| Realtors in a nationwide survey say replacing | | | | paint. Nothing says welcome home like a |
| your garage door prior to listing your home | | | | cheerful front entry. It's an easy affordable |
| can increase its demand and help you reach | | | | way to freshen up a paint scheme without |
| your asking price. This may largely be due to | | | | having to repaint the entire exterior. |
| homeowner demand for more storage space | | | | |
| making three-car garages a typical standard | | | | 2. Add new stylish lighting fixtures. Light |
| and a major design focal point. | | | | up your doorways, driveway and walkways. |
| | | | Better to have more lights at lower wattages |
| If you are thinking of upgrading your home's | | | | than one, very bright one. Angle spotlights |
| garage appeal you may want to consider | | | | to highlight trees and bushes, creating a |
| something more than a standard steel panel | | | | dramatic nighttime effect. Solar lights that |
| door. According to "Professional Builder" | | | | charge during the day are easy to install |
| magazine, designer garage doors are one of | | | | yourself. |
| the "50 Must-Have Features for Today's Home | | | | |
| Buyers." | | | | 3. Use mulch - Rather then leaving your |
| | | | garden messy and unkept mulch makes |
| "We had a seller last fall who replaced | | | | landscaping and garden beds look tidy, crisp |
| existing 70s style flush panel garage doors | | | | and well maintained. |
| with carriage house style doors and it | | | | |
| changed the entire look of the house," adds | | | | 4. Plant lots of flowers. This is always |
| Garrett. "It sold for full asking price the | | | | money well spent because it adds charm and |
| first day on the market and the owners made a | | | | life to any exterior. Even if you have never |
| profit. The interior had been upgraded -- but | | | | planted flowers you will find it is easy to |
| it was the exterior that the buyers fell in | | | | do. Bringing lots of new colours to your |
| love with at first sight." | | | | garden will bring a new life to your home. |
| | | | |
| Here are some additional garage door changes | | | | 5. Re-surface your driveway. Instead of a |
| that might take your home to a new selling | | | | black top or smooth concrete, consider |
| high: | | | | stained or stamped concrete patterns. This |
| | | | can do wonders for curb appeal. |
| 1. Give your garage door a new layer of | | | | |