What's in a colour

How tone and energy can affect your home sale preparation

When it comes time to sell your home, creating a warm, comfortable place in which would-be buyers can imagine themselves can be as easy as picking up a paintbrush.

"I'm often asked, 'What's the best colour for resale?'" said Krystle Wilk, colour consultant and manager of Southpointe Paint and Décor in southeast Calgary. "Having your home look its best when trying to sell is more than likely to get your home sold quickly and for the best possible price." While fiery reds or bright blues may be to your liking, they aren't necessarily going to be appealing to would-be homebuyers. Wilk recommends lighter tones in grays and beiges – such as Benjamin Moore's Revere Pewter or Stonington Gray – are versatile and work in a variety of conditions, allowing potential buyers to better imagine their things in your space.

"Keep in mind, that colour will look different in every application, based on lighting, flooring and furniture," Wilk said, recommending taking a sample home to compare before painting.

In a survey by Home Gain on the top 10 do-it-yourself home improvements in preparation for the market, painting the interior had a 96 per cent recommendation, topped only by de-cluttering, lighting and replacing or cleaning carpets.

"Sellers need to prepare their homes for sale before putting them on the market," said Home Gain general manager Louis Cammarosano. "Homes that have initial appeal have a better shot at selling faster and closer to the asking price than homes rushed to the market with no improvements."

While colour can alter the mood of a home for sale, other aspects of a home are said to improve your mood for the better, according to the art of Feng Shui.

Feng Shui, a Chinese art more than 3,000 years old, is a balance of energy in any given space, which will promote health and harmony.

Feng Shui expert Rodika Tchi's top tip for a harmonious home is location, neighbourhood and lot placement.
"In general Feng Shui terms, you want the house to have some breathing room, and classical Feng Shui positioning of a house on a lot is when the backyard is slightly larger than the front yard," she said.

Other tips for good Feng Shui in the home is a strong front door – preferably one that isn't aligned with the back door; avoiding homes with a staircase in the entryway – as energy directly moves up the stairs instead of staying in the main room – and a kitchen set a good distance away from both the front and back doors as it allows more energy to be retained in the space.

Tagged: colour | Design | painting | resale | Uncategorized