Upgrade Your Garage Door if You Want to Sell Your House

via Clopay

Let’s face it, your garage door is huge. Quite possibly, it’s your home’s largest architectural element. And if it’s not looking its best, it drags down the home’s overall first impression. But, there’s good news! Increasing your home’s curb appeal by improving or replacing your garage door is easier than you might think. And, according to a 2018 study done by Remodeling magazine, a great-looking garage door gives a 98.3% return on investment. That figure is up 22.6% from their report done in 2013.

Remodeling’s annual Cost vs. Value Report “compares the average cost for 21 popular remodeling projects in 149 markets with the value those projects retain at resale in 100 U.S. markets.”

In January 2018, Clopay, North America’s largest residential garage door manufacturer, partnered with an independent research firm to “gauge Realtor perceptions” to determine if the appearance of the door to the garage was a key factor in the listing price they assigned to homes. According to that survey, agents agree that if home shoppers don’t like what they see from the street, they won’t even bother to go inside. In fact, 70% of Realtors agree that a new door on the garage sells a home faster and over 80% believe a new one can impact a home’s value.

Not just any new door will do, however. According to an article in Realty Times, the ROI you get from a new door on the garage depends on several factors, especially that you install one “with a great design that complements the overall décor of your home.”

In light of these statistics, let’s take a look at how you can make the door on your garage look amazing.

Painting

If your wooden or steel door is attractive and in good condition, it may just need a coat of paint. Painting could be done in an afternoon for a relatively low cost. Choose an appropriate product for the material your door is made of. This article has some tips for how to match the paint already on your home without an actual sample.

Restoration Kits

Another way to spruce up your fully-functional garage door is to restore its finish. GarageSkins are wood veneers that attach to your steel door using super-strong rare-earth magnets. Made of real wood, they add warmth to your home that steel just can’t. Or, add a couple of windows. Sounds hard? Not when they’re Household Essential window magnets. These affordable magnetic panels enhance your home’s curb appeal and require no skill to install. Finally, you could renew a vinyl door’s luster with Everbrite Protective Coating.

Replacement

The cost of a new garage door ranges from a few hundred dollars up to thousands. For instance, this single classic style door sells for $377. A double door of the same style sells for $711. Add windows, and the price goes up another $279. Of course, you want to keep with the value and style of your home, so you may prefer this double carriage-style door for $3,648. And don’t forget the installation fee. If you’re not comfortable installing the door yourself, be prepared to pay between $400 and $500 to have it done for you.

A new door is a big investment so take the time to shop around and consider these 10 tips before making the investment.

Build Your Own Garage Door

If you’re a hard-core DIYer, you may want to build your own new door. For a fraction of the cost of a manufactured door and a weekend of your time, you can build your own carriage house-style door using a standard hardboard garage door as a base.

Whether you decide to build your own or purchase one, this tutorial will show you how to install the door yourself.

Finally, maybe your door already looks amazing but isn’t operating quite like it should. Now’s the time for a garage door tune-up.