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Chris Ann Cleland, Associate Broker, Bristow, VA (Long and Foster Real Estate)

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Rainmaker
4,572,183
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

This rather personal or taste specific.  Details do matter but this is not an issue have yet addressed with clients.  Stager or designer alert, maybe. 

Sep 19, 2018 12:47 PM
Ambassador
3,345,091
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

To match the trim - in my experience that means white.  

Painted - no way.  Not for me.  It just looks tacky. 

 

Sep 19, 2018 11:40 AM
Rainmaker
290,969
Allie Angeloni
Long Realty - Oro Valley, AZ

I have seen the switch plates painted to match the wall, and I think it's not great - especially when you change a wall color, because then you have to continue to re-paint them.  White/cream is the safest and easy to wipe clean as you said Chris Ann Cleland.   

Sep 19, 2018 12:05 PM
Rainmaker
5,104,931
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

I've done both, depending on the situation. 

Sep 19, 2018 01:39 PM
Ambassador
5,049,183
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Match the trim (white) and NOT painted. And do NOT wallpaper them, ever!

Sep 19, 2018 12:35 PM
Rainmaker
2,390,620
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Ward County Notary Services - Minot, ND
Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker

I'd advise new if the old look soiled in any way Chris Ann Cleland .

Sep 19, 2018 02:42 PM
Ambassador
3,164,294
Tammy Lankford,
Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA
Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

I prefer custom in my OWN house.  I have wooden that match the cabinet in the kitchen.  I have fish ones in my master bath that go with the decor,  But never painted to match the wall.

Sep 19, 2018 01:50 PM
Rainmaker
1,844,301
Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
Real Estate Broker Retired

To match the trim. Do you know they have oversized ones now? Learned that on Pinterest. Just in case that hole is not quite perfect.

Honestly now when I see almond, like in the kitchen, it seems dirty to me or old & yellowed. 

How about scratched brass? That's another great look NOT.

Sep 19, 2018 01:50 PM
Rainmaker
5,772,575
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Match the trim and what Jeff Dowler, CRS said.  A

Sep 19, 2018 01:06 PM
Rainmaker
508,318
Joseph Domino 480-390-6011
HomeSmart - Scottsdale, AZ
Real Estate Made Easy

Generally white is the current choice, especially if the trim is also white.  We are starting to see a little revival in beige, but it is a matter of choice. The only place I see painted is in flip homes where the flipper was too lazy or cheap to replace the plates.

Sep 19, 2018 12:54 PM
Rainmaker
3,416,038
Scott Godzyk
Godzyk Real Estate Services - Manchester, NH
One of the Manchester NH's area Leading Agents

I like them to match the trim. I tell sellers to NOT paint them as some seem to do. 

Sep 19, 2018 12:14 PM
Rainmaker
1,598,452
Valeria Mola
SIB Realty - Miami, Sunny Isles Beach - Sunny Isles Beach, FL
305-607-0709 SIB Realty Condos for Sale and Rent

No painting. White. 

With new switches walls look much better. Small stuff make a HUGE difference.

Sep 19, 2018 06:30 PM
Ambassador
5,230,079
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

I agree that the painted/wall-papered ones are seriously outdated. Buy them to match the trim.

Sep 19, 2018 04:26 PM
Rainmaker
2,817,671
Debbie Gartner
The Flooring Girl - White Plains, NY
The Flooring Girl & Blog Stylist -Dynamo Marketers

We come across this often...with our painting estimates.

 

Trim should be white and plate covers should be white to match trim.

 

And, painting it is a TERRIBLE idea (and not terribly safe either...and then needs to be repainted next time and definitely not safe.  And, totally tacky.

Sep 19, 2018 03:55 PM
Ambassador
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Anna "Banana" Kruchten
HomeSmart Real Estate - Phoenix, AZ
602-380-4886

Agreed Chris Ann - white to match trim.

Sep 19, 2018 03:53 PM
Rainmaker
7,836,134
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Never paint them.

Sep 19, 2018 02:56 PM
Rainmaker
989,652
Jennifer Mackay
Counts Real Estate Group, Inc. - Panama City, FL
Your Bay County Florida Realtor 850.774.6582

I prefer the white - however, my house has nothing but the Ivory which I really hate LOL

Sep 19, 2018 02:37 PM
Rainmaker
4,936,683
Will Hamm
Hamm Homes - Aurora, CO
"Where There's a Will, There's a Way!"

I agree, match the trim.

 

Sep 19, 2018 02:14 PM
Ambassador
2,684,109
Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate
Fred Griffin Real Estate - Tallahassee, FL
Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker

 White / ivory / cream.  Maybe dark brown in a paneled room.

 No paint!

Sep 19, 2018 01:16 PM
Rainmaker
711,852
Lynnea Miller
Bend Premier Real Estate - Bend, OR
Premier Real Estate Service in Central Oregon

Unpainted easy to clean white to match the trim.

Sep 19, 2018 01:10 PM
Rainmaker
809,258
Kasey & John Boles
Jon Gosche Real Estate, LLC - BoiseMeridianRealEstate.com - Boise, ID
Boise & Meridian, ID Ada/Canyon/Gem/Boise Counties

I am not a fan of painted. White is my personal preference and what is common. -Kasey

Sep 20, 2018 11:16 AM
Rainmaker
1,502,998
Ryan Huggins - Thousand Oaks, CA
https://HugginsHomes.com - Thousand Oaks, CA
Residential Real Estate and Investment Properties

White from the store.  Stay away from the "personal" ones or the humorous ones like...

Sep 20, 2018 10:13 AM
Rainmaker
4,800,082
Gabe Sanders
Real Estate of Florida specializing in Martin County Residential Homes, Condos and Land Sales - Stuart, FL
Stuart Florida Real Estate

I, also prefer either white or a light beige.

Sep 20, 2018 06:32 AM
Rainmaker
1,311,397
John Juarez
The Medford Real Estate Team - Fremont, CA
ePRO, SRES, GRI, PMN

I like wooden switch covers.

Sep 19, 2018 10:58 PM
Rainer
20,445
Romylio "Romeo" Cordoba - NSB Realtor
Adams Cameron and Co. Realtors - New Smyrna Beach, FL
Daytona Beach Real Estate Agent

Match the trim.

Sep 19, 2018 09:57 PM
Rainmaker
3,988,007
Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties
Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN
The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730

I like the white ones. The off white look dingy dirty to me.

Sep 19, 2018 08:40 PM
Rainmaker
2,071,025
Evelina Tsigelnitskaya
SIB Realty - Sunny Isles Beach, FL

Agree with everybody. 

White and new. 

Sep 19, 2018 07:08 PM
Ambassador
6,393,404
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

We routinely go out and buy new clean white covers after we finish painting.

Sep 19, 2018 06:48 PM
Rainmaker
1,543,823
Thomas J. Nelson, REALTOR ® e-Pro CRS RCS-D Vets
Big Block Realty 858.232.8722 - La Jolla, CA
CEO of Vision Drive Realty - Coastal San Diego

I'm with Jeff Dowler, CRS 

Sep 19, 2018 06:10 PM
Rainmaker
3,986,258
William Feela
WHISPERING PINES REALTY - North Branch, MN
Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.

No paint or wall paper

Sep 19, 2018 05:51 PM
Rainmaker
1,712,676
Joe Pryor
The Virtual Real Estate Team - Oklahoma City, OK
REALTOR® - Oklahoma Investment Properties

I'm OK with that.

Sep 19, 2018 03:34 PM
Rainmaker
2,781,173
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

In most cases a brand new super bright white looks good

Sep 19, 2018 03:15 PM
Rainmaker
1,622,432
Inna Ivchenko
Barcode Properties - Encino, CA
Realtor® • GRI • HAFA • PSC Calabasas CA

White/tan are the cheapest, fastest, and easiest. 

Sep 19, 2018 02:23 PM
Rainmaker
805,909
Steve Higgins
RE/MAX Kelowna - Kelowna, BC

I would go with white if paint and trim are that color. 

Sep 22, 2018 08:27 PM
Rainmaker
2,182,552
Michael J. Perry
KW Elite - Lancaster, PA
Lancaster, PA Relo Specialist

Sellers often need to update these !

Sep 20, 2018 12:23 PM
Rainmaker
5,216,398
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Chicago, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

Everyone does what they prefer. Most of the time I prefer white!

Sep 20, 2018 06:01 AM
Rainmaker
921,504
Annette Lawrence , Palm Harbor, FL 727-420-4041
ReMax Realtec Group - Palm Harbor, FL
Making FLORIDA Real Estate EZ

Who needs switches?

Alexa turn on the porch light.

Or, "I have an app for that!"

Sep 20, 2018 05:51 AM
Rainmaker
4,434,127
Gita Bantwal
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel

Match the trim.

Sep 20, 2018 04:26 AM
Rainmaker
1,027,602
Susan Haughton
Long and Foster REALTORS (703) 470-4545 - Alexandria, VA
Susan & Mindy Team...Honesty. Integrity. Results.

I advise sellers to replace painted switchplate covers with white (assuming trim is white, which is typically is).  Cheap and easy.

Sep 23, 2018 05:10 PM
Rainmaker
5,868,554
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

The painted ones are tough to maintain, match the trim is my advice also.

Sep 23, 2018 09:42 AM