Paint and prepare before you move in
Category BUYER'S TIPS
Every first-time homebuyer wants to add their personal touch to their property and turn their new house into a home. Adrian Goslett, Regional Director and CEO of RE/MAX of Southern Africa, says that a great way to do this at a reasonably low cost is by giving the property a fresh coat of paint. “A new coat of paint will give the home an updated, refreshed look and it is a fun way for the new homeowner to put their personal stamp on the home. A new coat of paint will make the home seem cleaner, more welcoming and more yours,” he says.
Goslett notes that according to home décor experts, the best time to paint the interior of a home is before moving in for a few reasons:
It’s easier
It is far less physically challenging to paint the interior of a home if there is no furniture in it. According to Goslett, if the room is empty, it will be easier to move around in and place the step ladder for those hard to reach sections. He adds that if furniture and boxes have already been moved in, it makes the entire process far more cumbersome, involving heavy manoeuvring to get to certain places in the home.
Time saving
There is far less prep time involved if there is no furniture in the home. “Moving furniture around or covering it takes the time that could be spent on the actual painting,” says Goslett. “A lot of time will also be saved by not having to take down any art or pictures from the walls.”
Saves on costs
If the homeowner decides to paint the home themselves, there won’t be much cost saving, however, if they decide to make use of professional painting contractors or some workers to do the job it can save them in costs. “With no furniture in the home, the painters will be able to move from one room to the next much faster, which will cut down on time spent on the job. Less time spent on the job will mean fewer labour costs,” says Goslett.
It protects the furniture
If there is no furniture in the home, it can’t get ruined. “Even if the new homeowner or a painting contractor is meticulous about ensuring that all furniture is covered – there is still the chance that paint could spill or paint flecks could find their way onto the furniture or into electrical appliances. Depending on where the paint lands, it could be a rather expensive fix,” says Goslett.
Provides the homeowner with a colour palette
“If the homeowner has not yet bought any of their décor items for their new home, painting the home will give them a specific colour palette to work from, which could make the process of decorating far easier,” says Goslett.
He advises that homeowners who are undecided when selecting their colour palette should test several shades of the colour selections on a wall in the room they are going to be painting. Goslett notes that the painted area should be allowed to dry for 24 hours before viewing it. “View the colour swatches in the morning, noon and evening, as the colours will appear to be different tones depending on the time of day. This will give you the chance to compare the shades to see which one is best for you,” says Goslett.
“Painting a home is an excellent way to transform it and reflect the new owner’s individual style. It is a way for the homeowner to express their individuality and inject a piece of themselves into their new home,” he concludes.
Author: RE/MAX SA