One small thing that can add $5k to home sale value

Home sellers who add a fresh coat of blue paint to their bathroom before listing could be well rewarded

One small thing that can add $5k to home sale value
Home sellers who add a fresh coat of blue paint to their bathroom before listing could be well rewarded.

The 2017 Paint Color Analysis from Zillow discovered that buyers paid an average $5,440 more than expected for blue bathrooms while light gray and oatmeal also fared well.

External walls in ‘greige’ a mix of light gray and beige attracted a premium of $3,496 when compared to those with medium brown or tan stucco walls. Even a dark navy or slate gray front door could add more than $1,500 to the sale price.

"Color can be a powerful tool for attracting buyers to a home, especially in listing photos and videos," says Svenja Gudell, Zillow chief economist. "Painting walls in fresh, natural-looking colors, particularly in shades of blue and pale gray not only make a home feel larger, but also are neutral enough to help future buyers envision themselves living in the space."

The colors to avoid are darker, more style-specific walls like terracotta dining rooms sold for $2,031 less than expected while white bathrooms meant a loss of more than $4k for sellers.