Selling a house requires a lot of preparation. From packing to cleaning to home improvement projects, there’s a lot of work that needs to be done before you can place your property on the market.
In a competitive real estate market, it’s more important than ever to do everything you can to make your home stand out from the competition. As you get ready to sell your home, you may have wondered, What house colors sell best?
We’re here to answer your all-important questions. Keep reading to explore what house colors sell the best, how aesthetics affect resale value, and whether you should repaint your home before selling.
Things to Keep in Mind
Before exploring what house colors sell best, let’s go over some things you should keep in mind.
First, what works for one home may not work for another. A deep charcoal color may look great on a sleek, modern home, but feel out-of-place in a farmhouse. A crisp white interior may suit a craftsman-style home, but look drab on a historic property. Make sure you consider all design elements before taking a paintbrush to your home to ensure the final product looks cohesive.
Additionally, keep in mind that paint color isn’t a surefire way to achieve a quick sale. There are a lot of factors that go into a home’s resale value, and color scheme is just one of them. A nice interior paint job in a trending house color may catch the attention of potential buyers, but if it’s the only thing your property has going for it, it’s probably not going to be enough to keep them interested.
Finally, it’s important to realize that house colors and resale value are not an exact science. It’s hard to gather quantitative data on these sorts of things, since there are so many variables at play. However, by looking at surveys and reports, we can get a general idea of what house colors sell best.
Explore What House Colors Sell Best
Now that that’s out of the way, let’s explore what house colors sell best — and which ones sell worst. To determine this, we’re going to be looking at two different reports: a 2023 paint color analysis by Zillow and a 2024 report from Fixr.
The Trouble with Gray
The light-hued “millennial gray” has been falling out of favor for years now, with more saturated tones taking its place. In fact, in Zillow’s analysis, they found that potential buyers would offer more money for a home with dark gray interiors. Homes with moody, charcoal-toned walls received higher offer prices than those with white walls, and homes with deep, graphite-colored kitchens and living rooms can expect to fetch around $2,000 more than those decorated in pale neutrals.
However, in Fixr’s report, only 3 percent of the interior design professionals surveyed predicted that gray color palettes would be the most popular in 2024. That’s lower than any other palette included in their findings.
Perhaps the difference in these findings can be attributed to tone and palette. Darker, more saturated grays, used as accents, are more appealing than monochromatic all-gray interiors. If you decide to go with gray, stick with medium-to-dark shades used sparingly.
The Rise of Earth Tones and Warm Neutrals
Earth tones and warm neutrals have been on the rise for several years now, with greens, oranges, reds, tans, and browns dominating the world of interior design. In Fixr’s report, 46 percent of those surveyed predicted earth tones would be most popular, 41 percent chose warm neutrals, and 36 percent selected shades of green.
When used in the bathroom specifically, Zillow found that earth tones are associated with higher offers. Terra-cotta hues, in particular, could help you fetch around $1,600 more than similar listings.
When it came to individual interior paint colors predicted to be most popular, warm white received 48 percent of the votes — more than any other house color — and in third place was taupe, with 28 percent. This indicates a rise in warm neutrals, which can act as a great base for earth-toned palettes.
Warm neutrals are an especially great option for pre-sale homes. Neutral colors are inoffensive and unobtrusive, and can act as a base for whatever decor potential buyers prefer. This palette allows them to envision the home’s potential and imagine themselves living there.
Expert Painting by Brush Brothers
At Brush Brothers Painting, we’re committed to helping homeowners like you by providing expert home painting services. Whether you’re preparing to sell your house or just need a refresh, we’re here for you. Contact us today to get started!
