Fresh, neutral paint
Scuffed walls and bold colors make a home look tired and harder to picture as your own. Light, neutral walls and crisp white trim photograph well and appeal to the most people.
Interior painting
Selling or renting in Houston
Help your home make a great first impression.
Buyers and renters judge a home in minutes, often from listing photos. A few focused updates can make it look cared for, move-in ready, and worth the asking price.
What the research says
The updates that pay off most are usually the simple ones, not big renovations.
50%
of Realtors recommend painting the entire home before listing, their top pre-sale suggestion. 41% recommend painting at least one room.
113%
of the cost of a minor kitchen remodel was recouped at resale on average nationally, compared with about 51% for a major kitchen remodel.
118%
of the cost of new wood flooring was estimated to be recovered at sale, among the highest of any interior project.
National averages, not guarantees. Results depend on your home, neighborhood, and the market. Your real estate agent can tell you what buyers in your area expect.
Updates that make the biggest difference
All of these are work Canvas does every day.
Repair walls before photos and inspections
Nail holes, cracks, dents, and old patch marks stand out in listing photos and during showings. Fixing them first keeps buyers focused on the home, not its flaws.
Drywall
Replace worn or dated floors
Stained carpet and mismatched flooring drag down a whole room. New plank flooring with clean transitions makes the home feel updated and connected.
Flooring
Refresh the kitchen instead of gutting it
Painting or repairing existing cabinets and adding new hardware gives a kitchen a new look for a fraction of the cost of new cabinets.
Cabinetry · Painting
Boost curb appeal
The outside is the first photo and the first impression. Fresh exterior paint on siding and trim and a freshly painted front door make the whole home look well kept.
Exterior painting
Deal with the big-ticket items too
Realtors also often recommend a new roof before selling (37% in the 2025 report). For roofing and plumbing, we coordinate with our licensed partners so you have one point of contact.
Licensed partners
Selling vs. renting: what to focus on
Getting ready to sell
Goal: look move-in ready in photos and showings.
- Paint the whole interior in one light, neutral color
- Patch every hole, crack, and water stain
- Repaint scuffed trim, baseboards, and doors
- Refresh kitchen cabinets and hardware
- Replace worn carpet or damaged flooring
- Touch up exterior trim and paint the front door
Getting ready to rent
Goal: attract good tenants and spend less between leases.
- Use durable, washable paint in one standard color so touch-ups are easy
- Choose waterproof, scratch-resistant vinyl plank flooring for busy areas
- Repaint cabinets and add new hardware instead of replacing them
- Repair drywall damage between tenants
- Keep the front entry and trim freshly painted
- Skip luxury finishes that tenants won't pay extra for
Rental tips based on LaunchAdvisor's rental renovation guide
What usually isn't worth it before a sale
Large renovations rarely pay for themselves right before you sell. Nationally, a major mid-range kitchen remodel recouped only about half its cost at resale in 2025 (JLC Cost vs. Value). Very personal choices, like bold colors or custom finishes, can also narrow your pool of buyers.
Usually the better move is to fix what's worn, freshen what's dated, and let the next owner choose the big changes.
Talk to us about your home