With the summer break beckoning, many homeowners will be planning to spend some time with a paint brush to give their home a facelift.
Many of them will be doing so with the intention of putting their properties on the market for the late-summer and early-autumn sales season.
With interest rates still at 4.65% – substantially lower than many overseas markets – Australian buyers are being selective about where they spend their money. But one truism continues – a well-presented home always finds a keen buyer and a good price.
Painting the inside of your home ahead of a sale is one of the most cost-effective ways of adding value to your home.
It’s an especially economical option if you do the work yourself.
Of course, professional painters will save you time, but like labour in almost every other walk of life, their skills and time are not cheap.
If you’re on a tight budget, you can save several thousand dollars by doing the work yourself.
Below, we’ve listed some tips, tricks and fails for painting the interior of your home. We hope you find them useful. And if we can help you with your property needs, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Buy the Best: Don’t purchase cheap paint or brushes. You pay for what you get in this realm. Good-quality paint will ensure a great finish but also minimise the risk of requiring more than two coats.
Do the Prep: A great paint-job depends on preparation. Always wash down the walls and spend time filling in cracks and any dents that occur due to day-to-day living. With all patching, ensure you use a fine sandpiper to give it the perfect finish.
Don’t Rush: If you’re against the clock, you should employ a professional. Trying to rush through this task will only affect the quality of your work. Most prospective buyers recognise a poor paint-job, and this will affect the value of your property.
Wrong Colour: Any experienced agent will counsel you against using bold colours. Neutrals such as whites and creams will not offend a buyer, and they’ll also make the rooms appear bigger. To find your perfect colour, buy some samples at the paint shop and try them out.
Paint Finder: If you like the idea of an edging colour, then ask your paint retailer for recommendations. Many manufacturers have brochures to inspire you. Alternatively you can use the “Amazon Paint Finder”, which will offer up a selection of suitable colours in seconds.
Rookie Error: Avoid bumping the ceiling with your roller. It can cost you a lot of time to fix this mistake. To avoid bumping, use a brush to paint directly underneath the ceiling or cornices. Apply a 10cms barrier to be safe.
Paint Loads: The other basic error is putting too much paint on a roller or brush. Not only will the paint drip, you’ll fail to achieve a smooth finish.
Too Hot: Avoid painting on hot days. That’s because the paint dries too quickly, can bubble and deny you a smooth finish.