What a pre-sale repaint typically costs
Most sellers don't repaint the whole house. They focus on the rooms and surfaces that buyers see first and judge hardest. A targeted refresh of a typical three-bedroom house – hallway, living room, kitchen, main bedroom and the front door – usually costs somewhere between £1,500 and £3,000. A complete interior repaint is more like £4,000–£7,500.
On the outside, repainting just the front elevation and front door might be £600–£1,500, while a full exterior for a semi is typically £1,800–£3,500 before any scaffolding.
| Job | Typical cost | Impact on buyers |
|---|---|---|
| Front door and frame | £150 – £350 | High – first impression |
| Hallway, stairs and landing | £600 – £1,400 | High – first room on viewings |
| Living room | £450 – £850 | High – main photo |
| Kitchen walls and ceiling | £350 – £700 | Medium to high |
| Main bedroom | £350 – £650 | Medium |
| Front elevation of the house | £600 – £1,500 | High – listing photo and kerb appeal |
Typical pre-sale painting costs for a 3-bed house (2026)
Is it worth repainting before you sell?
Usually, yes – if the paintwork is tired, scuffed or very personal. Estate agents consistently say that freshly decorated, neutral rooms photograph better and help buyers picture themselves living there. Bold feature walls, children's bedrooms in bright colours and nicotine-stained ceilings all make a house feel like more work than it is.
Repainting rarely adds tens of thousands of pounds on its own, but it can help a house sell faster and reduce the number of buyers trying to knock money off for 'redecoration'. If the paint is already fresh and in decent colours, though, don't bother – just touch up marks and scuffs.
Where to spend first
If your budget is limited, spend where buyers look:
- The front door – a smart, freshly painted door makes the listing photo
- The hallway and stairs – the first space anyone walks into
- The living room – nearly always the lead interior photo
- Ceilings with stains or old smoke marks – they suggest problems even when there aren't any
- Woodwork that's chipped or yellowed – fresh white skirting lifts a whole room
Rather leave it to a professional?
Choosing colours that help a sale
This isn't the moment for your favourite deep teal. Warm whites, soft greys, light greiges and gentle off-whites make rooms feel bigger and brighter in photographs, and they're easy for buyers to live with or change. Keep woodwork crisp white or a matching soft shade.
Kitchens and bathrooms benefit from durable, wipeable finishes, so buyers aren't greeted by flaking paint around the extractor. Our guide to the best paint finishes for kitchens and bathrooms explains what to use.
When not to repaint
If there's damp, a leak or cracked plaster, painting over it won't hide it for long – and buyers' surveyors will spot it anyway. Fix the cause, then decorate. Our article on damp and mould before painting explains why.
And if the house needs a full renovation, a quick lick of paint won't change how buyers see it. In that case, you may be better off pricing the house for the work rather than spending money on cosmetic fixes.
Timing the work
Book your decorator before the estate agent's photographer. Paint should be dry and the rooms put back together a few days before photos are taken, so allow a week or two of slack. Exterior work also depends on the weather, so if you're planning a spring listing, get quotes in winter.
Many painters are happy to work quickly on pre-sale jobs, and some will do a walk-round with you to prioritise. You can get free quotes from local painters and decorators to compare.
