Making a great first impression and
a lasting impression in the entryway
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Top First Impression Articles:
Curb appeal is the cover of the book, first impressions are what people remember when they go home
You know the basic curb appeal storyline: If potential buyers don’t like what they see from the street, they might never get inside the front door. You might have done the same at some point yourself when shopping for a home.
Clutter-less means starting slow, small and remain steady
Clutter tolerance seems to run a fever cycle, much like the flu. Every so often, the cluttered household will become intolerable, sparking the home manager to brief, massive anti-clutter spasms. Piles will be shifted, boxes will be filled, stuff will be stashed--until the fever breaks. Then the clutter tide flows back n, confusion redoubled because of the flushed and furious attempts to get a grip in a hurry.
For Limited Budgets: Spend it on the Front Entrance
If money is tight and you can only upgrade one item, spend it on the front entrance. This is where most people will put their minds in either the positive or negative column.
The foyer should be a star in its own right and that means good looking flooring and a great looking door. This is the first thing they will see coming into your house and the last thing they see leaving the house. Make those images VERY POSITIVE.
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Front entrances--
make a bold statement
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
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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First impressions info
Roll out the (new)
Welcome Mat
One quick and inexpensive update is put a new welcome mat for your front landing. Keep it simple. Avoid the cutesy mats, and keep it tasteful.
Make sure your porch light bulbs are all working and the glass is crystal clear with no dead bugs lying about the base. Always have your porch lights on during the evening hours. You never know when a prospect might drive by.
What if you don't have a foyer?
Sometimes front doors open right into the living room without a seperate landing spot. For these layouts, you'll need to create the impression of an entryway.
Arrange the furniture so that next to the front door there is a table and light. Accesorize this table as though it were in a more formal foyer. That means having a lamp and perhaps a place to lay your keys. Keep it simple. You can also add an attractive area rug that will create and enhance the appearance of an entryway. Quality here counts.