Purple Brush Painting

Where to start?

My recommendation would be to start by asking the following questions and answering them for yourself before hiring a painting contractor:

When are you planning to have a property on the market?

My recommendation would be 2-4 and up to 6 months before the date that property goes on the market, depending on the scope and volume of the project. Here in Massachusetts, the best time for such a project from start to finish is from November to the end of February.

What kind of furniture

or any other significantly big elements of a décor do you keep for an open house? Moving or getting rid of something altogether may reveal a part of the interior that needs to be refreshed or fixed. You want to anticipate this before having your painter over for an estimate.

Do you want to keep the colors or change to something new?

It's always a good idea to work with your realtor as they could give you a lot of insights on what part of the property may need painting or staging or any changes for that matter. And you should trust them as they know what will sell.

Problems that may arise if you start too late

From my experience working with local realtors here in Massachusetts, the time to buy and sell a property is in early spring and up to the beginning of summer.

If you are trying to start and get all painting and construction work done around this time of the year, you may face a major challenge. That will delay getting your property on the market on time.

Contractors of all trades are starting to get busy around this time of the year. Depending on the volume of work, a contractor may not be interested in a small project like this. When just a few walls need to be touched up or painted. Unless you'll be painting at least 2-3 rooms from top to bottom.

The solution for that is to do it during the winter months. It's a very slow time of the year for painters and all construction in general. That is when you possibly could save on labor by negotiating lower prices compared to the spring and summer. Take advantage of the slowest time of the year.

Purple Brush Painting offers 30% off the regular prices starting in November through late February….Shameless plug!

Getting the right person to work on this kind of project

You've answered a few questions above

and comprehended the importance and significance of timing when to start preparing your property to go on the market. Now, let's find out who you would want to hire for this.

It may look like a very insignificant factor when it comes to painting, as it seems like speed and staying on budget are the most important things—which they are. But it can't be the only one and deciding factor. A couple of critical skills that painters need to demonstrate while working on such a project.

For example, I’ve worked on a few properties around Harvard Square in Cambridge, MA, and on one of the oldest houses in Newton, MA, where most of the surfaces are old and delicate. When it comes to these special cases, you would want someone who knows what they are doing.

That's why I think the defining qualities of a painter who handles this kind of project would be neatness and meticulousness.

These skills are not limited only to a project of historical significance. Let me explain why.

The painter would need to be mindful of the surrounding areas he is working on, taking into account that not all surrounding areas that he will paint will be protected.

In situations where complete isolation of areas not intended for painting is impractical, a painter must navigate with the utmost caution to prevent any unintended impact.

As many times as it happened to me, you can't cover the entire room just for a few touch-ups or to paint one window or a piece of a trim. So, you have to be extremely careful and precise when working in that kind of environment.

This common scenario demands a heightened level of care and precision to ensure that the surrounding environment is safeguarded during the painting process

Speed ,Time and Quality balance

These two factors are not the most important ones, and its all depends on the project.

You don't need to go above and beyond when it comes to painting your property before it goes on sale. The rule of thumb is to make it lean and presentable. With up-to-code repairs.

Paint brands that we work with offer a range of painting products that can serve all budgets. Even if you are going with the cheapest products from Benjamin Moor or Shervin Wiliams, they are really great points that will get you above-average results.

The only problem that arise here if your walls/surfaces previosly was painted with particular paint and now your looking to do some touch ups with something difrent( more expensive or leas its dosent mater) you woundt be able to match the paints exaclty. Unless it's exactly the same paint, same finish, and the same color.

How soon and how fast quetions arise from the above challenges.

The main factor here is the amount of work:

Are we keeping the same colors or changing to something new? Do we need to do any repairs before painting? That will greatly affect the time table and a good idea of when you should start.

Give your painting contractor as much time as seems reasonable on your end, yet listen to what they can do for you at this timeline. Finishing a big project too fast will come with a lot of corners that will be cut. Make sure you understand this and are ok with it.

At the end of the day, the new owner of the property will repaint the place soon after the purchase. Yet clean and well maintained looking proprty will be a huge pluse in the eyes of potential buyer.

To summarize all of the above:

1. Before hiring a painting contractor, consider these key factors:

Timing: Plan the painting project 2-6 months before listing the property, with the best window in Massachusetts being November to February.

Furniture & Décor: Determine which large items will stay for the open house, as removing them might expose areas needing touch-ups.

Color Choice: Decide whether to keep or change colors. Consult with a realtor for insights on what will appeal to buyers and enhance the property's marketability.

2. Starting a painting project too late

can lead to delays in listing your property, especially since the peak buying and selling season in Massachusetts is early spring to early summer. Contractors get busier during this time and may prioritize larger projects, making it harder to find someone for smaller.

Solution

Schedule painting during the winter months, when demand is lower. This can help you secure a contractor more easily and even negotiate better pricing on labor.

3. If your property has any historical significance

or it has a lot of old surfaces that need to be painted, consider this: When hiring a painter for this kind of project, speed and budget matter, but they shouldn't be the only factors. Neatness and meticulousness are crucial to working with delicate surfaces.

4. Aim for a clean, damage-free look with only necessary repairs

Affordable options from Benjamin Moore or Sherwin-Williams would still deliver great results when it comes to paint.

Paint matching can be tricky—different brands or finishes may not match perfectly, which can potentially affect the timeline. Consider color changes and repairs in advance as it can affect the timeline.

There is way more to know about prepping your property for sale and painting processes in general. See our blog article for a deeper dive into the topic or ask us any questions or advice at purplebrushpainting@gmail.com