Dear Heather: My house is looking a bit bedraggled from our recent storms and I am just about to put it on the market for sale. Should I go to the trouble of painting it? Is there a good colour? — Seller

Dear Seller: A fresh coat of paint is one of the most inexpensive fixes you can do to perk up your home. Making a good first impression is so important, partly because a potential buyer won’t spend long looking at your home if it appears that it is dirty or in disrepair. One of the easiest and most dramatic ways to enhance that first impression is through paint. A few key tips can help you make the most of your painting budget:

1) Repaint your door. Brightly coloured doors are often charming and frequently appear on design blogs and Pinterest. However, there is a risk here when reselling. Some people may not like the colour and that could put them off your home. One way to be more secure about your choice is to check out your neighbourhood. What colours are others using? You can also check houses for sale in the area online in order to get more ideas. Also, if you are in a development with a homeowners’ association there may be some rules about what you can and can’t do in terms of colour. If you are repainting your door make sure to use an outdoor paint that can weather the elements.

2) Touch up the trim. Peeling or faded exterior trim or rafter feet on your home will send a message that the home isn’t well maintained. Newly painted trim can also make it appear as if the entire exterior has been freshened up. Make sure to wash and patch first so that the overall finish is smooth and clean and take the opportunity to wash/power wash the exterior walls too (especially after the storm).

3) Prep work makes great work. A sloppy paint job can be worse than no paint job at all, especially inside your home. All walls should be patched, smoothed and taped before painting begins and drop cloths should be spread over all exposed surfaces. Even if the trim is a similar colour to the rest of the wall, use trim paint for the trim and paint it separately. Make sure to wait between coats and touch up any missed or thin spots.

4) Go neutral. Bermuda colours are beautiful, but darker/brighter tones don’t necessarily resonate with potential homeowners. Buyers want to imagine your home as a blank canvas and envision their own belongings and colour schemes. On the interior, sandstone, white, and pale beige not only won’t clash with your buyer’s furniture but they will also help amplify the experience of light and space inside your home.

5) Green it up. One way to help your home go green and appeal to sellers is to use a low- or non-VOC paint indoors. VOC stands for volatile organic compounds. If you use an eco-friendly paint be sure to mention it in your listing description. Buyers, especially those who are chemically-sensitive or have young children, will often look favourably upon this feature.

Heather Chilvers is among Coldwell Banker Bermuda Realty’s leading sales representatives. She has been working in real estate for 25 years. If you have a question for Heather, please contact her at hchilvers@brcl.bm or 332-1793. All questions will be treated in confidence.