While researching home-selling advice for your for sale by owner (FSBO), you'll find a recurring theme—curb appeal sells houses faster and for more money. Investment in curb appeal projects like yard care and exterior paint definitely improves your home's look, but investing in a new entry door pulls double duty.
Not only do improved front doors look better, but they provide the safety and smart features many home buyers are searching for. Buyers will feel secure after moving into a new home, knowing a strong door protects the entrance.
Front door and entry projects provide some of the best ROI and top buyers’ lists of most requested updates and improvements year after year. Remodeling Magazine regularly reports that you can expect to recover about 70 to 80 percent of your investment. This estimate doesn’t include the "perceived value" buyers attach to the upgrade, which could add thousands more in their opinion.
Have you wondered, How can I sell my home for the best price? Read The Top Improvements You Should Make Before Your Home Sale for tried and true suggestions.
The front door is an easy place to start a curb appeal overhaul for a home sale. DIY opportunities are available, especially if a simple coat of paint is all that's needed, but a sturdy installation of a pre-hung door system or door slab will probably take first-timers at least a weekend. Pros will likely knock the projects out in a day and work around any fitting issues.
See if one of these front door upgrades is the right choice for your home.
1. Replace the Entire Door and Frame
The most extensive door project to tackle is replacing the entire door and frame with a pre-hung system. A pre-hung system includes the door already in place within its own frame and all the parts included.
Replacing a door system is a challenging project for a novice home DIYer, so consider hiring a professional or spendong plenty of time researching what type of door you need and how to make accurate measurements before construction.
If you choose to go it alone, remove the old framework and correct any uneven surfaces because the door must attach to level framing to open and close correctly. Big box stores and door manufacturers often have tutorials online for in-depth instructions.
Types of Doors
There are three traditional door materials: steel, fiberglass, and wood. You can upgrade all door types with glass inserts and other decorative hardware, such as knockers. Before choosing a door, know that each material has pluses and minuses, depending on your geographic location and the door’s exposure to weather.
- Wooden doors require the most maintenance, benefiting from a new coat of paint or refinishing each year. The high-end look is only maintained if protection from the elements is available, such as an overhang.
- Fiberglass is a good choice for durability and an array of options. It also withstands a multitude of climates well with little upkeep.
- Steel is durable, affordable, and very strong. Homeowners who prefer little maintenance will be happy with this choice.
Functionality
Consider the door’s proper function and surrounding space when preparing to buy a new system. The best configuration takes into account your home selling budget and the space available.
- The direction the door opens is either called an inswing (toward the inside of the house) or an outswing (toward the outside). Inswings are most prevalent, but outswings are available.
- Door handing is the term used to describe which way the door swings and where the hinges are located from the view of the door from the outside. There is a left-hand swing and a right-hand swing.
- Panel types and glass selections are decorative ways to bring personality and interest to the door's look. Depending on the choice, they may even provide energy savings.
Photo by Jodi Jacobson from Getty Images Signature via Canva.com
2. Replace the Door Slab
If the door frame is in good working order, replacing the door slab is a cost-effective way to update the door’s appearance. A door slab refers to the actual door with no framing pieces or hardware. You might think it seems easy to buy and install a new door slab, but it’s exacting and time-consuming work. For the best results, you’ll, at a minimum, measure twice before drilling holes for hinges, locks, and handles. You’ll also need specialized tools to cut holes of the correct size.
Professional door installers recommend the following measurements to buy the correct door slab size.
- Take three horizontal measurements and record the smallest measurement. This is the width.
- Take three vertical measurements and record the smallest measurement. This is the height.
- Measure the thickness of the door. (Normal thickness is around 1.75 inches.)
- Measure the hinge locations from the top of the door to the top of the hinge. (Normally three hinges.)
- Measure the hinge width and height.
- Remove the door handle (and deadbolt if it exists) and measure from the top of the door to the center of the bore (the hole).
- Measure the distance from the door's edge to the bore's center (hole).
3. Repaint for a Refreshed Look
Painting is the most time and budget-friendly of the door upgrade options, but the time allotment for ideas about color, removal, paint prep/dry, and re-hang is longer than an average DIYer usually considers.
Should I Repaint Before Selling My Home? will help you decide whether to invest in more paint projects to improve your sale price.
Picking a paint color is usually very personal, but for home selling, it’s about what the buyer would like to see in their home. Buyers want move-in-ready status, which usually includes charming neutrality.
Ask for paint color ideas from a local paint store. Employees will show you the best sellers in your area. They’ll also take into consideration your house’s style and the date it was built. Experts also suggest using semi or high-gloss paint to inhibit mold and mildew growth.
Although you’ll be tempted to paint the door on the hinges while taping off the hardware to save time, this technique doesn’t deliver a quality paint job. Prepare the door for painting by removing it from the hinges and unscrewing all hardware. If you prefer new hardware, shop well in advance to make sure your favorite pieces are in stock.
Before the project begins, gather your tools and clear an area to work unrestricted.
- Clean the door and sand it lightly so the primer adheres easily. Use a tack cloth to remove dust and tape off any glass to avoid painting.
- Apply the primer. A tinted primer might be useful if a dark color needs to be covered or applied. After the primer dries, inspect it to see if additional light sanding is needed to smooth the surface. Wipe with tack cloth once more.
- After the primer has dried, paint the details and edges of the door with a brush. Later, a six-inch roller will come in handy to apply paint to the flat surface. The paint usually needs a full day to dry and cure before it’s safe to re-install the hardware without marring the finish.
The last and final step of updating the front door is to add accessories to the entire entryway. A beautiful new front door needs complementary pieces like new lighting fixtures, a mailbox, and planters. A front door is only the beginning of updating your home’s curb appeal, but it certainly will help to draw buyers in and potentially garner a higher asking price.
For more advice on selling your home at the best price, get our free guide for home sellers below.
