Make More Money When Selling Your Home

Want to sell your home faster and for more money? Boosting curb appeal with the right exterior paint strategy can increase your home’s value by up to 7% and leave a lasting first impression on buyers.

Why Curb Appeal Matters

First impressions matter, especially in real estate. Before potential buyers even walk through the front door, they’re forming opinions. A clean, modern exterior communicates pride of ownership and can make a buyer feel confident about what’s inside,leading to higher initial offers that anchor competitive bidding with a higher price. To the contrary, peeling paint, faded siding, or outdated color schemes can make a home feel neglected, leading to lower bids.

Top Painting Tips to Maximize Your Home’s Appeal

1. Refresh the Front Door

Your front door is the focal point of your home’s exterior. A bold, well-chosen color can make a statement and increase visual interest. Popular shades include navy blue, deep red, classic black, and even a cheerful yellow—just make sure it complements the rest of your exterior.

According to real estate staging experts, the front door sets the tone for a showing. A fresh, modern door color not only attracts attention in listing photos, but also adds perceived value to your home. In competitive markets, small visual upgrades like this can make your property stand out and drive more foot traffic.

2. Stick to Neutral, Broad Appeal Colors

While your favorite bright teal might feel fun, neutral tones like grays, beiges, soft whites, and taupes appeal to the broadest range of buyers. These shades feel clean, fresh, and easy to personalize, allowing you to sell your home to more potential buyers.

Neutral paint colors create a blank canvas that allows buyers to imagine themselves living in the space. It also enhances natural light, which is a major selling point. Color psychology plays a big role in real estate, soothing hues make rooms feel larger, calmer, and more move-in ready.

3. Don’t Forget the Trim

Who doesn’t love clean, crisp trim? Crisp white or a slightly contrasting trim can make your exterior pop. Clean, freshly painted trim signals attention to detail and maintenance, something every buyer appreciates.

Trim is often overlooked, but it's one of the easiest ways to instantly upgrade your curb appeal. It frames doors, windows, and roofing lines, and a clean edge signals to buyers that the home has been cared for. High-gloss or semi-gloss finishes also help trim stand out and resist dirt and wear.

4. Repaint or Stain the Garage Door

Many homeowners overlook the garage, but if it’s visible from the street, it’s a key part of your home’s first impression. Make sure it looks sharp with a fresh coat of paint or stain. A well-maintained garage door really ties the home together.

A clean and cohesive garage door color that blends with the trim or front door can increase visual harmony. Whether painted to match the body of the house or contrasted for style, a polished garage adds architectural interest. It's also a low-cost improvement with high ROI, especially for larger or corner-lot homes.

5. Pressure Wash and Prep Before Painting

Proper prep is everything. Pressure washing your exterior makes your paint last longer and reduces issues like flaking and weathering. There’s a right and wrong way to prep—for example, pressure washing should never be used to strip paint. Let a professional handle it.

A well-prepped surface ensures optimal paint adhesion, helping you avoid costly do-overs. Skipping this step can cause bubbling, peeling, or mold growth under new paint. Whether you're refreshing a few areas or doing a full repaint, proper cleaning and priming is essential to ensure durability and visual quality.

How Prime 1 Painting Can Help

We’ve helped countless homeowners and realtors get their properties market-ready with our expert painting services. We know what buyers look for—and we’re here to guide you through every step, from color choice to final touch-ups. Whether you’re touching up the trim or repainting the entire exterior, our experienced team ensures a flawless finish that will wow buyers and boost your home’s value.