So you’re getting ready to move to a new home, and you need to sell your old one. However, some of your rooms are of, shall we say, ‘interesting’ color schemes? You need to make sure that the house can be viewed through the eyes of the new owner, and bright colors that don’t fit can be a big turn off. As such, you’re probably going to need to repaint the walls in order to bring them to a more neutral state.

Painting your house might seem like a big task, but it’s not that hard with some guidance and practice. When you’re done, it’ll be in perfect condition to put on the market. You’ll need a handful of tools to get started, many of which you probably already own. These include:

• Paint Brushes: Angled brushes tend to work better for cutting in ceilings and corners than flat brushes do. 3.5 inch is usually a good size to get a solid amount of coverage per coat.
• Paint Roller: A good 9 inch roller, roller frame, and paint tray will take you far. Go with a shorter nap around the ¼ inch range to get a nice smooth finish.
• Painter’s Tape: Use tape to protect baseboards, window frames, door frames, and other non-painted surfaces during the cutting process. A properly done tape job will save you tons of time in cleanup and help prevent accidental drips or spills.
• Drop Cloths: Drop cloths or runners are vital for protecting your floor and furniture from spills and paint drips.
• Rags: Having old rags on hand is a good idea in case there’s a spill or you need to wipe off the woodwork.
• Ladders: A good 4’ or 6’ ladder will get you by in most normal sized rooms. For stairwells or vaulted ceilings, you’ll have to borrow or rent a larger ladder or a stair jack.
• Spackle & Caulk: Repair those holes and dents in your walls with a good layer of spackle. Seal those cracks with some caulking. Sand it down so it’s smooth, and you’re ready to paint.
• Your Favorite Tunes: Don’t paint in silence, it’s boring! Bust out the radio or your digital music player of choice and go to town.

Now that you have all your tools together and your neutral paint colors ready to go, you can start the preparation process. Why a neutral color, you ask? It’s easier for people to imagine their own possessions in the rooms if they are a white or light tan. This can easily swing a sale in your favor. Let’s get started.

1. Wipe down the walls, corners, trim boards, and ceiling with a duster. This gets rid of particles and dust that can create an adhesion problem or create unevenness in application.
2. Tape off your woodwork. This includes your floor trim boards, window frames, door frames, any shelving units that won’t be removed from the wall, and everything else. Run a straight edge over it to really seal it down against the wall. This prevents paint from getting under the lip of the tape and getting on your woodwork.
3. Fill all nail holes, dents, dings, and cracks with spackle or drywall mud. Let it dry fully (usually about 15 to 20 minutes) and then go back over it with some sand paper to smooth it down. This way when you apply your paint, your walls will look blemish free. Be sure brush any dust off the tape at the trim boards so you don’t drag your brush through it.
4. Lay down your tarps and drops in the area you’re working on. Make sure they’re snug up against the wall so if you dribble any paint or accidently drop some, it’ll stay on the drop cloth and won’t get onto your carpet.
5. Remove all electrical covers and other such things from your walls. It’s easier to just take them down than it is to paint around them.
6. Stir your paint with the stir sticks the company should have provided you. Then pour out a small amount into a container you are comfortable using for your brush. Start cutting in the edges of the wall. It’s best to start low and work high so you can keep the wet edge when you roll the wall.
7. Pour a decent amount of paint into the roller tray, and get your roller thoroughly saturated. Then start rolling the wall with even pressure in uniform lengths. Don’t let your roller get too dry, and re-wet it as needed.
8. Once the paint is dry. Remove the tape from the walls carefully so you don’t peel the fresh paint off of your wall. Take a rag and clean up any places where paint got under the tape.
9. Pull up all your drops, put your covers back up, and voila! You’ve got your rooms in perfect shape for showing off to your potential buyers.

Now that you know how to paint your home to get it ready for sale, you can apply your new found proficiency to your new home as well. After all, there’s no better time to paint a room then when it’s completely empty. If you find yourself worn out after all the painting and house staging and you’d like some help moving all your stuff, then have us provide you with quotes from qualified movers near you. We’ll provide you with multiple options so you’re sure to get the best deal possible. Simply fill out our form and get started today.