Your home’s curb is like the front cover of a book. It sets the pace for pleasant expectations to come for visitors and buyers at your home. However, if your guests find sticky cobwebs, peeling paint, and dying flowers at your doorstep, their expectations will dwindle quickly. For this reason, you need to use your curb to your advantage. Your front door contributes to the aesthetic appeal of your house, much like other elements. Keep reading to find five ways to use your front door to gain curb appeal.

Clean Up

Nothing speaks home improvement like a clean home. Cleaning the front doors and the areas around it will give you a desirable entrance. There are several ways to go about cleaning.

1. Acquire a poly-fiber push broom to sweep away debris, leaves and dust from the steps near the front door and the porch area.
2. Clean the siding on the front of the house, especially around the door. For this, you will need a soft-bristled scrubbing brush and a gentle cleaning solution. If the area is too high, find a stool or a ladder.

• If you are cleaning vinyl siding, prepare a 70:30 water to vinegar solution in a bucket. Alternatively, you can mix a ½ cup baking soda to ¼ cup water. Use the solutions to scrub off any stains. For small cracks and corners, use a toothbrush to get all the dirt out.
• For stone, prepare a warm water and vinegar solution or mix dish soap with water to create a gentle detergent that you can use to scrub the walls.
• For brick walls, use a hosepipe and water with high pressure. If you have mold growing on the walls, mix a cup of bleach for every gallon of water. Soak the area with mold with the mixture and scrub down with a synthetic bristle brush.
• If you have a storm door, remove the screen and use a hand-held vacuum. Prepare a mixture of gentle detergent and water and dip a soft microfiber cloth in the mix. Use it to wipe down the screen. You can also use your hose to rinse the screen. However, if you have a damaged screen, replace it or acquire a screen repair kit to fix small tears.
• Clean the front doors and front-facing windows with a mild detergent and water. Clean the glass panes using Windex and paper towels or rags that do not leave lint. If you cannot reach parts of the window properly, find an extendable squeegee.

1. Remember to also clean your mailbox, house number doorbell and light fixtures with a wet rag.

Ensure Your Front Door Looks New and Shiny

Inspect the frame and the front doors for sagging, swelling and distortion. If you have wooden doors, ensure that you have no water damage. Be sure also to inspect the lock and confirm that opens and bolts with ease. Check all the hinges to ensure that they’re all firmly screwed into place and open the door a few times to check for creaking sounds. If your door is not fit for display, consider a new door installation. You can either hire a handyman or a contractor to get the door installation professionally done.

Get a Fresh Coat of Paint

Fresh paint will make your door more appealing to buyers. You can either choose a bright color to stand boldly against a white siding or go for a dark color to blend with the darker surrounding. Whatever the color you choose, ensure that it is in harmony with the surroundings. If you are unsure of the color to choose, find an expert for advice.

Acquire New Features

Once you handle the door installation, remember to replace features such as doorknobs, handles, knockers, mailbox and light fixtures. Each of these elements will vary depending on your taste and the architecture of the house. Ensure that you find new house numbers that are visible to the visitors. Buy a matching door knocker and doorknob. Clean out the current mailbox and if you feel the current one is rusty, purchase a new one. Remember to confirm if the light fixtures work for complete home improvement.

Go Green

One of the best ways to boost your curb appeal is to get fresh flowers to place on the porch and the front garden. You can acquire planters or upcycle cans depending on the appeal you’re attempting to create. If you cannot place the planters near the windows or by the front steps, find hanging planters. You should also maw your loan and clean out dead leaves on the front yard to improve the curb appeal. Water any dry patches to ensure the grass looks lush and green for presentation.

As you can see, there are several ways to improve your home and boost your curb appeal. Be sure to keep this information in mind as you prepare to renovate your home or put it up for sale.