(The following content is a guest post from Brendan Prior of https://prioritypainting.com.au/. Priority Painting is a well known painting company from Brisbane, Queensland)
A fresh coat of paint can boost your property value by up to 5%. That might not sound like a lot, but 5% on a million-dollar property is $50,000! Or an extra $37,500 for a home worth $750,000. Buyers expect a fresh coat of paint when looking at homes to buy, and if the exterior is painted along with the interior, that can net $$$. It will also sit for less time on the property market. Painting is one of the most economical solutions to increase your property’s appeal and value.
Brisbane’s competitive real estate market has homeowners looking for ways to improve their property’s value without spending too much. The numbers tell an interesting story about paint’s effect on home value. Consumer Reports shows exterior paint improvements give about 51% return on investment. Real estate professionals agree – 66% of agents recommend painting as a top improvement before listing. Properties with attractive exteriors sell for roughly 7% more than comparable homes with less appealing facades. Houses with fresh paint also tend to sell 10% faster than those with dated or bold colours.
Let’s explore how painting quickly improves curb appeal, adds value to your Brisbane property, which colours create the biggest effect, and whether professional painters or DIY make more sense for your situation.
Why painting is the fastest way to improve curb appeal
First impressions in real estate happen faster than you think. Buyers make up their minds about a property in just 7-8 seconds of seeing it. That could be as they pull up and see the exterior or as they first walk in the door. Your home’s curb appeal works like a handshake – it needs to be perfect.
How first impressions affect buyer decisions
Buying a home is mostly about emotions. Buyers make lasting judgments about your property in just a tenth of a second, a mere blink. These quick assessments shape their view of your home’s worth.
Real estate agents see this all the time. Agents say that buyers often say a property “feels like home” just by looking at its exterior. Homes with great curb appeal look more valuable than those with worn-out exteriors. Buyers tend to trust well-kept facades as signs that someone has taken care of the whole house. This reduces their worries about hidden problems.
The role of exterior paint in property photography
Your online listing photos create the real first impression in today’s digital world. Nearly all buyers start their search online through real estate sites and base short listings on the photos.
Professional photographers know that preparing the exterior is vital. Listings with well-painted exteriors get 76% more views and 29% higher engagement. All the same, only 8% of real estate listings use twilight images that show off exterior paint jobs well.
Colour choices substantially affect photography results. Neutral tones rule successful exterior palettes. White leads at 23%, grey follows at 19%, and beige comes in at 10%.
How much does a paint job increase home value?
Paint quality can make a huge difference in your home’s market value. Let’s get into the actual financial benefits you’ll see from this straightforward upgrade.
Average ROI from exterior painting
Exterior painting stands out as one of the best home improvements you can make. Studies consistently show it brings a remarkable 51-55% ROI. This means you could get back $1.52 for every dollar you spend on painting when you sell.
The numbers look great in real terms, too. Professional painting can add 2-10% to your property’s value. A Brisbane home worth $1.3 million could see an increase between $26,000 and $130,000. Exterior painting delivers better returns than many expensive renovations. Kitchen remodels bring 96% ROI, and bathroom updates yield 73% ROI.
Real estate agent insights on value uplift
Australian real estate experts agree that fresh paint can boost asking prices by up to 5%. The National Association of Realtors found that 66% of agents rate exterior paint as crucial for curb appeal.
Jennie Norris, Chairwoman of the International Association of Home Staging Professionals, puts it simply: “Painting is the least expensive investment for the biggest return”. Agents recommend you ask them before starting any paint project to make smart investment choices.
Examples of value increase in Brisbane suburbs
Brisbane’s competitive real estate market rewards freshly painted properties with faster sales and higher prices. Homes with attractive colour schemes sell for up to 7% more than their less appealing counterparts. A Brisbane homeowner spent about $6,000 on exterior and main living area repaints. Their house sold within a week – much faster than usual – and fetched 4% above market value. Brisbane homes benefit from quality exterior painting in two ways. It protects against the subtropical weather and creates street appeal that buyers value greatly.
Choosing the right colours for maximum impact
Your property’s value depends heavily on the colours you pick – it’s more than just looks. The right exterior colours can add thousands of dollars to your final sale price if you understand what buyers want.
Exterior colours that attract buyers
Neutral shades sell better than bold choices in the real estate market. Whites are the clear winner, as 49% of home staging experts say white exteriors boost a home’s value. Natural wood stains with whites come highly recommended by 48% of experts. Cream and beige tones rank next, with 36% and 32% of experts backing them respectively. Warm whites such as Dulux Natural White™ and White Duck are very popular paint choices.
Colours to avoid when selling your home
Some colours can actually lower your property’s value. Buyers find red the most unappealing at 59%. Lime green turns off 53% of buyers, while yellow puts off 40%. Research by Zillow shows bright yellow kitchens and bold red bedrooms can slash selling prices by AUD 5986.00 and AUD 3038.10 respectively. Property experts also suggest staying away from mustard, pink, turquoise, and black.
How colour psychology influences perception
Buyers respond emotionally to different colours. Blue creates a calm, stable atmosphere. Green builds a natural connection and balanced feel. Yellow brings joy but might be overwhelming in bright shades. Smart colour choices can position your property better in the market. Neutral palettes make spaces feel bigger – 61% of experts point to warm neutrals while 60% say whites create an illusion of more space.
Why neutral tones work best in Brisbane
Brisbane’s subtropical weather shapes colour choices uniquely. Light colours help keep homes cool during hot summers by reflecting heat. The natural light and landscape of Queensland work perfectly with neutral palettes. Brisbane homes look their best with warm whites that have coastal undertones like Dulux White Duck. Soft neutrals paired with strong grey trim and warm natural textures also work well. These combinations stand up to Brisbane’s climate and make properties more appealing from the street.
Professional vs DIY: What adds more value?
The choice between DIY and professional painting goes beyond the original costs. Your investment’s value depends on what delivers lasting property worth.
When DIY painting makes sense
DIY painting works well for small, simple projects like accent walls or single rooms. Your past experience and confidence level can make a modest painting job economical. Studies show DIY projects start showing wear after 2-3 years. This makes them best suited for areas with less traffic or quick updates.
Benefits of hiring professional painters
Professional painters bring skills that improve your property’s appeal and market value by a lot. They know how to fix cracks and holes and prepare walls properly. Their grasp of colour psychology helps create the perfect room atmosphere. Best of all, professional painters finish projects much faster than amateurs and don’t disrupt your daily routine.
How quality affects long-term value
Quality prep work sets professional results apart from amateur efforts. Professional paintwork protects your home’s structure and durability. Expert painting lasts 5-10 years while DIY jobs only last 2-3 years. Real estate experts confirm that quality preparation and professional painting boost property appeal and market value.
Final Thoughts
A fresh coat of paint delivers the best bang for your buck among affordable ways to boost your Brisbane property value. The numbers definitely back this up – exterior painting delivers up to 152% return on investment, making it one of the smartest pre-sale improvements for homeowners. Your asking price can jump 5% with just a fresh coat, which costs only a fraction of major renovations.
Buyers make their original impression within seconds, making your property’s exterior its business card in Brisbane’s competitive market. The right paint colours play a significant role – whites, creams, and neutral tones attract higher offers consistently. Bold choices like red or lime green tend to decrease property value.
Quality exterior painting becomes essential in Brisbane’s subtropical climate, both for visual appeal and protection against harsh elements. Professional painters may cost more than DIY, but their superior results last longer and provide better value at sale time.
Paint jobs combine low investment with high returns exceptionally well. Your property’s appeal and market value in Brisbane’s competitive real estate market can be revolutionised through a thoughtfully executed paint job – whether you plan to sell now or build equity for the future.
