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Updated over 5 years ago, 04/09/2019

User Stats

603
Posts
130
Votes
Adam Craig
  • Investor
  • Cleveland, OH
130
Votes |
603
Posts

Help me dress up the front of this house.

Adam Craig
  • Investor
  • Cleveland, OH
Posted

Getting ready to list one of my long time rentals. Please give some tips on freshening up the front without going crazy on the budget. Here is what I am thinking but thoughts appreciated...

  1. Replace flower post near front door with a more modern wooden one.
  2. Landscaping of course
  3. Painting the front door - I have seen houses with this color and a funky medium orange door. Thoughts?
  4. New address numbers and nicer light above front door.
  5. Not sure about repainting the house body - we came up with this color 4 years ago which was difficult due to the brick and roof and I dont hate it?

User Stats

27
Posts
18
Votes
Johnathon Sesi
  • Realtor
  • Rochester Hills, MI
18
Votes |
27
Posts
Johnathon Sesi
  • Realtor
  • Rochester Hills, MI
Replied

@Adam Craig paint everything that is white with a slight lighter that charcoal grey. Don’t paint brick. 😎

User Stats

22
Posts
6
Votes
Krystyna Schexnayder
  • Property Manager
  • Chicago, IL
6
Votes |
22
Posts
Krystyna Schexnayder
  • Property Manager
  • Chicago, IL
Replied

@Adam Craig

I think those are great improvements. Especially considering the exterior of the house looks like its in pretty good condition already. So those are just a few bonus’. 👍🏽

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User Stats

719
Posts
658
Votes
Irina Belkofer
  • Real Estate Broker
  • Cleveland, OH
658
Votes |
719
Posts
Irina Belkofer
  • Real Estate Broker
  • Cleveland, OH
Replied

@Adam Craig the house is just fine. Cut the grass, put some pots with flowers closer to the entrance and that's it.

Red door sells but it's not nessesary - nothing sells better than new kitchen and bathrooms. 

This is very good stable neiborhood - let it sell itself. You won't return the money on all that painting/improvements.

Please, don't paint door black or brick into any color! 

User Stats

313
Posts
68
Votes
Tim Kaminski
  • St. Petersburg, FL
68
Votes |
313
Posts
Tim Kaminski
  • St. Petersburg, FL
Replied

What is the issue with painting the door black?  Just a cosmetic thing or am I missing something?

User Stats

719
Posts
658
Votes
Irina Belkofer
  • Real Estate Broker
  • Cleveland, OH
658
Votes |
719
Posts
Irina Belkofer
  • Real Estate Broker
  • Cleveland, OH
Replied
Originally posted by @Tim Kaminski:

What is the issue with painting the door black?  Just a cosmetic thing or am I missing something?

 Ugly. Depressing. Turn off

If there is black shutters, maybe the storm door with black frame.

But solid black door is too heavy impression for the colorful house. White and black maybe. 

Too much black - no.

User Stats

1
Posts
0
Votes
Shade Giwa
  • London, England
0
Votes |
1
Posts
Shade Giwa
  • London, England
Replied

@Adam Craig i defines think that the doors and shutters should be painted in black! This would give such a modern look and up to date look

User Stats

834
Posts
449
Votes
Danny Webber
Agent
Property Manager
  • Real Estate Broker / Investor
  • Austin, TX
449
Votes |
834
Posts
Danny Webber
Agent
Property Manager
  • Real Estate Broker / Investor
  • Austin, TX
Replied

paint brick light gray

  • Danny Webber

User Stats

266
Posts
220
Votes
Javier D.
  • Investor
  • FL
220
Votes |
266
Posts
Javier D.
  • Investor
  • FL
Replied

@Adam Craig

Dont know what your area looks like but for flip id paint the brick gray, Blue siding white and leave shutters as they would be one color. Replace or

Durock/stucco porch post and paint that too to match brick.

If its for hold id just mulch. House looks good as is.

User Stats

8,332
Posts
4,344
Votes
Colleen F.
Pro Member
  • Investor
  • Narragansett, RI
4,344
Votes |
8,332
Posts
Colleen F.
Pro Member
  • Investor
  • Narragansett, RI
Replied

Flowers and plantings in  the front garden is all you need. Trim the bushes.  Something taller and colorful to the far left side and between the windows.  A plaque with the house numbers that you can see. You can change the post if you want but it isn't overwhelming so why waste the effort.  I would not paint.  You see how many different preferences you got here, your buyers will be the same, it is about taste.  Basically nothing on the front of this house is going to get or kill a sale.  I do like that you posted it though.

User Stats

84
Posts
51
Votes
Brad Braun
  • Realtor
  • Charleston, SC
51
Votes |
84
Posts
Brad Braun
  • Realtor
  • Charleston, SC
Replied

Paint the lower brick a darker blue giving it a two-tone look (personally I love grays but that requires a whole house paint).  Add black or navy shutters and door..  Change out that 1970's post to a more modern one.  Replace garage door (500-800 bucks). Landscaping with some color.

User Stats

9,999
Posts
18,555
Votes
Joe Splitrock
Pro Member
  • Rental Property Investor
  • Sioux Falls, SD
18,555
Votes |
9,999
Posts
Joe Splitrock
Pro Member
  • Rental Property Investor
  • Sioux Falls, SD
ModeratorReplied

I am not really sure you need to do anything. The house isn't really bad. I sure wouldn't put up black shutters, maybe take them off all together. I wouldn't paint the door orange or black. Both sound awful. You already have color on the roof and brick, so I wouldn't add more colors into the mix, yuck.

I agree with @Ola Dantis if you really want to modernize, then paint the place grey, including the brick.

I guess it depends on the updates inside. I am just wondering if you are wasting money doing much of anything. It is just not bad.

  • Joe Splitrock
  • User Stats

    1
    Posts
    0
    Votes
    George Kokkotis
    • Warszawa, mazowieckie
    0
    Votes |
    1
    Posts
    George Kokkotis
    • Warszawa, mazowieckie
    Replied

    @Adam Craig

    I think you could add some plants towards the line of the brick wall, also by adding some decorative lighting at the brick wall (in the middle between windows) as well as a lamp where the door is the facade would look instantly much better. Windows and door also could have a new paint.

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    User Stats

    2,295
    Posts
    2,283
    Votes
    Matthew Irish-Jones
    Property Manager
    Agent
    • Real Estate Agent
    • Buffalo, NY
    2,283
    Votes |
    2,295
    Posts
    Matthew Irish-Jones
    Property Manager
    Agent
    • Real Estate Agent
    • Buffalo, NY
    Replied

    Paint the front door and shutters a dark color.  The contrast will help.

    • Matthew Irish-Jones
    business profile image
    Irish Jones Realty
    4.8 stars
    43 Reviews

    User Stats

    60
    Posts
    34
    Votes
    Justin Larese
    • Crane Missouri
    34
    Votes |
    60
    Posts
    Justin Larese
    • Crane Missouri
    Replied

    I would German shmear the brick and call it a day, it would match existing white and give it a fresh look. 

    User Stats

    277
    Posts
    132
    Votes
    Will C.
    Pro Member
    • Rental Property Investor
    • Richmond, VA
    132
    Votes |
    277
    Posts
    Will C.
    Pro Member
    • Rental Property Investor
    • Richmond, VA
    Replied

    @Adam Craig

    If it was me I'd focus more on some landscaping along the front of the house. Some shrubbery that would break up the brick would look nice and do a clean mulching job. Get rid of that straggly bush at begging of sidewalk.

    Update the current stoop column to a square wooden one of similar dimensions. Paint it whatever the shutters will be.

    Paint front door, leave storm door white. A blue would look good, medium tone blue. Brass kick plate if no storm door. Current all white is too much.

  • Will C.
  • User Stats

    8
    Posts
    4
    Votes
    Dave Sisnetsky
    • Flipper/Rehabber
    • Jackson, NJ
    4
    Votes |
    8
    Posts
    Dave Sisnetsky
    • Flipper/Rehabber
    • Jackson, NJ
    Replied

    @Adam Craig

    I’d Change the front door color to draw your eye to it and invite you in.

    User Stats

    8
    Posts
    4
    Votes
    Dave Sisnetsky
    • Flipper/Rehabber
    • Jackson, NJ
    4
    Votes |
    8
    Posts
    Dave Sisnetsky
    • Flipper/Rehabber
    • Jackson, NJ
    Replied

    @Adam Craig

    Definitely change the post too

    User Stats

    25
    Posts
    11
    Votes
    Tom Aiello
    • Rental Property Investor
    • Twin Falls, ID
    11
    Votes |
    25
    Posts
    Tom Aiello
    • Rental Property Investor
    • Twin Falls, ID
    Replied

    Painting the brick will make the house look dated in a couple years, and require continuous re-painting of the brick.  It's super hard to get paint off the bricks.  I wouldn't paint the brick, personally.

    User Stats

    23
    Posts
    12
    Votes
    Dillon Lopez
    • Realtor
    • San Jose, CA
    12
    Votes |
    23
    Posts
    Dillon Lopez
    • Realtor
    • San Jose, CA
    Replied

    @Adam Craig

    Power wash bricks- could do wonders.

    I agree with the mulch

    I can’t tell much about the tree, but creating a surround with some molars( rock like decoration ) and inserting the same

    Color mulch will look nice.

    Color might be fine- if it’s in poor condition , a lot of greys go well with brick, as I would not paint them.

    User Stats

    2
    Posts
    1
    Votes
    Blake Smith
    • Los Angeles
    1
    Votes |
    2
    Posts
    Blake Smith
    • Los Angeles
    Replied

    Love the black door/shutters idea. I think with your additional ideas you that might be all you need. This pic was close to the same color brick as yours...

    User Stats

    1
    Posts
    3
    Votes
    Replied

    Honestly, none of our opinions matter :)

    I suggest you (or your agent) pull the recent sales that went under contract in 10 days or less within a 1.5 mile radius. Without paying attention numbers, flip through the pictures of the exteriors and see what they have in common. Are you seeing brightly colored doors? Cedar shutters? Rose bushes? Red Mulch? White Rocks?

    Mimic what has proven itself as "hot" for that area.

    This is what I do for my investor clients and when they follow that formula for both exterior and interior, the home is sold within 18 days with multiple offers.

    User Stats

    1
    Posts
    0
    Votes
    Replied

    @Adam Craig pave it

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    User Stats

    10
    Posts
    6
    Votes
    Michael Vincent
    • Contractor
    6
    Votes |
    10
    Posts
    Michael Vincent
    • Contractor
    Replied

    @Adam Craig

    Call me crazy, I think a tire swing would look good hanging from that tree. Would add a little depth to the property.

    User Stats

    10
    Posts
    3
    Votes
    Andrea Curtis
    • Specialist
    • Nashville, TN
    3
    Votes |
    10
    Posts
    Andrea Curtis
    • Specialist
    • Nashville, TN
    Replied

    @Steve K.

    Hallelujah for that comment about the break you are spot on!!

    User Stats

    10
    Posts
    3
    Votes
    Andrea Curtis
    • Specialist
    • Nashville, TN
    3
    Votes |
    10
    Posts
    Andrea Curtis
    • Specialist
    • Nashville, TN
    Replied

    @Jay M.

    Right on!!! Agreed Bigtime