That room is lower so some kind of barrier has to stay. If it were your house I’d think about putting cabinets or a bookshelf there (permanently installed not freestanding) but since you are selling just paint the rail and move on

Agree--you need something there.

Does the floor need to be replaced? I can't see much but what I can looks better than any LVP product. (If it does need to be replaced then never mind.)

I can’t tell - is there a step down? If so, you must have something there. If you don’t, that’s a trap to catch broken ankles, arms, and noses. Trust me on that.

No, as i said in post, all one level.. just a visual divide

No, as i said in post, all one level.. just a visual divide

If the floor is flat absolutely remove the railing.

The problem with removing the railing is now you're going to have to do drywall repair, possibly floor repair but at a minimum putting something down to divide the carpet and the kitchen floor so it isn't a trip hazard. Honestly it's just too much work with no return -- whether you paint it or not, I can't imagine that it's going to matter in the grand scheme of things. NO ONE is going to walk away from your house because they don't like the railing or the color of it.

One level? Yeah pull that thing out and redo the floors. 😁

Definitely take it out since you are doing the same floor in both rooms.

It's all one level and you're redoing the floors anyway, so I'd vote to take it out if you think you'll sell faster and/or get some return on your investment. (ROI depends on so many factors, but I do think that the update you describe sounds like it would appeal more to buyers than what is there currently.) Once you remove the tile and the carpet, you may find that your floor isn't level between the two rooms, so factor that into your math.

Hubby is from Chicago too!