Curb appeal is Everything when you have your home for sale.
Giving your front door a fresh coat of paint is one of the best ways to increase your home’s curb appeal FAST!
The front door is the very first thing that people see when they are pulling up in front of your home. The condition of the door as well as the colour, sets the tone for the buyer’s first impression. We all have front doors, so what’s the big deal about the door? Having a welcoming front door might seem inconsequential ,but if you don’t get them in the front door, they won’t ever see the house!
Do I have to use a bold colour for curb appeal?
Not that long ago dressing a door to give it curb appeal usually meant simply hanging a seasonal wreath or a “welcome” sign. While these things are still very popular and certainly add to the general welcoming feel of a house, a bold front door has become very popular.
Bright red, jet black and all the colours in between have replaced the boring old builder’s doors of the past. Shopping for a brand new door, you can now buy them in more than just old school white or brown.
That being said, the general condition of your door and hardware are more important than the colour.
With an older door there is often chipped and peeling paint, tarnished hardware and cracks or warping if the door is wooden. Doing whatever it takes to make the door look inviting is definitely worth the effort.
If you are going to paint…..
If your door is in good shape and you decide you are going to paint, make sure prep the door first. Painting over peeling paint will just make it worse. Sand and prime the door as needed. Buy good quality exterior paint and make sure the outdoor conditions are good for painting! (check with paint manufacturer + the weather network).
When painting, keep in mind that High Gloss might be popular, but will show every lump, bump and brush mark if you are not a pro. Sticking to a satin finish might be a better option.
Along with making sure your door is in tip-top shape, have a look at your mail box and exterior light fixture. If both are older and discoloured or rusty, replace them, If you just can’t do that, take your mailbox down and spray paint it black, and clean your fixture and replace the bulb.
As a realtor I will tell you that seeing a dirty light fixture full of dead bugs is a huge turn off to a buyer. And a rusty old mailbox makes everyone wonder if they house is as poorly maintained.
