Preparing to sell your home and hoping to get a pretty penny for it? You might want to make your way to the paint section of your local hardware store then to pick up some coloured paint.
New research by US estate agents Zillow found that homes that use different shades of the same colour will actually sell for more than those with white walls.
Zillow analysed more than 32,000 photos from homes that were sold throughout the US to “see how certain paint colors impacted their sale price on average, when compared to similar homes with white walls,” and the results speak for themselves.
They found that buyers are willing to part with more money if rooms are painted in shades of blue.
Yes, humble blue can be the secret to getting more than the reserve price on your next sale.
This trend even extends to kitchens, bedrooms, dining rooms and front doors.
“Homes with light pale blue to soft periwinkle blue bathrooms sold for $7,164 more than expected,” the website suggests, and sellers could expect a $1994 increase if their front door was painted “shades of dark navy blue.”
“Walls painted in cool neutrals like blue or grey have broad appeal, and may be signals that the home is well cared for,” Zillow explains. But be warned; some colours might actually deter potential buyers.
“Homes with darker, more style-specific walls like terracotta dining rooms sold for $2,675 less than expected.”
But the biggest colour drawback for potential home buyers?
White bathrooms.
“Homes with white bathrooms sold for an average of $5314 below similar homes,” Zillow concludes.
This is the full list of how much value blue paint adds to a home:
Blue kitchens – often soft grey-blue: $2382
Light pale blue/soft periwinkle blue bathrooms: $7164
Light cerulean to cadet blue bedrooms: $2444
Slate blue/pale grey blue dining rooms: $1991
Navy blue/slate grey doors: $1994
All prices approximate and in AUD.