First impressions are important when it comes to selling your home.  Whether it’s for photographs that are going online or buyers coming to tour your home in person, the front porch is one of the first spaces that buyers see.  Though, for home owners, the space may be a little neglected especially if you use the garage as your main entrance into your home.  Here are some tips for staging a front porch that are practical and easy to do.

Remove flags and wind chimes for photography. 

Flags and wind chimes move with the wind so they can show up blurry in pictures.  If you want to replace it after the photographs are taken go for it, just make sure that they aren’t in a spot where someone may bump it while walking to your front door.

Clean the porch. 

Pollen covered chairs, spider webs, and dead bugs don’t exactly say “Welcome to my home!”  One of the first tasks to accomplish when staging a front porch is to clean.  Take some time to knock down old cobwebs and clean off the furniture on your porch.  Remember to clean out the inside of any light fixtures as these can be bug collectors.  Wipe down windows and doors too.

Freshen Up Fixtures 

Do you still have the shiny brass builder grade outdoor light up?  Are your house numbers looking a little faded from the sun?  Does your front door need a fresh coat of paint?  Updating these things doesn’t have to be expensive when staging a front porch.  Consider using spray paint to give the light and house numbers a new look instead of replacing them.   You can add a fresh coat of paint to your front door using a color that compliments the rest of the exterior.

Consider the porch floor 

Concrete floor can look aged and stained after a few years.  Luckily a power wash can erase these stains and have the floor looking new.  Likewise, if you’ve got a painted or stained wooden floor on your porch, doing some touch ups or applying a fresh coat of paint can make the floor feel like new.

Maximize not minimize the space 

Since every porch is a different size, it is important to make sure that the space is not overflowing with stuff.  When staging a front porch, add a chair or two when there is room to move around them.  Make sure not to over fill the space with a table if you can’t easily get around it.  You want buyers to see this as a useful part of the home.  For smaller porches, a small bench or even just an outdoor table with a plant on it may be all that is necessary.  Remove items like brooms or shoes.

Add a layered welcome mat

Welcome mats add a bit of texture and color to the front porch but also serve a purpose as a place to wipe feet before entering a home. Choose a mat that is proportional to the size of your door.  

Simple flowers 

It can be easy to embrace all the flowers in the spring and summer, but keep it simple when staging a front porch.  A small pot placed on a table or chair or taller planters flanking the front door make the area appear welcoming without creating more tripping hazards. If you are worried that you won’t be able to maintain the plants, there are some realistic faux plants out there that might work for you.

Everything is working properly

Make sure that your door bell and light fixtures are functioning properly. If you’ve got a front door handle that is a little tricky to open or close, then replace it.