Tips For Sprucing Up a Front Door
Old front doors can turn off prospective home buyers

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. April 03, 2007 — The old saying “You can’t judge a book by its cover” isn’t always true in the housing market.  A weary looking home with a tired front door is sometimes a clear signal to the neighborhood, and prospective homebuyers, that a house is in need of a lot of repairs or updating.

Focusing on projects that help maintain and enhance a home’s value is a priority for homeowners, especially in a highly competitive housing market. Replacing a front door is a beneficial first step toward waking up a major exterior component, plus the project will pay for itself in the long run. The National Association of Real Estate Appraisers estimates that homeowners can expect returns of up to 106 percent on a new front door.

“Homeowners want to be proud of how their house looks from the street, so a front entry should be warm, inviting and convey a sense of quality,” said Shane Meisel, product marketing manager with JELD-WEN, a leading manufacturer of windows and doors.

Television shows like HGTV’s hit series Curb Appeal emphasize the value that an attractive front facade adds to a home and the message it conveys to others.

“Curb appeal is very important because the front of a house is the first impression that a visitor or potential buyer will receive when they approach the home,” said Breanna Hoepner-Cowe, a producer with Curb Appeal.  “An unattractive exterior may signal that the interior is less attractive as well.”

Hoepner-Cowe says today’s top curb appeal elements are the condition of the paint, stone or brick, the landscaping, and the quality of the windows and doors.

 Even if a homeowner is not selling a house, replacing a front door can return big dividends in terms of energy efficiency and setting a new standard in the neighborhood. And with the average age of today’s homes at 32 years old, according to a Harvard University study, a great deal of today’s homes are candidates for a new front entry.

Today, homeowners can choose between wood, steel or fiberglass front doors, and add numerous design features such as transoms, sidelights, decorative hardware, and accents to personalize a front entry and present a dynamic, welcoming appearance.

For specific information regarding today’s exterior door choices, refer to the following Door Comparison Quick Reference Chart and JELD-WEN’s top five questions to ask before replacing a front door.

About JELD-WEN
JELD-WEN, inc. is the world’s leading manufacturer of reliable windows and doors. Based in Klamath Falls, Ore., JELD-WEN began as a small Oregon millwork plant in 1960 and has grown into a company with more than 150 divisions and more than 20,000 employees worldwide. JELD-WEN is the official window, door and millwork provider of the PGA TOUR and Champions Tour, Proud Partner of THE PLAYERS and title sponsor of the JELD-WEN Tradition.  JELD-WEN was the only window or door manufacturer to be named 2003 ENERGY STAR® “Partner of the Year” by the U.S. Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency. Eleven JELD-WEN® product lines and all windows and doors constructed with AuraLast® wood have earned the Good Housekeeping Seal.  JELD-WEN® windows and doors have been honored by numerous consumer and industry publications. In 2005, JELD-WEN®  Custom Fiberglass exterior doors received a Consumers Digest Best Buy rating.  For more information about the exceptional value and reliability of JELD-WEN products, or to find a dealer near you, please visit www.jeld-wen.com or call 800-877-9482.