I'll address just the painting: do it as the existing colors will distract buyers and they will over estimate what it takes to re-paint. Unless your condo is massive, the realtor you choose should have painters to recommend that will cost less than $6k. Also, don't choose stark white. Depending on your flooring and trim color, a very light greige (grey/beige) will be more attractive.

I would say in general that if I look at Redfin prices and Zillow Zestimates and that sort of website pricing that the prices are not particularly accurate and tend to be a little inflated compared to what the houses actually sell for, at least around me, even in the currently strong market, HCOLA I live in.

I don't think in a strong market people are going to be turned off by what sounds like relatively innocuous non-white colors.

Keep in mind that if you use Redfin and stage, the cost differential is reduced by $3000 since you were paying for it. In my area it would probably be $1000 for the electrician to replace a few outlets because for a job like that there is a charge to walk in the door. Also keep in mind that you are covering a $6000 paint job with a $3000 one.

Most people don't notice bad paint jobs, all they see is 'freshly painted' but I would hate to see a slap it up paint job put up over a better one. And having seen any number of painted to sell at the lowest price I can get paint jobs, I for one would rather have dealt with what was underneath.

You are still competing with new construction. Don't expect new construction pricing. Have there been any other resales in the development? Pricing should be relatively easy to estimate using a square footage price, once the paint is returned to neutral.

The suggestion to paint is a good one. Go with a white that will coordinate with the existing flooring. Is the flooring warm or cool? That drives the color decision. Grey is yesterday.

In my estimation, the paint is more important than the staging. You can still stage with some of your own furniture for no cost. Leave a chair(s), table lamp, area rug and call it staging. Staging is a perspective tool. Staging will allow a person who is viewing online to estimate the amount of space of the unit. A chair and a lamp in the bedroom will allow additional lighting.

Real estate commissions are negotiable, unless you are using Redfin. In some markets, Redfin is ubiquitous. Myself, I would use the conventional agent after reducing the fee to 4.5%. The agent may balk at that number, but it should be an easy listing to close. You can always use Redfin if the agent won't come down any further.

Since you have a place to live before listing, you can leave furniture in every room - move your personal things to the new house, clear out the closets and personal things.

Have you considered selling FSBO, listing with a flat-fee MLS service, and offering a 3% buyer's agent commission?

We did. But it is not us. We are moving about 10 miles away and driving is difficult for us.

Commissions are set by the brokerage. You can negotiate but there will be a minimum. If they give you a 5% that is well worth a full service agency.