Thinking about selling your home? Today’s homebuyers have done their research, and they’re usually a discerning bunch who puts a lot of thought into their investments. A first impression can mean the difference between a sale and several months on the market if you’re not careful. When you want to make your home as welcoming as possible to prospective buyers, your front door may be the single most important element that sets your house apart from the competition.

How Do You Give Your Home a Critical View?

Take a moment to separate yourself from the everyday goings on, and view your house from the eyes of a potential buyer. Remember, first impressions can happen from a single drive-by.

Go to the edge of your front yard. Walk your property line from one end to the other, looking at your house with a critical eye as you wander along. Take note of any unappealing items, and pay particular attention to elements that could use some enhancement.

Chances are, your eyes will lock on one particular part of your house: Your front door.

How Important is Your Front Door when You’re Selling Your Home?

Your front door is the single most inviting part of home’s exterior. You may not even use it that often if you have a connected garage, but that’s not to say you should ignore its aesthetics if you’re in the process of selling your home.

Making the Most of Your Front Door Experience

Your front door tells your home’s story. It welcomes guests and greets visitors. As such, it only makes sense to find ways to enhance its elements and invite people to want to learn more.

• Complementing Colors. To create eye-catching appeal, forego the temptation to match the color of your door to the trim. Instead, consult a color wheel, and go for the colors that are directly opposite or immediately adjacent to the color you’ve chosen for your trim.
• Consider Unconventional Colors. Your door is a relatively small space when you consider your entire house. That said, this small space can make a huge impace when it’s painted with a color that creates an impact. Avoid boring neutral shades by thinking outside of the color palette. Unconventional colors won’t likely overwhelm your home’s facade, and if you change your mind, it doesn’t take much paint to try another color.
• Work on Your Wood. Solid wood doors can find new life when they’re refinished. Have a particularly interesting piece of wood that welcomes guests into your home? Oil or seal it to show off the grain.
• Accessorize Your Entrance. A quick way to freshen up your home’s appearance is by changing out the hardware. Upgrade your doorknob, lock, and kick plate with upgraded options.
• Choose the Right Materials. Fiberglass is a popular material for special order doors because it doesn’t dent or chip, which makes it impervious to harsh weather conditions.

Buyers won’t know how amazing your home is until you enlist the help of a real estate professional to put it on the market. If you’re ready to take your home from the first impression stage to the closing table, the sale begins at your front door.

Jodi Bakst is the Broker-Owner of Real Estate Experts, a full service residential real estate and property management company working in Chapel Hill, Durham, Cary, Apex and Morrisville, North Carolina