You have decided to sell your house and the estate agent is coming to take photos soon. Is it still worth having it painted? Often yes, provided you choose wisely. Not every job delivers the same return, and you do not want to spend money on things a buyer will change to their own taste anyway. In this article you will read which painting work has the most effect before a sale and how to fit it into your planning.
Buyers look online first, and in photos everything stands out. A fresh, light home looks more spacious and better cared for, while marks, bright colours and flaking frames jump out immediately. During the viewing that impression is confirmed: a well-maintained house inspires confidence, a house with visible defects gets buyers calculating.
So the aim is not to renew everything, but to present the home as neutral and well kept as possible. Buyers should be able to picture their own life in it without immediately drawing up a list of jobs. That applies to an upper-floor flat in Amsterdam just as much as to a family home in Zaandam or Purmerend: the first impression determines the feeling with which a buyer looks further.
Inside, you get the best result with walls and ceilings in a light, neutral colour. Think of off-white, soft grey or a warm sand tone. These suit almost every taste and make rooms bigger and brighter. A bright child's room or a dark accent wall is better painted over.
If the home is empty, spraying is often a quick and even solution for all walls and ceilings at once. A national market indication can be found under what spraying walls costs. In Purmerend, where many terraced and family homes come up for sale, a fresh interior paint job makes the difference with the houses next door. Read more under interior painting in Purmerend.
Outside, it is about the first impression and about the building survey that many buyers have done. These priorities work well:
The front door is often the best investment: a small job with a big effect. How to tackle it can be read under painting a front door. You would rather not see wood rot in the survey report, because it gives buyers a reason to negotiate.
Painting before a sale should be in proportion to what it delivers. So ask for a quote that shows the cost per item, so you can decide for yourself what to have done and what not. A national market indication can be found under what interior painting costs. Oranje Kwast charges fixed prices, excluding VAT: €17 per m² for walls, €20.65 per m² for ceilings, €150 per door with frame and €153 per window frame, with a minimum of €300 per job. The final price follows after the free advice session.
Good to know: for painting work on a home older than two years, the reduced VAT rate of 9% on labour generally applies. You pay the standard rate on materials. How that works exactly can be read under VAT on painting work. If in doubt, check it on belastingdienst.nl.
Schedule the painting well before the estate agent comes to take photos. Paint must be fully dry and the home must be furnished again for an attractive presentation. Exterior painting depends on the weather, so do not leave it until the last week. If you do not yet know exactly when the home will go online, plan the exterior work first and the interior work afterwards, as that is easier to fit in.
Feel free to call or send a WhatsApp message to discuss the options. Oranje Kwast always responds personally within 24 hours and works throughout Noord-Holland, with Amsterdam as its home base. Read more on the page painter in Amsterdam. After a short walk-round you receive a clear quote within 48 hours, so you know where you stand.
In practice this topic belongs with interior painting and exterior painting. There you can read about the approach and the options, or request a free, no-obligation quote straight away.
Further reading: Painting a listed building: how is it done?, Choosing a window frame colour, How do you compare quotes from painters?.
If in doubt, always ask for a no-obligation consultation. Half an hour on site tells you more than ten brochures, and you are not committed to anything.
Light, neutral colours such as off-white, soft grey or a warm sand tone appeal to most buyers. They make rooms look lighter and bigger in photos.
It is wise, because a building survey almost always picks up wood rot. Buyers often use it in negotiations.
Schedule the painting well before the photos, so the paint is fully dry and the home is neatly furnished again. For exterior work, allow extra margin because of the weather.
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