November 13, 2009
Staging your home on a shoe string… the front door
Never underestimate the impact of the ‘curb appeal’ of your home, as this is the first impression a buyer gets. If it has it, it says “Please come into this well-kept home”, and if it doesn’t it says “Go away, the inside is just as bad.” Dressing your front entrance to show well is one of the least expensive things you will do to get your home ready; it merely takes some time and elbow grease. The first chore, obviously, is to make sure the lawn around the entrance is mowed and weeded in the summer, raked in the fall, and shoveled in the winter. Summer also affords you the opportunity to plant some colorful flowers along the walkway. Next, look at your front door area with buyer’s eyes. Clear away all cob webs, wash any dirt and dust, and if there’s glass clean it on both sides. If any paint is chipping, touch it up, and replace any worn door mats. Sweep the front stoop or porch, using a mop if necessary, and the walkway leading up to it.
Now that everything is sparkling, place some seasonal arrangements near the door and on the porch: potted flowers in summer, dried weeds and gourds in fall, and evergreen sprigs and holly berries in winter. You might even put a spot light on your newly decorated entrance. When your home is listed, leave the outside lights on until later in the evening to show it off. If you’re listing a seasonal, second, or vacant home, make arrangements with a lawn service to keep it mowed, raked and shoveled…there’s nothing I hate more than to show a vacant home where we have to wade through snow or leaves. It looks abandoned, uncared for, and uninviting. Make buyers eager to go inside.
Posted By: 
Julie Sarton
Tagged With:
buyers,
buying a home,
homes for sale
and staging a home
">
Leave a Comment