White Exterior - Selling your House

Sellers need all the help they can get in today's housing market. If the outside of your house looks weather-beaten or if there's any sign of mold growing on the lower clapboards, then you should paint the exterior. Think about it: The first thing a potential buyer sees is the color of the house. And in real estate, first impressions are everything.

In picking a color, keep in mind the character of a neighborhood. If all the houses on the street are beige and tan, don't paint your house pink. Common sense, right? Not for many people. The color should also reflect the landscape. Consider the shrubs and trees when shopping for a color.
You can't go wrong with white. White is one of the safest, and most popular colors, to paint the exterior. According to one survey, nearly 40 percent of those questioned liked white. For one thing, white can make your house look larger. White also soaks up the light in a shady yard, and is also clean-looking. One of the nice things about white is that you can paint the trim with a color that makes the entire house pop [source: Burns]. Remember too, white isn't just white; it comes in many hues.
Moreover, when choosing an exterior color, don't overlook the roof. A new roof is a major selling point. For one thing, no one wants to replace a roof -- a pricy proposition -- when they buy a house. A roof can also make a statement with color. While the most popular colors for a roof are blacks and grays, there are also reds, and greens and tans. If you're going to replace your roof prior to selling, an interesting color that complements the exterior could catch a would-be seller's eye in the right setting.