| New concepts in Interior Design Psychology are | | | | the most quickly is yellow, but the wrong tone or |
| helping home sellers net more money in today's | | | | shade of yellow can kill a potential home sale? Avoid |
| competitive real estate market. Therefore, it's | | | | yellows with green undertones and bright yellows, and |
| worthwhile to spend time planning the changes that will | | | | choose pale yellows with creamy or beige shades |
| help your home sell for the highest price. | | | | instead. Warning: colors look darker on huge exterior |
| Develop a general design plan, keeping your target | | | | expanses than they do on the littlepaint chips you see |
| market and budget in mind. Your overall design plan | | | | in the store. |
| really depends on supply and demand. How many | | | | Color Combinations |
| houses are for sale in your area? How many houses | | | | Paint stores offer many brochures, showing various |
| sell each week? Is the selling season cold, warm, or | | | | combinations of exterior paint colors, but most of them |
| hot? Is it a seller's or buyer's market? | | | | also feature combinations include three colors. Limiting |
| If the market is moving fast and buyers are lining up to | | | | your paint selection to only two colors will limit your |
| make offers for homes in your neighborhood, you can | | | | income potential. |
| do less. But whatever your answers to the above | | | | Think fun colors for a fast sale. Think "Disneyland Main |
| questions, you'll still need to do a few things to make | | | | Street," where every shop is painted in glorious |
| your home stand out from the competition. | | | | multi-color. Using a third or fourth color on the exterior |
| Know Your Target Buyers | | | | can add definition to your home's details. Use gloss or |
| Think about your neighborhood and the buyers | | | | semi-gloss paint on wood trim. |
| purchasing homes near yours. Are they purchasing | | | | Psychology of Exterior Paint Colors |
| their first home or moving up? This will be important to | | | | Take the ultimate sales price of your remodeled home |
| your marketing and design plan, since the psychological | | | | into account. Certain colors, especially muted, complex |
| needs of the two types of buyers differ considerably. | | | | shades, will attract wealthy or highly-educated buyers, |
| First-time homebuyers seek to control their own | | | | whereas buyers with less income or less education will |
| environment by owning, rather than renting. Their | | | | generally prefer simple colors. |
| psychological needs include: | | | | A complex color contains tints of gray or brown, and |
| Safety and security | | | | usually requires more than one word to describe, such |
| Sense of place or connection | | | | as sage green or forest brown, while simple colors are |
| Comfort | | | | straightforward and pure. Generally, houses in the |
| Self-control | | | | lower price range will sell faster and for more money |
| Move-up buyers often enjoy those benefits, too, but | | | | when painted in simple tones like yellow and tan with |
| they're generally more interested in finding a larger | | | | white, blue, or green trim. |
| home with more amenities for their comfort, | | | | Interior Design Plans and Secrets |
| self-esteem, and feelings of prestige. | | | | Create a list of work and materials you'll need for |
| Once you've determine your potential buyers, you can | | | | each room and then estimate the time you think it will |
| begin making improvements to your home that will | | | | take for each task. The more planning you do before |
| attract them. | | | | you begin, the more time and money you'll save. |
| Budget Concerns | | | | Psychology of Interior Paint Colors |
| Spend money only on items that will make a | | | | Daring to use color instead of bland white walls will |
| difference in your sales price. Of all repairs, fresh paint | | | | increase your profit potential. Did you know that |
| is the best investment you can make. New kitchen | | | | Lynette Jennings tested people's perception of room |
| appliances, upgraded bathroom features, and updated | | | | size and color? A room that was painted white |
| lighting fixtures will usually give a good return for your | | | | appeared larger to only a few people in the survey, |
| money, as well. | | | | compared to an identical room painted with a color, |
| Sometimes, hiring professional help is worth the extra | | | | and the perceived difference was only about six |
| expense. Professional painters work faster and will | | | | inches! Because most people look better surrounded |
| often cost less than day laborers. Tile installers, carpet | | | | by color, a colored wall also makes them feel happier, |
| layers, and electricians also know their trades and will | | | | and buyers will choose to buy the house that makes |
| do a better job than most day laborers. | | | | them feel happiest. |
| Contractors should have their own disability and liability | | | | Entryways should bring the exterior colors of the |
| insurance -- ask for a copy with your contract. Get | | | | home inside. Repeat variations of the exterior shades |
| everything in writing -- including work to be completed, | | | | all the way through your home, which will make the |
| costs, lists of specific materials to be used, time for | | | | entire home seem to be in harmony. As an added |
| completion, and payment schedule. | | | | bonus, if buyers love the exterior colors, they're going |
| Exterior Design Psychology | | | | to like the interior colors, as well. |
| Choosing the right colors to paint your home will make | | | | Spending time planning your home's sale, rather than |
| a huge difference in your paycheck at closing. Look at | | | | just listing it and then taking your chances, will net you |
| the other homes near yours and choose | | | | more money, and faster! |
| complementary colors. | | | | Best wishes for a profitable, quick sale. |
| Did you know that the exterior color of houses selling | | | | (c) Copyright 2004, Jeanette J. Fisher. |