Color Matters….if your house is Turquoise, Pink or
Chartreuse .
There are as many prognosticators, opinions, graphs and
charts which attempt to explain why a house sells or does not sell – as there
are unsold houses. I try to digest all the pertinent info that my stomach can
take, and then see how it relates to our local market, because, yes….all real
estate is local. One thing is for certain…if the exterior of your home is Turquoise,
Pink, Chartreuse (or any odd color at all) you are going to have a tougher time
unloading it than if it were a simple Nantucket-Gray-with-White-Trim. There are
several colorful examples here on the North Fork – we’ve all driven by them.
The For Sale signs have been out front for so long, they seem part of the
landscape. I’ve had occasion to get inside most of these homes and I must say
--- the interiors are more often than not, a revelation. While the curb appeal
of a Magenta house is limited – I’ve had buyer-husbands refuse to even get out
of the car – so often the interiors are well-appointed, stylish, dream homes.
Too bad that limited-appeal exterior color is keeping buyers away.
Interior paint jobs are something a potential buyer often figures
into his move-in costs: A-no-big-deal-freshening-up-job which he can even
envision himself enjoying on weekends (ha!!!). Painting the exterior of a house
is a whole ‘nother kettle of fish. Gotta get a pro for this. Could cost
thousands. This mode of thought is also the reason the current owner/seller has
not undertaken the job himself. (Even though his last 3 realtors have suggested
it.) Meanwhile, time marches on. The exterior is now, not only
Turquoise/Magenta/Chartreuse, it’s faded and dingy, less appealing every day,
while all the Gray houses in the neighborhood have sold.
If your
odd-colored home has been languishing on the market, I have a piece of advice
for you: “If 3 people tell you you’re drunk, lie down.” Paint the house Gray,
White, Beige and be done with it. Take some fresh photos, market it like a new
home and SELL THE THING!!!!
I would also
bet you can find a painter willing to play Let’s Make a Deal, and take half
upfront and half when that “SOLD” sign goes up in front of your freshly painted
Nantucket-Gray-with-White-Trim house.
