Painting the front door of your house can potentially limit the number of interested buyers and lead to various complications like violating rules, causing tension with neighbors, or requiring more effort than anticipated. Prior to making a decision to paint your front door, thorough research and preparation are essential to avoid future issues. While a colorful front door may seem attractive in theory, it may not always be the most practical choice, particularly when preparing to sell your home. To shed light on this topic, we spoke with real estate professionals who shared their insights on the risks involved and how to approach painting your front door with a focus on resale value.
Experts in the Field:
– Liv Conlon, an interior expert and the founder of ThePropertyStagers and StagerBoss.
– Jeff Lichtenstein, a real estate expert and the founder of Echo Fine Properties.
Considerations to Keep in Mind:
One perspective from home staging expert Liv Conlon suggests that a bold or trendy front door can help a real estate listing stand out, but it may also deter potential buyers. Opting for neutral and classic colors like black, navy, or deep red often yield better results, while more unconventional choices could turn buyers away.
If preserving resale value is a top priority, merely painting the existing front door might not suffice. Real estate professional Jeff Lichtenstein recommends considering replacing the front door entirely, citing a French door as a high-return investment that enhances natural light and visual appeal.
Compliance Concerns:
For those residing in neighborhoods governed by homeowners associations (HOAs), strict regulations on external home modifications are common knowledge. Disregarding these guidelines, such as painting the front door without approval, could result in significant fines or even mandatory repainting to conform with approved color schemes. In the absence of an HOA, unconventional door colors might clash with neighborhood aesthetics, potentially causing friction with neighbors.
Future-Proofing:
Before committing to a particular door color, consider its longevity and adaptability. While a vibrant door hue may appeal to you currently, it’s important to envision how it will age over time and its impact on potential resale value. Additionally, investing in a high-quality paint job is crucial to prevent premature peeling or fading, necessitating frequent touch-ups.
Ultimately, the decision to paint your front door should be carefully weighed, taking into account various factors such as aesthetic preferences, resale implications, and neighborhood regulations.
Here is the rewritten text:
Considering painting your front door a bold color? It might not always be a good idea. Evaluating your situation is crucial. Going from a neutral to a bold color could have a negative impact on your home’s value. However, painting a bold door a neutral color could actually increase its value.
According to Conlon, certain front door colors, such as slate blue, can potentially increase the selling price of your home by thousands of dollars. If your front door is already a trendy color, repainting it might be a worthwhile consideration.
Ultimately, the decision is yours to make since it’s your home. If you have always envisioned a pink door, go ahead and paint it pink. However, Conlon advises planning your paint job carefully. It’s recommended to test the color, observe it at different times of the day, and use high-quality materials such as a good primer and durable exterior paint for a long-lasting finish.
If a simple refresh didn’t improve the appearance of your weathered door, Conlon suggests giving it a thorough clean and potentially replacing the hardware. Sometimes, a deep clean or a new door handle can rejuvenate the door just as effectively as a fresh coat of paint. If these efforts still don’t produce the desired results, it might be time to paint your front door a new color.
