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The Most Important Listing Photograph

The front door holds the key...It's the first picture you post on the MLS, it HAS to count! It must make buyers want to open the door...If you miss the mark on this front entry photo, internet shoppers won't even click on the listing. When I searched active rain to find out what other bloggers had to say, not surprisingly, they're saying a lot. Here's a sampling:

Leslie Olson shows an updated front entry in her blog "What a Difference a Door Makes".
Kathleen Lordbock discusses her smiling front door in "Looking Good"
Wayne Pruner showcases his front entry in "What Sellers in Portland, Oregon should know about their front door."
Rick & Ines show us plenty of pretty doors in their "Knock Knock" blog.

Staged First Impressions in NH gave these homes some curb appeal with paint, trim and some accessories.

The white entry door was painted with Benjamin Moore "Classic Burgundy" exterior paint. Next, I chose the font and size I wanted for the "No 5" to be painted on the door, search the web for free font choices.
Print out your house number on regular printer paper. On the back side of the paper, trace the writing completely with a pencil and fill in, pressing firmly. Now place the paper, right side facing you, on the flat section of door where you want the number to be. Make sure you measure to get it in the center.
Next, tape the paper to the door so it is firmly in place, centered on your door. Firmly rub the writing with the side of a coin to transfer the lead from the pencil onto your door. Make sure you get all of the edges so that a complete pattern is transfered to the door.
Using a very tiny kid's paint brush, paint the pencilled outline. Allow to dry. Have some of your burgundy door color handy to tidy up mistakes when the white paint dries. Make a smaller copy of the house number and paint your mailbox too :)
Gingerbread trim can be bought, but if you're willing to settle for a very simple pattern, it's easy to create your own. You can copy my template and adjust to the size you need. The size of the trim I made was 22", and started from a 2" X 12" X 6' pine board. You need a jigsaw to cut out your pattern (it's easy, really). Use exterior primer and paint so your trim can weather the elements outside. Remember NOT to screw your trim thru the "elbows" of the trim pieces, because you might split the wood. Pre-drill your holes! Use screws that won't rust.

Staged First Impressions, New Hampshire's home staging company. Have a NH home that needs some curb appeal? We're here to help!

Posted by Sue Argue - NH Home Stager on 05/18/2007 10:30 PM

Comments (44)

home staging, nh, new hampshire, staged first impressions, home sellers, curb appeal

This post has been included in New Hampshire Information

44 Comments on The Most Important Listing Photograph

MAY

2007

So many homes could be so much more appealing with a small facelift such as the freshening up of the door.

Great post!

Mott, Welcome to Active Rain. Every picture does tell a story, and people form an impression of the story very quickly!

Thanks for reading and commenting.

Karen, Creativity need not be expensive!

Thanks for stopping by.

Thanks so much for the mention Sue - I have a passion for doors and photograph them all the time. They say so much about the owner of the home that's why it's important that it looks its best. And your door photograph is fab!

Ines, I took so many entry photos while on vacation last couple of weeks in England and Ireland. They love the bright colors and LOTS of flowers. Thanks for coming by!

Sue - I also love doors; had one added to my website design. The front of the house, especially the dorr and entry will either beckon a buyer in or they will drive by. Very nice facelift!

MAY

2007

Thank you Paula!

You can't see it well...it says "Pointe Cottage" on the door.

Good ideas, but they won't work in many Arizona communities. There are HOA rules about colors of homes, including doors, that require they remain the same color as the builders originally painted them. In most communities the home numbers must also remain uniform.

Here we work to encourage the owners to freshly paint the homes ~ as with the hot sun, paint can take a beating.

Sue, what an amazing transforamtion! I love both doors!

Sue, You really hit the ground running when you came back, didn't you. This post is among your best. It is fabulous. Bob and Carolin mentioned the Arizona problem with doors in some communities here but with other communities the sky is the limit. Many homes in Arizona have cobalt blue doors. I think they are wonderful.

Taken at Christmas time, this door is still fun. Don't you just love the eyebrow above the door?

Bob & Carolin, thanks for reading and commenting. You are absolutely right about watching for community restrictions.

In NH we do have some neighborhoods with covenants on exterior design. They do allow for some originality, but not much.

A staged photograph can be snapped with flowers/greens and a prop or 2 for added warmth. Then of course, props

removed after picture is taken.

Marci, good morning and happy Saturday :>)

Yvonne, I do love this front door's charm. My only suggestion is to either go with the pumpkin theme or the winter holiday theme...lol.

I adore the No.5 door and it is the color of my own door - what a surprise.

Wise blog that must have taken a while.

Thanks for mentioning my blog.

Sue - When I saw the close up of the door I just assumed it was a stock photo - it looks so perfect. I thin I am going to try this - the devil is in the details.

Sue I have always loved the way this looks ever since you first showed it on AR. I'm so glad you provided the step by step instructions on the "how to" - I want to try it on my own front door! Thanks for sharing!

Kathleen, did you do the etching/sand blasting on the door in your "What a Difference a Door Makes" blog? It's effect offers privacy and lets light in, love it.

Maureen, the hardest part is keeping my hand from shaking while painting the details. But if you have the white paint AND the door paint, you can cover up all mistakes.

ps- you're doing great with the HSS's (say that 10 times fast)

Karen, no sweat, you can do this!

I can email anyone a bigger/better copy of the gingerbread trim pattern if that helps.

I owe you an email, going over now...

Sue, I know what you mean about the celebration of Fall being over before the Christmas Decor begins. This is an old photo and when I dug it out I thought, "Is that a pumpkin?" I don't know what that is about. My hubby's sister took the photo, I'll have to ask her. Do you think they should have added a heart and a shamrock or an Easter Bunny?

MAY

2007

I have done that before & it isn't too tough & looks good. I've also Monogrammed glasses for gifts.

When they get the new window in my bathroom I plan to do something with it for privacy reasons!

MAY

2007

Love these pictures! Are these your pictures of places around here? Love the before and after with the trim - what a difference that made.

Your ideas and talents never cease to amaze me. Do you travel to the Nashua area? You have transformed this houses into homes!

Awesome! Awesome! Awesome! Love the pictures. They say what a thousand words cannot. Keep up the good work!

Trish

MAY

2007

Yvonne, everyone has their own decorating style, which is ok, but when you're selling your house, it's not about you anymore.

Thanks for reading Ms. b.y. root.

Kathleen, always good to have a project going. Are you going to etch the bathroom window so the privacy screen is permanent?

Ann, yes, home is around here. Even though Hampton is very close to Maine & Mass borders, I haven't staged a home outside of NH. But I'm willing :)

Working this week in Brentwood, NH. More later...

Joan, yes I do travel. I did a consultation 3 weeks ago in Londonderry, which isn't as far south as Nashua. More to come on that house....

Trish, wow, your comment is awesome:)

This blog's layout is a bit wild, but I wanted to enlarge the pictures to show detail. Every blog I write has layout issues...it's crucial to have pictures in a home staging blog...but challenging too :)

Any help out there on picture placement, I'd love it.

I've worked on re-sizing the pictures in this blog, deleted some content, re-arranged text with bullets/numbers. whew!

It took me longer to write this blog than it did to mount the gingerbread trim :) jk

Great post, Sue.

I too have "picture placement" challenges. I've started and deleted many a blog because it never fails, I'll end up positioning somewhere where I don't want it.

Kathy

No, don't delete! Just keep playing with it.

Kathy, read Kristal Kraft's blogs on pictures...she's good at tutorials. I re-read them, each one gets easier.

MAY

2007

Ah, now I'm finally getting better at putting these pictures in an organized table, whew!

Yes, the front door is part of the first impressions buys get. It makes sense to make it a good one.

Lynette

Great pictures and SO true!

All the best,

Beth

MAY

2007

Lynette, thanks for stopping by from sunny CA.

Beth, WOW, the front entry pictured on your profile page is definitely going to grab the buyer's attention--beautiful.

Sue: You are my Heroine (that doesn't sound quite right, but I'll go with it anyway). I want to blog just like you when I grow up. Beautiful front door!

What a compliment from Pasadena, California...thank you!

Your profile picture is just beautiful, you look like an angel up there. And no, I didn't say that just because you liked my door photos :)

Sue, it's so great of you to share your template! Thanks for showing how simple it is to tackle trim like this. It maked such a big difference on the house!

Thank you Dane from Ontario!

I started out intending to buy the trim...until I saw the prices. Wow, expensive. I'm willing to settle for less than perfect results to save money on a project like this.

JUN

2007

Hello Sue -- what a delightful surprise to log into Active Rain today (after several days, if not weeks away while I try to work on the Staging jobs that AR has sent my way!) -- I was amazed to have been included in your blog! Thank you so much for including me, and your supportive words. Bear with me as I catch up with everyone this week! Thank you again, Sue -- your work above looks absolutely AMAZING!

P.S. I used Benjamin Moore's "Classic Burgundy" on the door in my blog as well -- great minds think alike, right?

Leslie Olson Leslie Olson Interiors - Austin, Texas leslie@leslieolsoninteriors.com

There you are! I'm so glad AR is working for you. Of course it's your expertise and portfolio that's winning you customers. Thanks for stopping by Leslie.

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