Home Staging Tips: Spruce Up The Entryway

When staging your home to sell, focus on getting your door in tiptop shape. This is the first door that buyers will walk through when viewing your home. Studies have shown that the one place buyers stand the longest is at the front entrance, waiting for their agent to open the door. Potential buyers have a chance to glance around and form an opinion even before the door is open and they step a foot into the house. The following home staging ideas will help you upgrade the look of your front door so that you offer a great first impression of your humble abode.

Step 1 Cleanliness makes a good first impression. This is a cheap fix that can make a big difference and only requires some soap, water, and elbow grease. Wash down the front door as well as the storm door. Don't forget to clean the handles and trim to a nice shine. Wash the front windows and the screens, too. Dirty windows and screens can make your house look instantly dark and dingy. Clean the porch light, mailbox, even the siding!

Step 2 Repaint or stain the front door. After years of use and outside weather conditions, the finish on your front door can get faded, chipped, and uninviting. A light sanding and a fresh coat of paint will instantly brighten the entrance and make your door look brand new. Choose a complementary color to your house's paint scheme. Make note of the finish and content of your door (wood, metal), and follow the manufacturer's instructions for choosing the right type of paint for outdoor use.

Step 3 Buy new door handles. Metal door handles can tarnish and even chip and look very unattractive. Since the door handle will be the first part of your house the buyers will touch, it is important that it look appealing. It's a good investment to buy a new set of handles and locks, and not too difficult to install yourself if you buy the same setup. If you're handy with tools, you might want to consider adding a deadbolt if you don't already have one. This is an added safety feature that buyers will appreciate.

Step 4 Spruce up the steps and/or porch. Like the front door, a new coat of paint to the floor and railings of a front porch will instantly brighten the entrance. Make any repairs necessary to warped wooden steps or chipped concrete. Tighten railings and make sure they're sturdy.

Step 5 Add some life. Blooming flowers add beauty and warmth to the front of a home. If you have room on the steps or porch, add flowering pots. You can also plant flowers in a window box, or place small potted plants on the front windowsill. Hang flowers in pots from the porch roof or eaves.

Step 6 Buy new house numbers and a new doorbell. There are all sorts of styles and colors available, but keep in mind that you want to appeal to as many buyers as possible.

Step 7 Add new lighting. Usually there are only one or two porch lights to replace, so this is an inexpensive fix that makes a big impression. A new light with clear glass and a shining finish gives buyers the idea that this house is in good condition with new fixtures. Match the style of the house and once again, consider classic designs that will appeal to a wide variety of buyers.

Step 8 Trim greenery. If you've got shrubs and vines around your front entrance and/or porch, make sure they don't overpower the space and obscure the door and windows. You don't want your house entrance to look hidden, mysterious, or simply overgrown. Neatly tended landscaping shows buyers you take care of your house. Eliminate any dead branches or plants so they don't detract from the overall greenery and flowers.

Whether they are driving by or are there with their agent, potential home buyers can decide if they will consider your home or move to the next one if the appearance of your front door is not appealing. Make this part of your home the most attractive and inviting and consider the home staging ideas above to make this happen!