How your front door could boost your home’s value by thousands of pounds
Your front door is crucial in hooking potential buyers, creating an important first impression
IF you're looking to increase the value of your property, it may be worth considering the appearance of your front door.
Whilst it may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you're trying to increase your home's value, picking the right front door could boost its value by thousands according to property experts.
We spoke to Russell Quirk, founder of online estate agents Emoov, who highlighted how crucial your front door is in helping to hook potential buyers.
He said: "Much like what someone's shoes may say about them, the front door is often indicative of the condition of the home overall.
"It's a potential buyer's focal point as they decide, very quickly, whether they love or loathe your property.
"A faded, tired looking entrance is potentially hugely detrimental to kerb appeal and therefore to price too."
The online estate agent found that the front door is actually the third most important feature for viewers when forming their first impression of a house.
What help is out there for first-time buyers?
GETTING on the property ladder can feel like a daunting task but there are schemes out there to help first-time buyers have their own home.
Help to Buy Isa - It's a tax-free savings account where for every £200 you save, the Government will add an extra £50. But there's a maximum limit of £3,000 which is paid to your solicitor when you move.
Help to Buy equity loan - The Government will lend you up to 20 per cent of the home's value - or 40 per cent in London - after you've put down a five per cent deposit. The loan is on top of a normal mortgage but it can only be used to buy a new build property.
Lifetime Isa - This is another Government scheme that gives anyone aged 18 to 39 the chance to save tax-free and get a bonus of up to £32,000 towards their first home. You can save up to £4,000 a year and the Government will add 25 per cent on top.
Shared ownership - Co-owning with a housing association means you can buy a part of the property and pay rent on the remaining amount. You can buy anything from 25 to 75 per cent of the property but you're restricted to specific ones.
"First dibs" in London - London Mayor Sadiq Khan is working on a scheme that will restrict sales of all new-build homes in the capital up to £350,000 to UK buyers for three months before any overseas marketing can take place.
Starter Home Initiative - A Government scheme that will see 200,000 new-build homes in England sold to first-time buyers with a 20 per cent discount by 2020. To receive updates on the progress of these homes you can register your interest on the website.
So what do you need to consider when it comes to making your front door appealing to potential buyers?
In terms of colours it's advised to go for something classic such as dark blue, black or red - these are the colours that will most impress viewers.
And what should you avoid - Russell says "yellow, green and above all brown are a no-no".
When it comes to the type of door you choose, you should weigh up appearance with durability.
There are a whole range of options to choose from including UPVC, solid wood and timber.
Whilst timber is cheap it can be affected by changing weather conditions.
You might want to consider glass reinforced plastic which has the classic appearance of timber, but will last you a lot longer.
MORE ON MONEY STORIES
And if you're existing door is in fairly good condition, it may just be a matter of keeping it clean and giving it a lick of paint when needed.
If you're looking for further ways to increase your property's value, you could also benefit from improving your energy. We've rounded up the energy saving measures that could increase your home's value by almost £25,000.
We've also revealed the renovations that could be reducing the price of your home.
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online Money team? Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 78 24516. Don't forget to join the for the latest bargains and money-saving advice.