How to Paint the Interior of House to Sell

Painting is a very important part of preparing a home for sale. Not only does it help to cover blemishes like nail holes and rub marks from furniture, but it also gives the house an almost new feeling. It also provides an opportunity to enhance the appeal of the home through color choice and paint selection.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Interior paint
• Painters tape
• Drop Cloths
• Ladder
• Paint roller w/ extra rolls
• small, medium and large paint brushes

1. The first step to painting your house for sale is to select the type and colors of paint. Avoid painting any room with your favorite color. Realtor research has found that a potential buyer looks at the home as a black palate that they can work from and are put off by very bright or very dark colors. For most rooms a light beige or egg shell white satin may be the best choice. For bathrooms and kitchens a bright white glossy paint enhances the brightness of the room, makes it look larger and more importantly.. Cleaner.

2. The next step is to clean and repair all surface areas. Use drywall spackle in any holes or valleys, sand smooth after drying. Wipe down all walls with a damp cloth. Wipe from top to bottom so that dust you remove from the top does not end up in a clean area below it. Turn off all fans to keep the dust from being circulated. Remove the covers to all wall plates. Use painters tape to cover the trim and window/door frames. Use plastic drop cloths to cover the entire floor in your work area.

3. The next step is to paint the edges of the wall area. Use a small brush for tight areas and a large brush for open areas. Paint the edges and corners of your wall area 5'' in from the wall or corner edge. Use an even stroke and watch out for drips or runs. Then using your roller, paint the rest of the wall area making sure to overlap the edges already painted. This will give you a better finish than brush painting last. Make sure to press firmly against the wall to make the paint get into every small valley.

4. Allow the paint to dry for a couple of hours and then check for any missed spots or lighter areas. Repaint over the whole area rather than small spots for a more even finish.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure to leave a window open for ventilation but do not use a fan to keep dust at a minimum.
• If you get paint on wood floors or trim, use a towel with old English to remove it.
• If you get paint on windows or mirrors, use a straight edge razor at a 33 degree angle to scrape it off.

[christy45]

on 3/22/2009 Good tips.