Real Estate Salespeople will tell you that often, the first glimpse of a property can make or break a sale. Inside might be a designer's paradise but if the door is tatty and paint is peeling from the windows your prospecting buyer might decided to drive off without ever looking inside.
In ancient European cities, shabby doors and windows can look cute and adorably Instagrammable but on your own home it just looks like you don't care.
We become a little blind to our own homes and fail to notice when chips appear in paintwork. We get used to wiggling a key just so and know how to pull that recacitrant door closed properly. And will that storm door survive another season?
As a case in point yesterday a friend asked me to use their keys to lock up their house - I really struggled to work out how to turn it correctly so it was securely locked whilst they do it day in day out without noticing how difficult it is.
I always wonder when I see these house makeover programs on TV where people get an expert in to make their house more saleable whether they wish they could stay there rather than sell after it's been smartened up for sale.
We should learn from this - instead of putting up with those niggly issues with our homes we should invest some time, energy and cash into making our environment the nicest place to live that we can.
One way to improve the appearance inside and out and potentially save money buy making your property more energy efficient is to change the windows and doors.
There are so many options to make your windows and doors speak volumes about your taste and personality but you should get some expert help to assist in making sure you don't veer too far away from the architectural style of your home and to ensure you make a good decision when it comes to materials.
For instance vinyl (UPVC) might not suit a home with history, and although you might adore sash/double hung windows they might not suit a contemporary home. If you live in an apartment you probably have to stick to what style everyone else has.
For advice you could contact windows and doors Etobicoke where you can find a wide array of styles of windows and doors to suit all tastes and budgets.
While you let the experts get on with your windows and doors you could spend some time fixing up the front yard. A walk round Home Depot should help inspire you and you can pick up anything from beautiful plants to a variety of gadgets to keeps that yard looking spic and span.
Strim that long grass, blow those leaves away, plant up some borders or pots if your dirt is not great and soon you will be able to enjoy a sense of joy and pride every single time you get home.