Want to update your home but don’t have a lot to spend? Are you wondering how to sell a home you own fast and want some tips?

I always recommend cleaning first and painting second. Both give you the option of putting some  “sweat equity” in your home and for a small investment you’ll make a big impact.

But how do you paint a room and how much paint does it take? Painting does take some practice but if you have the right tools, and some patience you can easily learn. It’s the quickest way to add value when you are selling your home.

First take a trip down to your local hardware store or big box retailer such as Home Depot or Lowe’s. Head to the paint department and start looking at color chips. Neutral is best but it doesn’t have to be boring! You can choose a warm neutral that has two complementary colors next to it. One should be lighter and one darker than your base neutral.

Grab a bunch of colors you like and take them home so you can see what they look like in your home and at different times of day. Light affects colors so don’t rely on the artifical light in the store to guide you. You need to see them on your walls. Tape them up and when you have one you like head back to the store and pick up a quart to try it out at home. Feeling confident? Buy a gallon or two.

Use these handy calculators to figure out exactly how much paint you need to buy.

Home Depot Paint Calculator

Benjamin Moore Paint Calculator – How much paint should I buy?

While you’re buying the paint, pick up some trim brushes and paint rollers and paint trays. I like the disposable cheap kind because if there is one thing I don’t like to do that’s clean paint rollers and brushes! The trim brushes are for the trim or baseboard and moldings and the rollers are for the walls.

We’ll talk about technique in a later post. But meanwhile, you’re out buying paint riight? See you soon.