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How to Paint a Front Door and Increase Your Home’s Resale Value in the Process

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A small but impactful project like painting your front door a fresh hue won’t just give your exterior an instant facelift.

There’s an even bigger payoff: This simple upgrade could increase your home’s resale value by several thousand dollars. (Psst: You’ll want to embrace the dark side.) What are you waiting for? If you’re all geared up with your new color and brush in hand, we tapped Behr manager Octave Villar to guide us through the process. For his tips on how to paint a front door—and steer clear of the typical pitfalls—read on.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Painting a Front Door

Not Considering the Environment

Yes, this project is a minor one, but that doesn’t mean diving in without thinking of the impact that temperature, humidity, and airflow will have on the process. Schedule your job for a clear, sunny day (not too breezy) with mild temperatures to help with even application and a quicker drying time.

Painting Without a Plan

Haphazardly applying paint does not a happy homeowner (or door) make. Villar suggests starting with the inside panels and working outward so you can paint smoothly and uninterrupted.

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Skimping on Tools

Villar points out that investing in proper, quality tools will save you time and the hassle of potentially having to redo a messy job due to low-grade rollers that leave nap fibers on the surface or a worn-out brush that creates a rough finish.

Adding Another Layer Before the Previous One Dries

Villar says water-based paints typically take two to four hours to dry, while oil-based ones can take up to 24 hours. If you skip this step, you run the risk of creating streaks and bubbles that can be a headache to repair. 

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How to Paint a Front Door

The Supplies

  • Mild detergent

  • Sponge

  • Bucket

  • Warm water

  • Lint-free cloth

  • Paint scraper

  • 400-grit synthetic sandpaper (or ultrafine sanding sponge)

  • Trash bin

  • Stir stick

  • Paint tray

  • Painter’s tape

  • Short nap roller

  • Nylon/polyester paintbrush or paint sprayer

  • Angled paintbrush

  • Exterior paint

  • Water-based primer

Step 1: Remove All Nonpermanent Hardware and Clean the Door

This includes knobs and hinges (if you’re taking the door off the frame). Be sure to label the pieces and set them aside in a safe place until you’re ready to reattach them. Then fill a bucket with warm water, add a bit of detergent, and use a sponge to clean any dirt or grime off the surface. Rinse with fresh water and wait until the surface is completely dry before moving on to the next step. 

Step 2: Get Rid of Any Peeling Paint

Gently clear the surface of flakes from the last paint job with a paint scraper. Sweep the remnants into a trash bin.

Step 3: Sand the Door

Use fine-grit sandpaper to lightly go over the door surface to help extend the life of the new coat and make sure that it sticks. Wipe off any sanding dust with a lint-free cloth.

Step 4: Cover the Remaining Hardware With Painter’s Tape

Tape around the edges of any fasteners or fixtures on the door (think: hinges, doorknobs, the peephole) to shield them from paint splatters.

Step 5: It’s Time to Prime

With the roller, apply the primer, starting with the large, flat areas on the back of the door. Villar recommends an angled nylon or polyester brush for corners and crevices. Let the surface dry (depending on the type of primer you bought, the outside temperature, and the door material, this could take from one to four hours), then repeat the process on the front of the door.

Step 6: Sand and Wipe Down the Door

Once the primer completely dries, use the sandpaper to lightly scuff the primer, carefully clearing the surface of any uneven spots. Wipe the door with the lint-free cloth to clear away any sanding dust.

Step 7: Now Let’s Paint!

Finally, the moment you’ve been waiting for—grab a brush, roller, or paint sprayer to apply a single coat (don’t forget to give it enough time to dry!). Then go over the door with the 400-grit sandpaper again. Add another coat and repeat the sanding process once more.

Step 8: Remove the Painter’s Tape

You don’t need to watch the drying process happen (everyone knows it’s a total snooze), but you do need to give it time. Once that’s done—you’ll know if you gently dab an unnoticeable spot with your finger and it doesn’t feel wet or sticky—carefully remove the tape and discard it.

Villar says water-based paints generally dry in two to four hours, whereas oil-based may take up to 24. To be on the safe side, wait as long as possible before using the door so your handiwork lasts.

Step 9: Reattach the Hardware

Put the doorknobs, hinges, and any other accessories back on. If you took the door off the hinges, hitch it back onto the frame. This first impression is, in fact, everything.

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What you need to do with your houseplants now spring is here

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Rising mercury, longer days and trees adorned with blossom: it’s difficult not to be drawn outside with the onset of spring.

But for people nurturing indoor jungles, the equinox and clocks moving forward signal a key moment in the houseplant calendar: it's time to grow.

My house plants and I limp through autumn and winter, trying to dodge crispy leaves and fungus gnats and - at worst - a feeble death. Spring marks the moment when those months of dormancy are over and the growing season begins. The worst thing you can do right now is ignore your house plants in favour of all the things shooting up in the garden; a few small jobs in spring can tide them over for the next six months.

Pruning

If you’re finding yourself staring at a load of brown, crispy leaves do everyone a favour and cut them back - they will never turn green again, I’m afraid. Carefully cut around the brown bits and discard any dried-up stems into the compost or food waste bins. You’ll be amazed by how much better it looks.

Dark winter days can make plants reach for the light, leading to long, gangly growth. If your plants have more stem and stalk than leaf, a judicious cut can have the same effect as a good trim at the hairdresser’s: encouraging more volume in the form of bushy growth. More structural plants such as Fiddle Leaf Figs (Ficus lyrata) and Rubber Plants (Ficus elastica) will branch out if you cut between two leaf nodes on their stem. Be brave, and chop about a third off. You’ll see new leaf nodes start to form within weeks.

Vines such as golden pothos and philodendrons react especially well to a haircut, encouraging more growth from the crown of the plant (where it reaches the soil) rather than at its extremities. 

Propagating 

Make sure those off-cuts are done with a clean blade - scissors or a knife - and bung them in a cup, vase or bottle of clean water. Place somewhere bright and you’ll see them rooting within a week or so. When the roots are five centimetres long, you can pot them into soil - either a new pot or the existing one - to form a new plant. 

Re-potting

This is possibly the most gratifying bit of spring houseplant care, the equivalent of new school shoes for growing plants. They’ve muddled through the winter in too-small pots and a slightly larger one, filled with lovely new soil, can emphasise the growth they’d be putting on in spring. Examine your plants to see if any roots are growing out of the top or bottom of the pot - this is a sign it’s ready to pot on - and find another pot, with drainage holes, that’s a hand’s-width larger in the circumference than the existing one. Don’t feel the urge to find a massively larger pot: if the roots can’t grow into it, it will just become a soggy mass of soil, which can encourage rot. 

Before moving anything, give your plants a drink to help with transplant shock. Then, fill the with a few centimetres of fresh, peat-free compost and lift the plant’s root ball out of the old pot and onto this new cushion of compost. Fill in around the gaps with compost and press down firmly. Then water again. They’ll be growing in no time.

Feeding and watering regimes

Depending on your plants, you may have slowed down on watering - and definitely on plant food - over winter as dormancy set in. Now that they’re growing again, you may notice that the soil is drying out more quickly. Keep a close eye and always touch the soil to see if it needs watering - a finger in the soil up to the knuckle will tell you how dry the soil is. If it is dry, water the plant thoroughly for several minutes to soak the rootball; I tend to put mine under the kitchen tap, and allow to drain out. Watered properly means watering less often.

While the soil is wet, it’s primed to absorb liquid plant food - crucial to get the most from your plants over the growing season and fend off pests. I’m partial to Maxicrop Organic Seaweed feed, which I use on everything and contains no nasties. Dilute according to the instructions on the bottle and use every fortnight, or whenever you remember to, if you’re anything like me.

Dust

I know, it sounds boring, but it is frustratingly crucial - especially for larger leaved-plants such as monstera and ficus. Dust can block the surface cells leaves use to photosynthesise and respire, so you’ll have a happier plant if there’s less of it about. I use a microfibre cloth, and, if I’m feeling fancy, some natural soap diluted in water to encourage a glossy shine.  

Learn more on House + Garden.

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Over 100 Markets Record Double-Digit Showings Per Listing, Up 45% From a Year Ago

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In a sign of today’s inventory-challenged times, the number of markets averaging double-digit showings per listing jumped 45% from 75 to 109 from last year—a marked increase from the early spring frenzy of home tours of 2021, according to the latest ShowingTime Showing Index®, released this week.

The latest data from ShowingTime, shows that home buyers got a head start in February on what is proving to be a sustained busy stretch, with Denver and Seattle recording close to 25 showings per listing.

Markets with year-over-year increases:

  • Nashville, TN +43%

  • Orlando, FL +36%

  • Bridgeport, CT +30%

  • Dallas, TX +29%

  • Sarasota, +FL 28%

  • Charlotte, +NC 24%

Year-over-year market activity by region:

  • South +19.5%

  • Northeast +16.6%

  • Midwest +10%

  • West -13.6%

February’s brisk activity throughout most of the country was in keeping with a trend that began in May 2020, immediately after COVID-19 slowed real estate activity, buyers re-emerged to find their next home amid a shortage of available inventory.

“Seeing 109 markets with such impressive buyer traffic is remarkable,” said ShowingTime Vice President and General Manager Michael Lane. “A year ago, we were amazed to see 75 markets hit double digits in showings per listing. The heightened activity is widespread, with 17 states having at least one market averaging in double digits. We’re here to help agents navigate these circumstances with new features integrated into our platform tailored to meet their needs.”

For example, ShowingTime’s waitlist feature notifies buyer’s agents as soon as an appointment time becomes available on a fully booked listing. The waitlist feature successfully scheduled more than 50,000 for agents who joined. Offer Manager is another option available to help agents track offers, easily update every agent on the status of their offer and share a side-by-side comparison with their sellers.

The ShowingTime Showing Index is compiled using data from more than six million property showings scheduled across the country each month on listings using ShowingTime products and services. It tracks the average number of appointments received on active listings during the month.

Keep reading on RIS Media.

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A Key To Building Wealth Is Homeownership

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The link between financial security and homeownership is especially important today as inflation rises. 

But many people may not realize just how much owning a home contributes to your overall net worth. As Leslie Rouda Smith, President of the National Association of Realtors (NAR), says:

“Homeownership is rewarding in so many ways and can serve as a vital component in achieving financial stability.”

Here are just a few reasons why, if you’re looking to increase your financial stability, homeownership is a worthwhile goal.

Owning a Home Is a Building Block for Financial Success

A recent NAR report details several homeownership trends and statistics, including the difference in net worth between homeowners and renters. It finds “.the net worth of a homeowner was about $300,000 while that of a renter’s was $8,000 in 2021.”

To put that into perspective, the average homeowner’s net worth is roughly 40 times that of a renter 

The results from this report show that owning a home is a key piece to the puzzle when building your overall net worth.

Equity Gains Can Substantially Boost a Homeowner’s Net Worth

The net worth gap between owners and renters exists in large part because homeowners build equity. As a homeowner, your equity grows as your home appreciates in value and you make your mortgage payments each month.

In other words, when you own your home, you have the benefit of your mortgage payment acting as a contribution to a forced savings account. And when you sell, any equity you’ve built up comes back to you. As a renter, you’ll never see a return on the money you pay out in rent every month.

To sum it up, NAR says it simply:

“Homeownership has always been an important way to build wealth.”

Bottom Line

The gap between a homeowner’s net worth and a renter’s shows how truly foundational homeownership is to wealth-building. If you’re ready to start on your journey to homeownership, talk with a trusted real estate advisor today.

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4 Gen Z homebuyers reveal tips and hacks for buying a house young

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It's getting harder and harder for young people to buy a home. Home prices and interest rates are on the rise while supply continues to dwindle.

Those factors, coupled with the financial strain of student debt, have left many unable to save enough for a down payment or afford a monthly mortgage. 

But some are getting it done. From extreme-savings strategies to scoring a mortgage for 100% of the home price, four Gen Z homebuyers told Insider about the unique ways they financed their first home purchase before age 25. 

While not all of their financial paths to homeownership are available to everyone, their journeys can serve as a guide and spark ideas. 

Here are some tips from their first home purchases. 

Saving for a down payment was 'untenable.' Instead, I looked for 100% financing options and plan to refinance later. 

After Daniel Greene, 22, fled his tumultuous childhood home with his two sisters a few years ago, he wanted to buy a house to move into when he and his fiancée got married, he said. 

But after putting all of his money towards rent — $1,250 per month — the 2020 college graduate didn't have much saved to put toward a down payment on a house, he said.

"It's the American dream. It's something you're supposed to do," he said. "To be honest, though, it's unattainable, it's completely untenable." 

"How am I supposed to save up $20,000?" he added. "I don't come from money." 

It's a challenge facing his entire generation, said Greene, who works in finance making about $85,000 per year. 

Through his bank, North Carolina's State Employees' Credit Union, he found a way to do so. He bought a new-construction two-bedroom home for the amount of his loan last year, he said. 

The bank offered a floating-rate mortgage, with an initial interest rate of 3.14%, that lent on 100% of the $202,800 house. He had a credit score of 700 when he took out the loan, and the rate will be adjusted in two years. 

Since the adjustable nature of the loan means interest rates could hit 14% when it does get reevaluated, Greene plans to refinance the debt with a fixed-rate mortgage before then, hoping for a rate of 3% to 5%.

Credit unions are not-for-profit member-owned banks whose members have some kind of geographic, religious, educational, or occupational affiliation. Many of these banks lend up to 100% of the home's value depending on the price. 

The National Credit Union Administration has a map and locator on its website to find a credit union near you. Insider's personal finance team has also laid out the best credit unions of March 2022.

Since I made under $90,000, I was able to qualify for a state program to help first-time homebuyers. I scored a 2.38% interest rate and $7,500 to put toward my closing costs. 

What Emajja Bowen, 24, loves most about her Atlanta condo are its floor-to-ceiling windows. They were a must-have in her search. 

By the time the condo was listed in August 2020, she had almost given up looking. But then she saw her dream home and decided to put in an offer. 

The 2020 master's graduate wrote a letter to the seller telling him what buying a home in the state's capital would mean to her. The letter worked. Bowen closed on the $274,000 home in the fall. 

Bowen was also able to qualify for a state program, Georgia Dream, that helps Georgians become homebuyers. 

The program provides first-time homebuyers, buyers who have not owned a house in over three years, or homebuyers looking to buy in specific areas of the state with low mortgage rates and financial assistance to make the move, according to the program's website. 

The state caps the program to those making $90,000 or under. Brown, a consulting analyst, said she just made the cut. Georgia Dream provided her with $7,500 toward closing costs and financed a mortgage with a 2.38% interest rate, compared with 3.07%, the average mortgage in October when Bowen bought the condo. 

Many states offer programs to help first-time homebuyers secure favorable terms, finance a down payment, or otherwise assist them. The mortgage information provider HSH has outlined what each state offers on its website.

Insider's personal finance team has outlined 11 programs that help first-time homebuyers get a mortgage as well as how to find first-time homebuyer programs in your state to help with a down payment, closing costs, and taxes.

To get a better mortgage, I used monthly payments for Netflix and Hulu to boost my credit score. 

Grace Gabriel, 23, closed on a $505,000, three-bedroom townhouse in Laurel, Maryland, in February. But her road to homeownership started with a speed bump.
In August, Gabriel, still in her first year as an analyst at Accenture, felt financially stable enough with a salary of $92,000 to buy a home. But a loan officer said she needed a longer and more robust credit history to apply for a mortgage. 

So Gabriel put herself on a "financial diet." She started with "cutting out carbs", like her Achilles' heel: online shopping. She deleted shopping apps from her phone and started tracking every dollar of her spending in an Excel spreadsheet. 

"This was a goal that I wanted, so I was going to be very serious about it," she told Insider.

She used those savings to pay off debts, including outstanding tuition bills. 

Gabriel also found ways to boost her score using her spending habits. She signed up for a service through the consumer credit bureau Experian that let her count monthly Netflix and Hulu payments toward her overall FICO score. 

Through YouTube videos detailing financial advice, Gabriel discovered the Chime Credit Builder card. She appreciated the features designed specifically to help those building credit: no credit check, no annual fees, and no interest. 

Opening a second card expanded her available credit, which in turn improved her credit utilization rate. Gabriel set a personal goal of keeping that number under 30%, something that same loan officer would compliment her on months later. 

In the end, she was able to boost her credit score to 726, an increase of 50 points, which helped her lock in an interest rate of 3.9% for her mortgage. 

Looking back, Gabriel never doubted her drive to make her goals a reality. 

"I'm not someone who's good at 'no,'" she said. "When someone tells you 'no,' make that into new opportunities." 

To read the full story, check out Business Insider.

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