Updated on 23 June 2026 · by Pepe, painter in Elche
If you're about to put your flat up for sale or to let, there's one small investment that changes the outcome a lot: painting it. I'm Pepe, a painter based in Elche, and I'll explain why a coat of paint is one of the things you recoup soonest and how to make it pay.
Why a coat of paint sells
House hunters decide in the first few seconds, and nearly always from a photo. A freshly painted flat looks clean, bright and 'ready to move into', and that draws more viewings and better offers. Marked, yellowed or peeling walls, on the other hand, make people think of costs and knock the price down in the negotiation.
How much it costs and how much you get back
Painting a flat starts from around 6 €/m² of wall, so making it look like new usually costs a good deal less than you'd think. And it's one of the few makeovers you recoup almost in full: it helps you sell sooner (every month your flat sits on the market has a cost) and hold the price. For a let, a painted flat rents out faster and at a better rent. And if you're in a hurry — a sale about to close or a tenant moving in right away — I'm also an emergency painter on the Costa Blanca and I fit around your date.
What's worth painting
The rule is neutral and clean so anyone can picture themselves living there:
- Walls and ceilings in white or light shades (they open the space up and bring light into the photos).
- Fill picture-hook holes, scuffs and fine cracks.
- Spray-paint the doors and woodwork if they're yellowed: it freshens things up a lot for very little.
- If there's very pronounced woodchip texture, consider skimming at least the most visible areas.
Selling or letting? A few nuances
For selling, what matters is the visual impact: white, bright and free of distractions. For letting, on top of the look, it's worth having a washable, hard-wearing paint in high-traffic areas, because it'll take the pounding of tenants. In both cases I advise you with no obligation on what's worth it and what isn't.
Want the exact price for your project?
I will come and see it with no obligation and give you a fixed quote, free and the same day. You deal directly with me, no middlemen.
FAQ
- White or a colour, which is better?
- For selling or letting, white or neutral shades almost every time. They're the ones that open the space up most, bring light into the photos and let whoever comes in picture their own décor.
- Is it worth it if the flat is very old?
- Especially then. That's exactly where a coat of paint makes the biggest difference between 'can't be bothered' and 'well looked after'. I'll come and see it and tell you honestly what's worth doing.
- How long do you take? I'm in a hurry to list it.
- An average empty flat is usually ready in 2 or 3 days. I fit around you so you can take the photos and list it as soon as possible.