Painting Tips – Preparing your Home for Sale

One of the easiest and cost-effective ways to make a dramatic difference is with paint. While some difficult areas or fancy techniques are better left to professionals, interior painting is a great do-it-yourself project to impress your potential buyers.

Here are a few simple steps that can make the job go more quickly and produce better results.

1. Pick your paint colors carefully. Choose a color that will go well with your furnishings, carpeting, and adjoining wall areas.
2. Use water-based latex paint for ease in application and cleanup.
3. Buy the correct paint for the surface you are painting. Wood floors, concrete, masonry or metal require specific products.
4. Before you dip your brush in that paint, assemble every item you will need:
   1. Enough paint for the entire job (you don’t want to take your paint-smeared self back to the store in the middle of the job)
   2. Brushes and rollers (if you settle for the cheapest quality you’ll get brush hairs and roller fuzzies all over your walls!)
   3. Plastic drop cloths or old sheets (yes, you will make a mess)
   4. A large damp cloth for wiping up small drips and mistakes while they are still wet
   5. Stepladder
   6. Screwdriver and claw hammer to remove wall hooks, switch plates, nails, etc.
   7. Painter’s tape
5. Prepare the surface. Cracks and holes should be filled with spackle, and old paint should be lightly sanded so the new paint will adhere. Make sure the surface is clean of dirt, grease, rust and flaking paint.
6. Paint in this order: ceiling, walls, trim then floor. Remember, paint drips DOWN.
7. Use a roller for the big areas and a brush to cut in from the outside edges.
8. Tape all window edges, trim, and carpet edges. You will thank yourself for this once you start cutting in with the brush!

Good luck with your project! Feel free to contact me for additional tips or information on homeownership.