A Facelift for Your House!

We spend a lot of time working on the inside of our homes, and sometimes the outside goes without the TLC it deserves. Well, this year at my house we decided to elevate exterior painting to the top of our seemingly endless, equally inspiring, and sometimes frustrating home projects list.

For many people the idea of making exterior painting their priority project can seem daunting. It’s certainly more expensive and difficult than painting inside, however it’s a great investment -- especially if you will be selling your home any time soon. Curb appeal is so important. It’s your home’s first impression to all visitors. It draws in potential buyers because it shows you care about the upkeep of your property.

To start the biggest painting project you’ll probably ever undertake, here’s a list of steps:

1.       Set your budget. Start by checking online for what the average cost might be to paint a home your size. Costs can vary quite a bit depending on what part of the country you live in so be sure to check for your specific area.

2.       Get quotes from a few vendors. I recommend three. It’s enough to get a good idea of cost and what that cost includes but not so many it becomes hard to track.

3.       Make sure you hire someone who carries the proper licensing and insurance. You don’t want to find out after someone is injured on the job that you are liable.

4.       Find out exactly what their quote covers. For instance, do they do all the prep work? Do you need to move furniture or plants out of the way? Will they paint adjacent fences, pony walls or other outdoor structures? Once they have their painting equipment rolling, they will often toss in some freebies to sweeten their offer.

5.       Check that the agreed upon price is defined in a contract and that final payment occurs when the job is complete. Also make sure any additional charges are clearly defined and must be approved by you in advance.

6.       Finally, trust your gut. When you meet with the vendors, ask all the questions you can think of. They should be happy to take their time and answer them all. If you feel rushed or uneasy, move on to the next vendor on your list.

Once you have chosen a vendor, the next most important decision is choosing paint colors. Do you live in a neighborhood with an HOA? If so, your choices will probably be limited and may require approval. If an HOA isn’t a factor, you’ll have a lot more freedom, but you’ll still want to consider the colors of neighborhood homes as well as your roof color. Keep in mind that a bold color scheme could be off-putting to some people, so checking with neighbors may be part of your decision-making process. Also remember that a neutral palette may seem boring but can be punched up visually with flowers, plants, and other features.

Once you’ve chosen your colors, ask your painter to come paint samples on an inconspicuous part of the house so that you can have a few days to look at it in different times of the day. Color can look quite different at different times of the day, and with such a big investment you want to eliminate potential surprises and disappointments.

I hope that these tips will help you when the time comes to take on this big project!

Now, what will you do next to love where you live?

Please feel free to reach out to us at The Redesign Habit and ask questions or simply share a project that you are working on or have completed.

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