I Asked Real Estate Pros for Cheap Hacks to Transform an Ugly Front Door, and Got 5 Brilliant Ideas
When you’re getting ready to list your house, you’ll hear one thing over and over again: that you need to boost your curb appeal. That could mean anything from adding potted plants to your front lawn to installing colorful garden beds, but the star of the show is the doorway. It sets the stage for the entire experience, beckoning potential buyers in with the choice of a color or a standout set of hardware.
So what do you do when your exterior doorway is less than inspiring? What about when it’s the same one that was installed 15 years ago in a cheap flip? All is not lost, and you don’t have to drop thousands on a new door, as they can cost anywhere from a few hundred to several thousand dollars. Instead, there are a few quick and cheap fixes that can give your entryway an entirely new look.
How to Tell if You Have a Builder-Grade Door
While builder-grade interior doors are often easily identified by their hollow-core construction, it’s rare to find exterior doors that are hollow core. Instead, they’re usually solid core for durability, but made from materials like steel or fiberglass, which are often the same materials used in higher-quality doors. The difference, however, is in the construction.
Builder-grade exterior doors may not be as thick as higher-quality doors, and their design is typically simpler and less detailed than a more investment-worthy door. But replacing a full door — especially when you’re looking to sell — might not be the move. Instead, consider cosmetic updates that you can take with you when you sell, or leave behind without feeling too sad about it.
How the Pros Would Refresh a Builder-Grade Door
If you’re getting ready to list your house, and you’re wondering whether or not your builder-grade door will bring down the value, don’t stress. Real estate pros have several cheap ways you can make your doorway look like a million bucks.
