Does a Fresh Coat of Paint on the Outside of Your House Add Value?

Dusty Rhodes • July 27, 2020

A beautiful exterior paint job is a show stopper and gives a homeowner major first impression points. A 2015 study estimated the ROI on an exterior paint job to be 51% while Consumer Reports says that enhancing your home’s exterior, including paint touch-ups, can boost home value by 2-5%.

 

“The main thing you don’t want to see when you walk up—or even in the back—is that your trim or molding shows rot or if the paint’s been chipped off. That’s an easy fix,” said Leighann Russell, a top-selling agent in Buford, GA. “It makes a huge difference.”

 



 But painting the whole house is no small job to take on. It takes experienced painters 5 whole days to paint an entire house exterior (so likely at least double that if you’re an amateur), and costs an average $2,802 to get done. The key then is deciding whether your house needs a full paint makeover or if you could accomplish what you need to with smaller projects.

 

Paint takes a beating as your home’s first line of defense


A lot of factors determine the longevity of exterior paint: the type of surface being painted, the quality of the paint, the skill of the painter (or painting contractor), and of course, the weather.



Brooks Painting, a contractor in Davis, California, that serves the Sacramento area, says that the greatest threat to exterior paint in Northern California is the sun’s UV rays, which cause paint to wear, chalk, and crack.



Paint on a stucco exterior can last about 10 years there; on wooden surfaces, about 5 to 7 years. In other areas, freezing winters and soggy rainy seasons can cause paint to fade, crack, and peel.



Paint that’s in poor shape isn’t a deal breaker during most home appraisals for a conventional loan. However, peeling or chipped paint is an issue with Veterans Administration (VA) appraisers and will need to be fixed before the financing will go through.



A home inspector will make note of defective paint to check if it’s indicative of an underlying issue, Russell said. This can include rot, mold, termites, or siding issues; some siding has been discontinued or recalled because it’s susceptible to mold or swelling, which affects the paint.



Exterior paint contains solvents, pigments, additives, and binders, all of which control the hue, drying time, mildew, and other considerations. Thanks to modern paint technology, two coats of top-quality exterior paint over primed wood can last 10 to 15 years and significantly longer on stucco, according to This Old House. Paints labeled “100 percent acrylic latex” adhere tenaciously to wood, vinyl, masonry, and metal and are flexible, breathable, and more colorfast than those made with acrylic blends or vinyl.



Should you DIY or hire a professional for your exterior paint job?


You’ll save costs on professional labor with a DIY paint job, and if you’re a somewhat handy individual who’s tackled projects around the house before, it can be done.



The most durable paints range from as little as $17 a gallon to more than $100, depending on the brand and composition. But you’ll want to base your decision on a few key factors, like how tall your house is, whether the house has any special architectural features, and the slope of the ground that your house is built on.



If you’re concerned about breathing in the fumes, federal regulations limit the amount of VOCs, or volatile organic compounds, to 250 grams per liter in flat exterior paints and 380 grams per liter in glossy exterior paints.



However, an exterior paint job involves more than just calculating how many gallons you’ll need and buying brushes or a sprayer. Painting and Decorating Contractors of America (PDCA) recommends cleaning any dirt or debris on the exterior with a pressure washing to help the paint adhere better. You’ll also need to get rid of any previous coats of cracking or peeling paint, and caulk any trim or other cracked panels to ensure the paint goes on smoothly.



You might not have the equipment or materials to paint a whole house yourself—and buyers can tell the difference. “People can tell they did a shady job on it and they’re gonna have to come in there and do it themselves again,” Russell said.



Plus, if your house has more than two stories, you’ll need help. The last thing you probably want to do is be on a ladder painting your home—and it’s gonna take you a lot longer,” Russell said.



“If you hire a painter who’s a professional, generally, they have a team of people, and they can knock it out in a couple days.”


Painting the exterior of a 1,500-square-foot house costs about $1,800 to $3,800 nationwide for paint, supplies, and labor, depending on where you live.


That said, you might not have to paint the entire exterior.

Sometimes exterior paint touch-ups are the better choice

If your home inspector and real estate agent have noticed that the exterior as a whole is in good shape, you might just need to paint the trim and other accents to cover any chips or flaking and give your home a fresh look.

Painting the trim is less costly than painting the exterior. A 1,500-square-foot house has about 500 feet of finished trim, which to paint professionally costs about $750 to $1,800 nationwide, including labor and supplies.

But depending on where you live, a pressure wash might be all your house needs. The PDCA recommends pressure washing your home’s exterior annually to avoid the buildup of dirt and debris.

“In Georgia, you really don’t have to paint your house very often. You can just pressure wash it, and it makes a huge, huge difference,” Russell said. In addition to removing dirt, pressure washing will remove mold or mildew from the outside of a home that doesn’t get a lot of sun.

The average cost of power washing a 1,500-square-foot house nationwide ranges from $400 to $500, depending on location.

Cue the curb appeal!



Should you decide to paint the entire house, designers say you should check your home’s architecture and surroundings. Symmetrical homes, with their sense of formality and heritage, look elegant with a light palette and accents, such as ivory and white, with a front door in a bright welcoming color such as aqua.



Shingle siding in slate gray with white trim and a front door painted a deep navy is a muted but sophisticated look. Cool green, butter yellow, and pure white is a calming palette that draws its inspiration from nature.



By contrast, a beach house in a modern design looks cheery in yellow with white trim but grounded with a cinnamon-brown door. A similar home with ocean blue shingles, white trim, and a front door in royal purple looks playful yet stylish.



Regardless of whether you touch up the trim, power wash the exterior, or hire a professional crew to paint your home’s exterior, the most you might spend might be a few thousand dollars—but the curb appeal pays huge dividends. It not only catches buyers’ eyes but helps cement your asking price.



“Generally, you’ll get back what you put into it,” Russell said.







Source:   HomeLight



Dusty Rhodes Properties is the Best Realtor in Myrtle Beach! We do everything in our power to help you find the home of your dreams. With experience, expertise, and passion, we are the perfect partner for you in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. We love what we do and it shows. With more than 22 years of experience in the field, we know our industry like the back of our hands. There’s no challenge too big or too small, and we dedicate our utmost energy to every project we take on. We search thousands of the active and new listings from Aynor, Carolina Forest, Conway, Garden City Beach, Longs, Loris, Murrells Inlet, Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Pawleys Island, and Surfside Beach real estate listings to find the hottest deals just for you!

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Here’s Where To Start if You’re Selling and Buying at the Same Time

By Dusty Rhodes • August 3, 2026
If you’re a homeowner getting ready to move , one question usually comes first: should you buy your next home before you sell, or sell your current house before you start looking? There’s no single right answer. The best call depends on your finances, your local market, and your timeline. And a trusted agent can help you weigh all of it. But in a lot of cases these days, selling first puts you in the stronger spot. The Advantages of Selling First Selling is usually the trickier half of a move today, so getting it done first clears your biggest hurdle. And that’s especially true right now , because there are more homes for sale than there are buyers, which means houses are taking longer to sell than they did a year or two ago. So how does leading with your sale pay off? Let’s start with the money. 1. You Won’t Get Stuck Paying Two Mortgages Buy before you sell, and you could end up carrying two mortgages at once. And especially since houses are staying on the market longer these days, that overlap may drag on for more time than you’d planned. And if unexpected repairs come up, it could get even more expensive. Selling first takes that risk off the table, so you’re not multitasking homeownership. As Ramsey Solutions puts it: “It’s best to sell your old home before buying a new one to avoid unnecessary risks and possible headaches.“ 2. You Can Use Your Equity To Fuel Your Move This is always true, but one of the biggest perks of selling first is that you’ll know exactly how much money you’re walking away with. And one of the big figures that matters in that conversation is how much equity you have in your current place. Equity is basically your house’s value minus what you still owe on your mortgage. And it adds up fast. According to Realtor.com , homeowners who’ve been in their home for 5 years have about $180,000 in equity on average. And those who’ve had their home for 6-10 years? They have over $340,000. After you sell, you can use that money to cover your down payment or even buy your next home in cash. And knowing that profit up front helps you plan your next move. 3. Your Offer Will Be Hard To Pass Up When your house is already sold, you don’t have to make your offer contingent on that sale. In a market where buyers are taking their time, that’s exactly what a seller wants to see. Picture it from the seller’s side. If their house has been sitting for a while, they’ll gravitate toward the offer most likely to close without a snag. That can also give you room to ask for a little more, like repairs, since a motivated seller would rather keep things moving than lose you and wait for another offer to come in. Your agent can help you make the most of your upper hand in that scenario. Is There a Catch? Selling first has its tradeoffs too, and it helps to see the pros and cons side by side before you decide. Here’s a quick breakdown based on information from Zillow (see visual below) : 

7 Reasons to Use Real Estate Drone Photography for Your Listing

By Dusty Rhodes • July 26, 2026
Online listing photos often shape a buyer’s first impression of a home. They want to understand the home’s setting, the size of the lot, and what makes the property unique before deciding whether it’s worth a visit. That’s one reason real estate drone photography has become a popular addition to many listings. That said, aerial photography isn’t a must-have for every home. Whether you’re selling a home in Houston, TX or listing a rental in Asheville, NC , knowing when to use this style of professional photography can help highlight the features that matter most to buyers. Here are seven situations where real estate drone photography can make a listing more compelling. Key takeaways: Best for homes where the setting is part of the selling point. Shows lot size, layout, and nearby amenities at a glance. Helps buyers visualize features that aren’t visible from the ground. Less valuable for standard homes on small lots. Should be performed by a licensed drone operator following local regulations. 1. The property sits on a large lot or acreage Large properties are difficult to capture from the ground. Aerial photos show the property’s full footprint and help buyers appreciate how much land they’re getting. Bradley Harkey, owner at LuxRE Photos , says drone photography is especially valuable for homes with room to grow. “Drone photography can really be essential when you are selling a home with a lot of land. A view from above can showcase the potential even when it’s not exactly obvious from the ground.” He says buyers often struggle to picture what an undeveloped yard could become. “Oftentimes an unprepped backyard can just look like a bunch of weeds to a potential buyer, but when seen from above, you can visualize where that pool can go, or that basketball hoop, or that go-kart track you always wanted as a kid. Some homes have so much potential, but it’s hard to see between the weeds.” Whether it’s acreage, an equestrian property , or simply a spacious backyard, aerial images help buyers see the property’s potential. 2. The home has waterfront views or scenic surroundings Some of a home’s best features aren’t visible from the front yard. Waterfront access, mountain views, wooded privacy, and distinctive architecture all benefit from an elevated perspective. Doug Smith, principal and founder of Houzpics LLC , explains, “Aerial photography is especially valuable for waterfront or estates with large, feature-rich lots, multi-story architecture, and homes with scenic surroundings. Aerial images help buyers understand the property’s layout and highlight features that traditional ground-level photos may not fully capture.” Rather than focusing only on the home, aerial photography showcases the entire setting.

Psychology says people who keep going back to the beach aren’t just relaxing, they may be restoring something deeper

By Dusty Rhodes • July 21, 2026
Some people enjoy the beach. Others seem drawn to it. They choose beach vacations over city breaks. They find excuses to visit the coast whenever they can. They feel calmer the moment they hear waves crashing or catch sight of the ocean on the horizon. Friends and family may joke that they're "obsessed" with the beach, but psychology suggests there may be more happening beneath the surface. For many people, a love of the beach is not simply about sunshine, swimming, or beautiful views. Research suggests that coastal environments may provide something the modern brain desperately needs: a chance to recover from constant mental demands. Attention Restoration Theory may explain the attraction to the beach One of the most influential explanations comes from Attention Restoration Theory, developed by environmental psychologists Rachel Kaplan and Stephen Kaplan. The theory suggests that everyday life requires large amounts of what researchers call directed attention. This is the mental effort people use to focus during meetings, answer emails, ignore distractions, make decisions, navigate traffic, and manage responsibilities. Over time, directed attention becomes fatigued. Natural environments appear to affect the brain differently. The Kaplans proposed that nature creates a state known as soft fascination. Instead of demanding concentration, environments such as beaches gently hold attention without effort. As a result, the brain gets an opportunity to recover from mental fatigue . For frequent beachgoers, this may help explain why a few hours by the ocean often feels more restorative than an entire day spent indoors. Research on blue spaces supports the idea Psychologists and public health researchers often use the term blue spaces to describe environments that contain visible water, including oceans, lakes, rivers, and coastlines. Over the past decade, a growing body of research has linked blue-space exposure to improved psychological well-being . A 2020 research, Blue space, health and well-being: A narrative overview and synthesis of potential benefits, led by environmental psychologist Mathew White has found that people who spend more time near coastal environments often report better mental health and higher life satisfaction. The authors propose that water environments may improve mental health through several connected pathways: Increased physical activity (people walk, swim, or move more near water) Psychological restoration (reduced mental fatigue and stress) Social interaction (waterfronts often encourage gathering and recreation) Environmental effects such as improved air quality and aesthetic satisfaction Importantly, the review also highlights that blue spaces share similarities with green spaces (like parks and forests), but water environments may have unique psychological effects due to their sensory characteristics and emotional associations. Why the ocean feels different from other environments Many people report feeling calmer almost immediately when they arrive at the beach. Psychologists believe part of the reason may be the unique combination of sensory experiences. The sound of waves is rhythmic and predictable. The horizon creates a sense of openness. The movement of water captures attention without overwhelming it. Unlike social media feeds, traffic, news alerts, and crowded urban environments, the beach provides relatively low levels of cognitive demand. In simple terms, the ocean gives the brain less work to do. That reduction in mental effort may help explain why people often describe feeling lighter, calmer, or more clear-headed after spending time near the water. Place Attachment Theory says beaches can become part of identity For some people, the connection goes beyond relaxation. Psychologists study a concept known as place attachment, which refers to the emotional bond people develop with specific locations. Certain places become connected to family memories, childhood experiences, important life events, or feelings of belonging. Over time, the beach may become more than a destination. It becomes part of a person's identity. This may explain why some individuals return to the same stretch of coastline year after year, even when countless other travel options are available.