What colour to paint my flat before selling?

Ch1979

My flat was built 2005 and can be a bit dark. I hate magnolia and currently have it in a dark beige which is cosy but makes it feel darker.
I'm thinking that I'd like to paint the baseboards, ceiling and walls the same colour so would an off white look okay? Something like a jasmine white? Then do carpets a darker version of that colour or light grey.
I just want something neutral, modern and light.

Vicarious

Sorry but from a buyers perspective I wouldn't paint it. Seen few houses before buying one, and would now never buy a house that was painted before the sale. 90% of them had mold or something else that the seller wanted to cover. New paint almost always alerted me that there's something wrong.


But hey ho... maybe it's only me

Person_one

Just white is fine, no need to pay more for 'Jasmine' white.

SailorSam

I don't new paint means they're trying to hide something, just that they wanted to brighten it up before selling.
No point in paying to much the new people will probably decorate to something they like.

Ch1979

Really? I've smoked in it, it's more to get rid of the smoke smells and freshen it up. It's never had any mould issues or anything and there are no plasterwork repairs. Oh no you've just tapped in to my "I hate decorating, should I bother?" excuse. i was thinking that being a newer property the decoration should be spot on so this has blown my mind. Confused now!

Ch1979

It'll be sold to singles and couples, who would expect it to be painted? Ok my decorating excitement has just waned..,...,

Person_one

If you've smoked in it, it'll take more than a bit of white paint for viewers not to be put off. I'd say there are two options, one is to sell it as is and viewers will know they need to rip up the carpets, throw out all the curtains etc. and redecorate, or spend a bit of money doing all that yourself before marketing (and then don't smoke inside!)

Option one might mean a lower selling price, option two means more outlay now.

missbiggles1

Ch1979 wrote: »

Really? I've smoked in it, it's more to get rid of the smoke smells and freshen it up. It's never had any mould issues or anything and there are no plasterwork repairs. Oh no you've just tapped in to my "I hate decorating, should I bother?" excuse. i was thinking that being a newer property the decoration should be spot on so this has blown my mind. Confused now!

You can't paint it without a fair degree of preparation if you've smoked inside so wash everything thoroughly with sugar soap (also rinse thoroughly) and see whether this improves the smell and freshness. If that isn't enough you'll be able to put a couple of coats of something neutral on knowing it won't just slide off the walls.

pollydollydoodah

Definitely neutral.

Personally newly painted houses don't put me off when viewing, (but smoke smell would as I don't smoke )

Just go for basic white or Magnolia (I know you hate it but it won't be your house if it sells) as most buyers will put their own stamp on it and those colours are fresh and won't be offensive.

bouicca21

A lot depends on how heavy a smoker you are. A whiff of smoke isn't pleasant but will disappear eventually and probably won't put too many people off. I sat next to a heavy smoker on the bus this afternoon and it made me heave. If your place smells to that extent then yes wash everything, pull up the carpets ...

The trouble is that you are almost certainly desensitised to the smell, so Your judgment will be off. Get a non smoking friend round to advise you.

Ch1979

Yep already thought about buying new carpets, have got new curtains stored at a non smoking property. Will move out once decorated so I won't be smoking in there. Will leave the extractor running plus thinking about hiring an air purifier.
It's not mega smokey I'm told but good idea to get a non smoking friend in.
Have decided to paint it all white and be done with it!
I'm sure mr bean did it with a tin of paint and a firework.............