Why Fresh Paint Still Rules in Home Sales

CHICAGO — When it comes to getting a home market-ready, paint beats almost any other home improvement upgrade. A new Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate poll found that three out of four real estate agents say repainting the interior can add the most value before a sale – sometimes boosting the listing's value by as much as 10%, or up to $20,000.

"Painting is the most cost-effective upgrade, and you can cover the most space with it," says real estate broker Josh McGrath, the owner of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Central in South Charleston and West Virginia and the 2025 President of the West Virginia Association of Realtors. Paint and supplies tend to be cheaper than most other house projects, so if a homeowner had $1,000 to spend, McGrath would generally suggest putting it all toward paint.

"Even if you just paint the walls the same color, you get that fresh look. The dents and dings are gone, and you get that clean paint smell," McGrath says. "That's the biggest impact you can make."

Color choice matters

Real estate agents understand the value of freshly painted homes. It's why painting the entire home or at least one interior room is the home remodeling project they most often recommend to homeowners before listing, according to the National Association of Realtors®' 2025 Remodeling Impact Report. 

And, the BHGRE poll confirmed what many agents see every day: Color can make or break a first impression. The color of the walls can make buyers feel welcome or turn them off. The poll revealed that buyers often hold strong impressions of certain colors. 

For example, more than half of respondents said red is the number one dealbreaker for them in homes they view. 

"Red has subliminal messaging," McGrath says. "Red means stop. Red means caution. It subconsciously drives your blood pressure up. It's great for a restaurant — but not for a house. A home should feel calm and inviting."

Other bold hues like orange, neon hues, purples and saturated pinks were also ranked as home buyer turn-offs, according to the survey. 

Meanwhile, neutrals still dominate in real estate. Eighty-four percent of agents in the BHGRE survey said whites, grays and beiges remain top choices. McGrath points to an emerging favorite that bridges both cool and warm tones—his favorite Sherwin-Williams' Worldly Gray, which is mix of beige and gray.

The BHGRE poll revealed the following favorite color combinations when staging a home before listing it:

• Beige and soft green (tied as the favorite staging palette)
• White and gray (tied as the favorite staging palette)
• Navy and white — which offers a contrast without turning off mainstream buyers
• Bold combos — such as black and gold or taupe and teal — but used sparingly and often reserved for luxury listings

Half of homeowners say they repaint not to change out the color but simply to refresh their home, according to the BHGRE survey. 

"Think about buying a pre-owned car," McGrath says. "You expect it to be detailed – clean looking nice and smelling fresh. Buyers expect the same thing with a house. Fresh paint makes it feel like its new again." 

Whether selling or not, he recommends repainting a home every three to five years, depending on how you live in the space. "Life leaves marks on the walls," he says. "A fresh coat of paint can bring it back."

© 2025 National Association of Realtors® (NAR)