You can’t judge a book by its cover, but you can– and most certainly do– judge a house by its curb appeal. If you’re in the market to buy or even rent a home, you’re naturally most attracted to places that look like they’ve been well-maintained and kept looking fresh and modern over the year

Even if you’re looking to buy a fixer-upper, a nicely-kept house indicates that it’ll (probably) require less time and energy to get everything looking shipshape.

It makes sense, then, that the front door should be a major priority when you’re looking to increase your home’s value. It’s one of the first things people see, and it sets the tone for the experience someone will have when entering your home!

Does the front door really affect home value?

It’s more than just a decorating tip– according to a study conducted by Remodeling magazine, replacing your front door has a measurable ROI: roughly three quarters of its cost. In other words, a new front door almost entirely pays for itself when it comes to the overall value of your home.

There’s real data behind the benefits of a fresh new front door’s effect on your home’s value and curb appeal!

What kind of door can increase my home’s value?

In 2018, real-estate giant Zillow concluded that a front door painted black or dark gray can increase the sale value of a home by thousands of dollars– and if anyone has the data to back that up, it’s them.

As with most visual trends, black and dark gray doors might end up being a passing fad, giving way to another color or style in the future. But for now, dark colors are on-trend and give your home an updated, contemporary feeling that potential homebuyers are looking for.

If you’re not really a “black and gray” kind of person, you might be resistant to the idea of such a dark color for the main entrance to your home. 

However, current design trends make black and gray essentially neutrals, which means they can be adapted to virtually any decorating style– and are therefore more appealing to more people. If you want to sell your home quickly, making it as appealing as possible should be one of your main goals.

Why should I focus on the front door?

Of course, there’s tons of things you could focus on to increase your home’s curb appeal. Updating the roof and landscaping have the potential to be major selling points, too. The only problem is cost– if you’re trying to sell your home, sinking a whole lot of money into a major project like a new roof could be more trouble than it’s worth.

On the other hand, replacing the front door is a relatively inexpensive project with measurable positive results for potential buyers. And it’s hard to argue with that return on investment!

How can I get started?

 At Kaufman By Design, our staff of design experts is ready and waiting to collaborate with you on virtually any home project you can imagine. We know what’s popular– and what’ll help sell your home. If you’d like to increase the curb appeal of your house today, give us a call or stop by today, and we’ll get started!