A Great Garage Door: the Lipstick on Your Home’s Facade

Jennifer — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 23:31:58 +0000

One aspect of a home's appearance that is often overlooked, but shouldn't be, is the garage door.

(ARA) – Smaller is apparently better in the minds of many homebuyers looking for the right deal in the prolonged decline of the housing market.

What’s more, it looks like simple is better too, as more homeowners are focusing on simpler exterior elements with an emphasis on durability and sustainability, according to the American Institute of Architects’ recent quarterly Home Design Trends Survey.

One thing that hasn’t changed, however, is consumers’ desire to maintain or create the highest resale value for their homes. Going hand-in-hand with that is the real estate mantra of “curb appeal.” So despite an interest in “simpler” exterior furnishings, consumers don’t want to diminish the overall attractiveness of their home. It is just as important as ever, if not more so, for your home to look its best.

One aspect of a home’s appearance that is often overlooked, but shouldn’t be, is the garage door. Take a look at some homes next time you are out and about. You may be surprised to discover that two of the most prominent elements are the garage door (or doors) and the roof.

Homeowners tend to think only about painting the front door or sprucing up the plantings. Why not focus on the elements that take up the most visual real estate on your home? It’s like putting on lipstick but forgetting to change out of your gardening clothes for an important interview.

Garage doors are now available in a wide range of styles, colors and materials to complement any home’s architectural style. In recent years, garage door companies have increased their selection of steel doors that are attractive yet durable and are more affordable than wood doors. For example, Amarr Garage Doors offers steel carriage house doors that look like wood carriage house doors but are lighter and require less maintenance.

“We have found that consumers are hungry for affordable 100 percent steel doors that are stylish and attractive. Our steel doors can be custom painted to coordinate with the house color. In addition, we have a wide array of decorative accents such as ornamental wrought iron windows, handles or hinges that can be added to garage doors to create a unique look for each home without breaking the bank,” says Vickie Lents of Amarr.

Another trend, according to the AIA Home Design Survey, is toward sustainability and green exterior elements. Currently, there are a limited number of green garage doors available on the market. JELD-WEN is one of a few manufacturers offering garage doors that are earth friendly and extremely durable. The door skins are made using at least 80 percent recycled wood fibers instead of cutting new-growth timber. The inclusion of a polystyrene insulated core between the outer composite wood panels of the garage doors makes JELD-WEN garage doors energy efficient and, as a bonus, offers excellent sound-absorbing qualities.

It’s summer. Go outside and plant flowers, manicure the lawn and put a fresh coat of paint on your front door. However, don’t forget about sprucing up your garage door as well. It’s an easy and affordable way to upgrade your small or large home, and it can be done in an environmentally friendly way.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Curb Appeal Takes Starring Role in Competitive Market

Jennifer — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 04:45:44 +0000

Updating Windows and Doors is a Must in a House Exterior Makeover

(ARA) – Real estate may be about location, location, location, but it’s also about looks. Curb appeal is taking on a bigger role in today’s housing market. With the number of available homes for sale growing each day, buyers can afford to be choosy and consider only houses that show well from the street. That means sellers now have just a few seconds to make a first impression, capture interest and draw buyers inside.

Confirming just how important curb appeal is to hooking new owners, JELD-WEN, a leading window and door manufacturer, discovered in a recent survey of real estate agents that 82 percent have had potential buyers decline to look at the interior of a home based on the exterior appearance.

“In today’s competitive market, buyers want upgrades, like windows and doors, that create visual appeal,” says Elizabeth Souders, product marketing manager for JELD-WEN. “A home must present itself favorably in a quick snapshot. The real estate agent survey shows that without strong curb appeal, buyers might not even consider looking inside the home.”

Made from recycled wood fiber content, JELD-WEN garage doors offer a variety of hardware options, glass window inserts and architectural details to deliver high style.

Upgrading curb appeal is proving to be a good investment when selling a home. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), window and door projects mostly pay for themselves at closing. Typically, homeowners can expect between an 81 to 88 percent return on window upgrades, the NAR said.

Top Five Curb Appeal Tips

In addition to obvious touches like a new coat of paint or fixing cracks in the pavement, updating windows and doors is an ideal first step in boosting a home’s image. Whether owners are listing a home for sale, or simply want to increase their home’s stature in the neighborhood, JELD-WEN suggests these five tips to increasing curb appeal:

1. Stay true to style: Upgrades should fit in with a home’s architectural style. For example, JELD-WEN says contemporary homes call for windows and doors with clean lines and simple profiles, while traditional homes such as Craftsmans or Colonials are better matched with windows and doors featuring appropriate divided lite designs.

By choosing coordinating entry and garage doors that complement the home’s style, this house has greatly increased curb appeal.

2. Add details: Custom features are a great way to achieve one-of-a-kind looks that stand out. Adding a doorknocker, speakeasy, decorative glass or metal accents to an upgraded front door can give an Old World home a heightened level of charm to catch a buyer’s eye. New house numbers and porch lights also provide a fresh look for entry areas.

An easy way to create visual interest, JELD-WEN grilles provide a customized, one-of-a-kind appearance to help any front door “pop” from the street.

3. Remember the garage: The most prominent exterior feature in many homes is the garage door, so this upgrade goes a long way toward elevating curb appeal. JELD-WEN is seeing many homeowners ordering garage doors complete with window inserts, metal accents and hardware to match the main entry door for a coordinated appearance.

A drab exterior with plain entry and garage doors does little to grab a potential homebuyer’s attention.

4. Dress the yard: Make sure the house is the first thing potential buyers see, not overgrown hedges or dead grass. Hire a gardener to spruce up the landscaping and add colorful touches like seasonal flowers, decorative rocks or bubbly water fountains. Shaping bushes and curving lawn borders can shake up a tired front yard.

5. Coordinate color: Color, when done right, sells. Doors and windows give homeowners ideal opportunities to infuse color into their curb appeal without having to paint. For example, JELD-WEN’s Custom Wood windows come with 41 standard exterior metal clad color choices, meaning a homeowner can select hues such as Redwood or Dark Ivy to match surrounding natural elements.

For more information on garage door materials and trends, visit www.jeld-wen.com or call (800) 877-9482.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Real Estate News, Tips, and Information » garage doors

A Great Garage Door: the Lipstick on Your Home’s Facade

Curb Appeal Takes Starring Role in Competitive Market