How much should I spend on painting my home before selling?

Most realtors in the Washington D.C. area agree that one of the best ways to get a better price when you sell your house is to paint it. Where the issue gets sticky for homeowners is in deciding how much money to invest in the new paint job. On the surface, it may appear that a cheaper paint job from a small painting contractor is the best choice. Some of the most common thoughts are: 

• Why pay for a high-quality paint job when you are about to move out?
• New paint always looks good—the quality doesn’t matter
• The extra money I get in the sale won’t cover the price difference of hiring a better painting company.

What many homeowners underestimate is the vast difference in quality and reliability between a budget painter and a professional house painting company. A well-established, reputable painting contractor is able to complete the job with results that will impress discerning homebuyers and inspectors, and they can do it on-schedule.

Since the bulk of the cost in professional painting is in the labor, budget painters must find ways to cut corners in order to meet a lower bid. This will most often show up in poor surface preparation. Instead of replacing damaged exterior wood, they might patch it cheaply, which a home inspector will quickly catch and point out. In addition, interior house painting must be prepared with great care, or flaws in your drywall or plaster will only be highlighted by the new paint.

When selling a home, timing is vital. A seller has countless details to schedule, and the last thing you want is a budget contractor who can’t be absolutely relied upon to complete jobs on time. A bigger company has more employees and equipment to get jobs done, and more extensive experience in meeting complex demands.

See our previous blog about how painting is one of the few improvements that will earn you money when you sell your home. 

If you are thinking of selling your home in Washington D.C, northern Virginia or suburban Maryland, contact Manor Works Painting. Our dedicated professional painters will ensure that your home is put in top selling shape, on-time and on-budget. We have served Arlington, Sterling, Alexandria, Gaithersburg, Leesburg, Silver Spring and the whole Washington D.C. area for over a decade!

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