Styles change, but homes don’t. When you purchase an older investment property, it can seem like the house needs a complete design overhaul to appeal to modern buyers, even if the quality is still great. Fortunately, there are simple ways to revamp your fix and flip project and save big bucks while maintaining the original character.
Older homes are often built with great, long-lasting materials like hardwood floors, sturdy wooden doors, brick walls, and strong vinyl tile. Just because a home is out of style doesn’t mean you need to replace all of its outdated features. Spend your cash on the things that must be fixed, like old appliances, roof damages, and structural improvements. Take advantage of these tricks to flipping houses and painting hacks to revitalize an old home without completely re-outfitting it.

How to Paint an Old House: Fix & Flip Hacks

Walls
The first step to any major rehab project is repainting the walls. Modern buyers aren’t interested in 70s yellows or 80s pinks. Today, buyers lean toward light, bright whites and grays. Since walls need to be repainted every three to four years, your investment probably needs a fresh coat anyway, so choosing a modern color won’t cost you any extra.
Don’t limit yourself to walls that are already painted, either; adding a coat to a plain brick wall is an easy way to completely change the feel of a room. You can either paint the brick the same color as the rest of the walls, or you can emphasize it with a contrasting shade. If you like the way the brick looks in a room, you can also stain it rather than paint. For brick walls, you can use a paint sprayer or a roller to add color. Paint sprayers are quicker, but rollers are easier for beginners.

Doors
If your home has a weather-worn but still beautiful wooden door, there’s no need to shell out cash to replace it with a new model. A dark coat of paint will refresh the door, hide worn spots and modernize it in one stroke.
Keep in mind that the door is the first thing potential homebuyers will notice, so think carefully about your color choice. Black is a classic, but a bright color can add major pop to an otherwise boring exterior.
Read this guide for step-by-step instructions on painting your front door.


Cabinets
White, airy kitchens are a huge trend right now. You don’t need to go shopping to achieve the look, though; just repaint those old beige or brown models in white, gray, or black, depending on the look you’re going for.
If you’re doing the work yourself, plan on five to six days for this kitchen hack. Supplies will likely cost a few hundred dollars – between $200 and $600, depending on what materials you already have and what type of paint you choose. Make sure you prepare appropriately, using a filler to fix any dents or cracks, plus sanding and priming before you paint.

Tiles
There have been some unfortunate tile trends in the past few decades, but that doesn’t mean you need to rip out the entire bathroom and install new floors and shower walls. Refinished tiles can look just as elegant and modern as brand-new ones. If you’re feeling ambitious, you can even use tape or a template to paint a decorative geometric or floral pattern.
Before you paint, make sure you completely sand the tile surface to prevent bumps and peeling. Afterwards, clean the tile with a stripper and cleaner, add a new layer of grout and repair cracks, apply primer, and paint away! You can use a roller to cover the bulk of the floor and get tough spots along the grout with a paintbrush. Finally, you’ll need to seal your tile so that it does not incur water damage and looks as shiny and smooth as if it were brand new. Make sure you let it dry for at least a day before you move forward with any other updates.
If you really want to wow buyers, you can purchase a stencil to create virtually any pattern on your freshly painted tiles before you seal them. It will take an extra few days, but the results are well worth it. Keep in mind that each tile will likely require some individual touch-ups; the more detailed the pattern, the longer the touch-ups will take.

Accents
Black and white contrast is the sleekest new home look; you can create the style yourself by painting stand-out features like fireplaces, mirror frames, or lighting fixtures. Adding black to old bathroom features like clawfoot tubs or bowl sinks can invigorate these old-fashioned pieces and make them look trendy.
Adding black features will create depth in a room without making it feel stuffy. You can create a dynamic-looking bedroom or living room by painting one wall black and the rest white.

Painting an Old House: Best Practices

1: Deep-clean everything
If the room isn’t perfectly clean before you start painting, you will end up kicking up dust and dirt onto the wall while you paint, adding blemishes to what should be a smooth surface.

2: Prep appropriately
Since you’re already saving by not replacing the surfaces you’repainting, don’t skimp on sanding, priming, or sealing. Homeowners will not be happy if the paint is already chipping when they move in. Not only will you end up with unhappy buyers, but if the house stays on the market longer than you expect, the paint may start chipping before you sell, resulting in lower bids.

3: Use painter’s tape for clean lines
Put tape along the edges of whatever you are painting to ensure a clean, professional-looking line. After you are finished, remove the tape with a razor for best results.

4: Roll large areas, paint details
Using a roller is a quick way to paint a surface, but with things like cabinets, tiles, or doors, you’ll need a paintbrush to get into crevices and finish the coat.

5: Allow for plenty of dry-time
There’s nothing worse than spending hours getting your new paint job looking perfect only to ruin it by touching it too soon. Allow at least a day for your paint surfaces to dry and test a small area before you do anything big like re-installing cabinets or doors.[su_divider top=”no” divider_color=”#e4e4e4″ size=”1″ margin=”5″]
If you have an investment property in mind and are looking for fix and flip funding, ABL has the cash to make it happen. Click here to pre-qualify for your hard money loan or call 201-942-9089 to talk about fix and flip funding options.