Metro area she knows what helps listings sell – whether to investors, first time home buyers, luxury buyers and everything in between. It has been so rewarding to be a part of helping people get their listings ready, ultimately achieving their real estate goals – and like LaDawn says, “make good things happen for good people.”
All four of the examples below (three in Lakewood, one in Denver) went under contract with multiple competing offers in the first weekend on the market.
Remember, staging is not about judging your design choices- it’s about using our experience to prepare your home for the competitive market.
Should I Paint My Wood Kitchen Cabinets ?
Keep / Paint
In both of these cases, we suggested not to paint. The cabinetry was in good condition, and had natural warmth, charm and character.
We’re also hearing more and more from home buyers moving out of the “millennial gray” phase and embracing the warmth from natural wood tones. The wood looks beautiful in photographs, important in attracting buyers. Plus, if the next owner would like to paint, they have a blank canvas to work with and can select the color themselves. Again, there is a time when painting makes sense, it just depends on your goals.
Should I Paint My Wood Beams ?
Keep / Paint
I absolutely love the charm and character of wood beams. In this case, the homeowner wanted to get on the market quickly, so “no paint” matched the strategy here. That said, I would have recommended no paint either way.
Should I Paint My Brick Fireplace ?
Keep / Paint
In both of these cases, the brick looked beautiful and was in great condition, so we didn’t even consider paint.
That said, there are times when painted brick fireplaces look fantastic and depending on the home and seller circumstances; painting can be a worthwhile investment for listing.
Should I Repaint My Walls ?
Keep (and Clean) / Paint
If the walls are looking a little tired, or it’s been quite a while since they have been painted, we usually recommend a deep clean or fresh coat of paint. This can make a big difference.
In these examples, the walls on the left were repainted, and the walls on the right deep cleaned. Both look great.
Should I Paint Over Stencils & Remove Wallpaper ?
Keep / Paint
In this home, painting over the stencils quickly updated the look, and made the kitchen feel bright and airy.
Wallpaper is usually pretty difficult to remove, but in this case, I made the suggestion to see how easily it would come off and what condition the wall was underneath during the walkthrough. The homeowner immediately tested removing a strip. Ten minutes later, the wallpaper was gone! The wall underneath was in great shape. Take a look at how much this change transformed the kitchen.
We Help You Focus on the Updates that Make An Impact
There’s no one “right” approach– just the one that best aligns with your priorities and goals. If you are preparing to list your home, LaDawn and I are happy to walk through your home with you. We help you take out the guess work so that you can be confident in your plan, focusing on the updates that make the biggest difference once your home hits the market.
About Us
LaDawn Sperling provides full-service home staging for her real estate clients in the Denver Metro Area, including Lakewood, helping prepare both vacant and occupied listings for today’s market. Home staging & design is led by Dana Gutwein, our team designer. Contact LaDawn with questions about how we can help prepare your home for success.
