Seller's Best Investment

If you are planning to sell, much of your focus right now is likely on getting your home decluttered, staged and ready to dazzle potential buyers. In winter months especially it is easy to concentrate so much on the interior (which is important!) that you forget about the exterior and the importance of first impressions.

What potential buyers see as they drive up to your home plays a big role in what they expect to find when they come inside. If it looks inviting and well cared for on the outside, that is what they will expect to find inside and will tend to focus on the positives. The inverse is true if the exterior looks shabby.

Perhaps a seller's best investment could be the front door... which makes a huge impact because it's the first thing potential buyers see as they enter your home. That's probably why replacing the front door gives the highest return on investment for remodeling projects nationwide at 73%, according to Remodeling Magazine's 2011-2012 cost vs value report. That means that if you spend $1,238 on a new front door you can expect to get $903 back in added resale value.

In our Twin Cities market the return is a little lower at 49.9% but it still can be a good investment. Your front door creates an important first impression which sets the tone for your potential buyer's visit.

See the full list of Remodeling Magazine's 35 home improvement projects ranked by highest return in the Twin Cities.

Sharlene Hensrud, RE/MAX Results - Email - HomesMSP.com