Choosing Paint Colors for Your Fix & Flip Property

Any experienced house flipper will tell you that painting your rehab property – inside and out – is almost always a wise choice. But when it comes to specific paint colors, there can be quite a bit of disagreement.

The general wisdom is that house flippers should stick to neutral palettes that are easy on the eyes and have mass appeal so as not to ward off any potential buyers. But does “neutral” mean white? Are there certain neutral color palettes that work better than others? Is a bit of color always a bad idea, or can some bold choices actually raise the value of your property?

Zillow recently did an analysis of over 32,000 photos taken in and of residential homes, accounting for the age of each home, its square footage, and the location. What they found was that certain colors can actually boost the sale price of a fix and flip home whereas others can bring the price down. Unfortunately, they also found that favored colors tend to change from year to year.

As you consider what colors to use in your next flip, here are some key principals to keep in mind:

1. Keep the outside neutral, but not white.

According to Zillow’s analysis, homes somewhere in the color scale from beige to gray sell for about $1,500 more than their white counterparts, on average. Very few people want the exterior of their house to make a bold statement, so it makes sense to keep the exterior paint colors tame and pleasing.

The one big exception is the front door. Zillow says that blue front doors tend to add value to properties. Greens and reds can also have a positive impact on the front door, depending upon the style of the house. And don’t forget that you can add some eye-catching colors with well-placed potted plants.

2. Pay attention to the style of the home.

As mentioned above, the type of house should have an impact upon the colors that you use. For example, you wouldn’t use the same palette on a Victorian cottage that you would on a Spanish style house. Likewise, every home has its own unique character, and you should use paint to accentuate that character. A bit of color can help make a blank, empty space feel more like a home.

3. Look for opportunities to create focal points.

Sometimes painting just one wall of a room can add visual interest. Choosing a not-so-neutral color for a fireplace mantle, the cabinets of a kitchen island, or a bay window seat can bring some charm and life into the home. Of course, you don’t want to go nuts with bright reds or oranges, but a bolder blue or green can be a solid choice.

4. Keep the kitchen light.

The kitchen is a great opportunity to bring in some color, especially if you’re going to be painting the cabinets or adding a tile backsplash. Just remember to stick to a light, inviting palette. In most areas, dark cabinets have fallen out of fashion because they make kitchens feel stodgy and confined. Preferred kitchen colors include soft, light grays and blues. But remember that trends change – take a look at kitchens in your immediate area to spy on the latest in vogue colors.

5. Balance warm and cool colors.

Warm colors like taupe tend to add a level of coziness to living rooms, whereas blues are preferable in bedrooms. (In case you hadn’t already noticed, you basically can’t go wrong with light gray-blues these days.) Take a bit of time to consider the overall palette for the house so that adjacent rooms don’t clash with one another.

6. Stay away from wallpaper.

The right wallpaper can be the perfect way to finish a room, but its simply too personal a choice for you to make for the future homeowner. There isn’t really such a thing as a neutral wallpaper, so save yourself the hassle and put your house flipping loans to another use. Likewise, stay away from overly bold colors like pinks, reds, yellows, and purples, and avoid white in the bathroom.