Real estate experts reveal the paint colors that lower your home’s value—and the tricks to finding the perfect color

A group of real estate experts have revealed the paint colors that could cause your home to drop in value – warning potential sellers about the power of first impressions when it comes to offloading a property.

There’s nothing like a fresh coat of paint to breathe new life into an old (or not-so-old) house. A new color palette can transform a place from blah to beautiful and is especially effective as a quick tool when preparing a home to sell.

But beware! Choosing the wrong paint colors can also backfire and turn off buyers.

It’s enough to cause a lot of confusion; but if the goal is home value, then there are a number of nuances that you should avoid completely.

A recent paint color report on the Fixr website highlights 2024 paint color trends—and now listing agents are scrambling to share their thoughts on the divisive topic.

The cost of painting a house, inside and out

First, when looking for cost-effective ways to refinish your upholstery, paint is the easiest way to quickly update your home with a brand new look. But what about the cost?

Costs can vary widely, but an exterior job that increases brake drag will set you back as much as $6,000 or as much as $1,000.

Factors that determine the cost include the quality of the paint, the size of the house and the number of floors, which may require scaffolding to complete the job.

Inside is a different (and cheaper) story. Depending on the size of the space, homeowners often choose to paint the walls themselves, which saves some money on labor. Expect to pay for equipment (brushes, tape, rollers, a ladder), which can cost several hundred dollars, along with gallons of paint.

How much paint you need depends on the square size. When calculating, be sure to err on the side of buying more paint rather than less, in case you need extra touch-ups later.

According to Realtor.com®, an interior paint costs about $3.50 per square foot, or about $2,000 on average. This includes a primer coat along with the color cans of your choice on top.

Put it in neutral

When it comes to choosing exterior colors, surprisingly, some homeowners have gotten bolder over the past couple of years.

While many stick to neutral colors and classic white, the popularity of “Fixer Upper” star Joanna Gaines’ bold choices has inspired homeowners to deviate from the traditional and dive into modern hues like coastal paint or deep coal.

However, first impressions are key for buyers who want a neutral, blank canvas where they can envision themselves living.

Bold paint colors like bold yellows or moody charcoals may seem bold, but they can sink your home’s value if not perfectly executed by a designer (and even then , it can still be dangerous), says Jenny Lenz, managing director of Dolly Lenz Real Estate.

She adds that keeping “eternal neutrals” is a better bet to appeal to “the widest audience and set the stage for a faster, more profitable sale.”

When considering exterior paint shades, take a look at the houses on your block.

“When it comes to the exterior of homes, I always say, don’t stand out in the neighborhood,” says listing agent Jonathan Yarton, with the Yarton Group. “Too often, I see a wonderful neighborhood of homes interrupted by a resident who decided that neon blue was the right choice for their home.

“Personal taste is something I always celebrate, but when you’re talking about resale, remember that your choice may not be the taste of the masses.”

Indeed, real estate agents agree that neutral tones can help position a home for a successful sale.

“Since I entered the industry, white has consistently proven to be the most influential color for properties in terms of sales, along with neutral tones,” says Santiago Arana, with The Agency. “These shades not only appeal to a wider range of potential buyers, but also enable them to visualize and plan their future in the particular home or area.â€

Stay away!

Fixr’s report puts red in question. In a survey of 71 interior designers, 59% agreed that red is a game changer for home buyers.

“Red is an extremely strong color and may not be to everyone’s taste,” the report states.

A majority of the designers surveyed – 53%, to be exact – also give the thumbs up to green, which Fixr calls a “happy colour”. [that] large impacts in a space can be overwhelming to a potential buyer who is looking around a home.â€

A strong color in a home can cause a negative reaction from a potential home buyer right away.

“I think most homes sell when there’s nothing negative when you walk in. A yellow wall or a red wall can be a turn off,” says Brent Watson, Watson Salari Group of Beverly Hills Estates.

Indeed, bright yellow (40%) and mustard yellow (19%) appeared as unclear in the report. And our game with Barbie seems to be over, at least when it comes to home color: 10% say to stay away from pink, turquoise (9%) and black (4%).

How to stop ‘price gouging’

It is important to consider the buyer before putting your home on the market. Staging is a way to maximize value.

“Buyers do something I call ‘attrition pricing,'” says Karen Otto, chief stager at Home Star Staging, a professional home staging service. “It’s the thousands of dollars it will take to make a home suitable for them, and it will generally overwhelm those costs and time it will take you to make it the way they want it.

What works for a homeowner can hinder value when it comes to finding a buyer.

“While bold colors like deep reds, greens or bright oranges can be attractive to some homeowners, they can detract from a home’s value by making it harder for potential buyers to imagine themselves in the space.” explains Mike Fabbri. at the New York Agency. “These shades often require repainting, which many buyers see as an additional commitment of expense and time, impacting their bid price.

Solution: neutral space and color.

“Helping them overcome objections by creating neutral, move-in-ready spaces will help most homebuyers envision their lifestyle and home furnishings, making it easier to visually move and make an offer,” notes Fabbri.

Cara Ameer, an agent in California and Florida, agrees that paint color is a key component in home sales.

“Paint colors that are pale or cool often contribute to a lower sale price for a home, as they are part of the property’s overall curb appeal,” she says. “Buyers are drawn to warm, inviting colors that are clean-lined, attractive and timeless, such as whites, creams and lighter beiges that go well with a variety of styles.”