Whether you sell your home in Washington DC or Sell your Home in Manassas, know that your front door means more than you think
When you're preparing your house for the market, almost every agent will explain how valuable curb appeal is when it comes to marketing your home. Curb appeal can mean a lot of things, of course, ranging from wholesale replacement of the roof, paint, and landscaping, to a few tidy details designed to spruce up the place.
I have sold plenty of homes for sale in Prince William County and also Real Estate in Fairfax Virginia and over the years the #1 Upgrade that triggers $$$ is the quality impression given by your front door. Truly the best (and most cost-effective!) tune-ups you can make works both from the curb and from up close. It's a little something I like to think of as the “Front Door Tune-up.”
The front door is a focal point on your home, both from a distance and up close. Here's how to leverage it for maximum impact:
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1) Paint the door with an appropriate, fresh, contrasting color. Not only will this draw the eye (possibly even away from the crack in the driveway!), but it will go a long way to creating the impression of a new paint job.
2) Replace faded, small address numbers with classy, visibly new hardware. Long gone are the days of tacky decals. Even a modest investment at an upscale home accessories store can add a touch of luxury to your entryway.
3) Replace knob/handle and lock hardware. The feel of the doorknob, the click of the hardware, and the sense of security the door conveys matters hugely. It's a front-line sensory experience for potential buyers. A sticky, weak, degraded set of locks only hurts your first impression.
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4) Upgrade the door, if possible. Sometimes paint and hardware won't do the trick. If you have an older home in a subdivision where many of the same styles of door were used, this could be a good time to differentiate your home while upgrading the aesthetic.
5) At a bare minimum, always ensure your front door and the trim work surrounding is sparkling clean. No one wants to see cobwebs, dusty-grimy door panels as they enter your home.
Will a door add $10,000 to the value of your house? No. But, it will give the next buyer & realtor that tour your home a true sense that they are stepping into a well-cared for home that beams value. I've seen it work again and again: The “Front Door Tune-up” is a subtle but effective listing tool.
Considering selling your home in the next few months? I have lots of resources to save you money and to avoid costly mistakes! Contact me for more information:
Sean Blanchette
Sean@FrontDoorHomes.com