When people start thinking about selling their home, they often think about giving it a fresh coat of paint.
Considering it’s one of the lowest-cost updates you can make that has a noticeable impact when buyers walk through the door, you almost can’t go wrong doing it!
If you can get over the initial hurdle of picking the right colors, that is! And anyone who has walked into the paint section of a hardware store and stared at the walls of color chips knows just how difficult a task that can be.
There are several brands. Each brand with its own curated collections, designer palettes, trending hues, and cleverly named shades like “Soft Pebble,” “Almond Whisper,” or “Winter Silence.”
It’s daunting at first, but eventually you find yourself narrowing down the hundreds of options to a more manageable stack of sample cards.
But before you know it, you’re standing there with a fistful of tiny paper squares, all slightly different shades of “neutral.” You take them home, hold them up to the wall at different times of day. Narrow it down. Head back to the store for sample cans. Paint awkward swatches on the wall. Wait for them to dry.
And then comes the inevitable realization…
This looks completely different than I thought it would.
Lighting. Undertones. Sheen. The size of the room. The direction it faces. The color of the flooring. It all plays a role.
Which brand is best? Which finish? Eggshell or satin? Will this look too gray? Too beige? Too cold? Too yellow?
It’s time-consuming. It can cost more than expected. And it’s frustrating to repaint an entire room only to realize it’s not quite right—or worse, to just live with it because you don’t have the energy to redo it again.
When you’re prepping a home for sale, there’s already a long checklist. Decluttering. Repairs. Landscaping. Cleaning. Staging. You probably don’t want to waste extra time or money getting paint wrong.
Which is exactly why there’s a growing trend worth talking about.
You Can Hire a Paint Color Consultant…
A recent article in Forbes talks about how homeowners are hiring professional paint color consultants to help them choose the right shades. According to the article, these services often range between $150 to $800 depending on the scope—and what you actually get for that investment.
For homeowners who feel overwhelmed by options—or who simply want to get it right the first time—this can be money well spent. A trained eye can quickly narrow choices and identify undertones most people would never notice.
And when the goal is maximizing appeal before selling, that expertise can add confidence and efficiency to the process.
That said, hiring a consultant isn’t always practical.
If you’re on the higher end of that price range, those funds might be better allocated toward hiring a painter or handyman to handle the labor. Or they could go toward the actual cost of paint and supplies if you’re refreshing multiple rooms.
For some sellers, professional guidance is a worthwhile investment. For others, there are still excellent options that don’t require a separate consultant.
Or You Could Just Ask a Painter…
If you’re planning to hire a painter, don’t overlook the fact that they can be a great sounding board when it comes to choosing color.
Professional painters have seen it all. They’ve watched certain shades look fantastic once they’re up on all four walls—and others turn out very differently than expected. They often know which colors tend to be safe bets for resale and which finishes hold up best in high-traffic areas. A few thoughtful questions about what they’re seeing most often in homes getting ready to sell can go a long way.
And if you’re going the DIY route, don’t underestimate how knowledgeable the staff at your local paint store or hardware store can be. Many are experienced painters themselves, or at least work with paint products every day. They understand undertones, popular neutral options, and which brands tend to perform well.
They may not know exactly how it will look in your home’s lighting, but you don’t have to navigate that wall of color chips entirely alone.
Better Yet… Loop in a Real Estate Agent Early
Many homeowners start painting before they ever invite an agent over. They want the home looking its best before getting a valuation. That’s understandable, but bringing a real estate agent in before doing any updates can save both time and money.
Agents spend their days walking through homes in your price range and neighborhood. They know what buyers are currently looking for and reacting to.
While a soft neutral is often a safe bet, it’s not always one-size-fits-all. The right color depends on your home’s style, lighting, price point, and the type of buyer most likely to be interested.
Not only can they help you choose the right colors, but they can potentially save you from doing more work than you need to! An experienced agent can help you decide whether repainting the entire home makes sense, or whether a few strategic touch-ups will do the trick.
So before you invest time and money in a color consultant or a painter, it’s also worth getting input from someone who understands what today’s buyers are actually responding to.
The Takeaway:
A fresh coat of paint is one of the simplest, most affordable ways to make a home feel updated before it hits the market. But choosing the right color isn’t always as easy as it looks, which is probably why there is a growing trend of people hiring paint color consultants.
But before you spend money on that type of service, it’s not a bad idea to ask the real estate agent you’re going to work with for their input and advice! Your agent will know what buyers are currently looking for and reacting to help you choose the right colors, and possibly even save you from doing more work than you need to.
