Front entrances-- make a bold statement

House Sales

Your front door says a lot about the entire house

It is estimated that buyers develop an attitude about a property within the first 15 seconds of seeing the house. That attitude is then reinforced by everything else they see as they go through the house.

If the attitude they get from the street is overly negative, they may not waste their time to confirm those feelings by going inside. Remember: a home buyer is just as busy as you are and they don't have time to waste looking at properties they don't have a good feeling about. Therefore, don't kill a possible sale by ignoring the all important curb appeal.

Once a prospect decides to invest their time in viewing your property, one of the very first impressions they get is when they approach your front door. If they had a positive attitude from the curb, you want to make sure that attitude is reinforced at entrance. This means the front door should be immaculate!

If your door needs repaired, get it fixed or replace. If it needs paint, then paint (select a bold color that draws attention to itself and contrasts the rest of the exterior, but also compliments it.

Glass in the door should be sparkling clean. Hardware should also be polished, and hinges should NEVER squeak. The front door should open smoothly without sticking or scraping.

Spit and polish the hardware

Porch Light

Make sure your brass is clean and sparkling

To polish antique brass pieces, wash in hot, soapy water to remove grime, wax, etc. Rinse and dry. Moisten a soft cloth with boiled linseed oil and rub on the brass surface until all the dirt and grease have been removed. Polish with a soft cloth. Very old brass items, especially if in poor condition, require special care. Consult museum experts for advice. To polish for a soft finish: wash in hot, soapy water, rinse and dry. Make a paste of whiting and boiled linseed oil. Apply with a soft cloth and rub to remove tarnish. Wipe off excess paste and polish with a clean cloth. To remove heavy tarnish, difficult stains and corrosion: wash in hot, soapy water or a weak ammonia and water solution and rinse. Dampen a soft cloth in hot vinegar, then dip in table salt and rub the brass, or make a paste of flour, salt and vinegar. You may need several applications. When the item is clean, wash in hot, soapy water, rinse and dry thoroughly, then polish with a cloth moistened with lemon oil. If preferred, dip a slice of fresh lemon into table salt and rub over the corroded area. Wash, rinse and dry carefully.

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