Sellers, be willing to paint!

A Plea to Home Sellers:

PLEASE be willing to paint and take down wallpaper if your agent or stager recommends it. Why?

Bad paint colors (or a bad paint job) can turn off buyers and slow down the sale of your home. They can even reduce the price you get for your home. Have you ever walked into a room painted bright purple or cheez-doodle orange and felt your stomach turn? What do unusual colors convey to you -- it's someone else's home and highly personal, right? That's why you never see model homes painted in "weird" colors. Stick to the neutrals.  

Don't take a chance of turning off buyers when a simple fix is available. You can hire a handyman or do it yourself to really save $$.

A fresh coat of paint makes such a big difference in appealing to buyers and updating the look of your house if your current colors are: 

* vivid

* unusual 

* out-of-date styles (i.e. sponge painted)

* feature multiple designs on one wall (such as circles)

* stencils

In addition:

* most wallpaper and all borders are out of style, except in the case of a feature/accent wall or grasscloth/linen texture covering

According to Benjamin Moore, current "in" colors are gray and purple with yellow accents, but beige, sage green, and off-white are always popular and "safe" colors that buyers will like.