No matter how much time or money you spend on decorating and staging the interior of your Waterloo Region home for sale, your house will only truly stand apart and appear as inviting as possible when the exterior is also well taken care of in terms of looks as well as maintenance.
One relatively easy way to improve the look of your home from the outside – to create that all-important curb appeal – is to have it repainted prior to putting it on the market. After choosing just the right painting contractor to help (exterior painting is tricky so that really is advisable) your next big decision is choosing just the right colour(s) There are a few factors that can help you determine the perfect colour for your home, especially when it comes to upping its visual appeal and perceived value in the eyes of potential homebuyers. Here are a some of the most important:
Pick colors in order
Picking colors for your exteriors can be confusing as there are a number of different elements to consider – the roof, sidings, the front door, the garage door etc – that will need to be complemented by the new colour scheme.
To avoid becoming overwhelmed, try choosing your color palette from the topmost element on down. Pick the main color first followed by window shutters and trims, garage doors and finally the front door. Remember to look at paint color chips at different times of the day to understand just how different a certain shade might appear in bright daylight, at dusk or on an overcast day.
Consider the landscape
The landscaping around your house can be a guiding factor when choosing colors for the exterior. For example, if you have a lot of trees around your house, use a subdued but contrasting color palette. The trees probably camouflage the house and contrasting colors will help it stand out. When you live in an area with lots of shrubs and bushes, use colors that blend in with the surroundings a little and allow all of Mother Nature’s beauty to shine through.
Consider the style of your house
Consider choosing your exterior colours based partially on the styling details and features of your home. For example, if you live in an older house choose colours that bring out the unique historical characteristics of your home. If yours is a modern, rather plain home consider using colour to highlight its basic architectural features – window frames, doors etc – above everything else to add a little character.
Blend in with the Neighbourhood
Take a walk around your neighborhood to help determine the color scheme for your exterior. A home that is too different from the others surrounding it tends to be considered an eyesore by many and not only tends to upset the neighbours but can considerably depreciate the value of your property. A bold coloured trim in a street where everyone else has white is OK, but painting the entire exterior of your home in a similar fashion when all the others fall into the ‘neutral zone’ in terms of colour is probably not.