What is the first thing you notice when you approach a house? While it may be the lawn, the nice color of siding, or the pristine hedges at first glance, eyes are always drawn to the front door. Doors, both interior and exterior, play a major part in any home. A person cannot enter or exit without encountering the doors; therefore, they will always be noticed by potential buyers.
Many people working to improve real estate overlook the kind of impact doors have on potential buyers. These are the most-used parts of the home, and so theoretically require the most vigilant care to keep in perfect working and aesthetic order. While the rest of the house may look perfect, the doors may bear a much more accurate statement of what kind of lasting care that house has received. To ensure the doors in your home make the best possible impression on potential buyers, there are a few things that should be checked before the home is shown.
First, ensure the hinges are all in proper working order. All doors should swing freely and smoothly with no hint of squeaking or groaning. Check that hinge pins are firmly in place, all hardware is tight and there is no excess dirt or paint on the hinges. Open and close each door to ensure that it fits its frame well, latches properly, and the knobs and locks don’t stick. Basic function is the most important part of the door, but from the buyer’s standpoint it’s certainly not the only thing.
Interior doors are often cheaply-made, and as a result the doorknobs tend to get loose over time. Generally these can be fixed by simply tightening the screws in the knob, though replacement doorknobs can usually be found for as little as $10 apiece.
Exterior doors tend to get weathered and scratched, the color fades and the seals crack. This last is especially important for function, as the seals around exterior doors can greatly reduce energy consumption from heating and cooling if they’re kept in good repair. If necessary, doors can be taken off their hinges to be sanded and re-painted (for both interior and exterior doors) to give it a fresh look. As a final touch, make sure that any windows in the door are thoroughly cleaned.
Dirty doors, both interior and exterior, can negate all the effort put into careful upkeep. Smudges appear easily around knobs and locks where the natural oils in human skin seeps into the door, small children and animals rub up against them all the time, and exterior doors have constant dust and grime blowing onto them. A quick wash with a paint-safe cleaning solution is a great final touch to sprucing up your doors.
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