Thanks AJ and others for your expertise.
I remembered from decades ago that painting and repair costs within a certain period before the sale were considered allowable costs of sale. I remembered the period as 60 days. I could have used it in 1991 when selling a condo, but didn’t need to as I had a loss after settlement costs.
Apparently the Tax Payer Relief Act of 1997 changed it as well replacing the rollover of gains with the $250K/$500K exclusion.
I find it strange that home staging expense which amounts to hiring a decorator to place rental furniture is considered an allowable expense of sale, while painting isn’t.