Suzi Petroff, REALTOR®, Texas Pride Realty Group HomeSmart Stars
The hunt for this particular house was going on its fourth year. During the third year, I completed real estate school but wasn’t licensed. My REALTOR®, Neva Warnock (Texas Pride Realty Group HomeSmart Stars), had shown me dozens of homes over about 100 square miles. Even if I had completed my license, she had definitely earned her fee. But I was feeling like she’d never receive it. For our price point, with the land we wanted, finding a country home seemed a pipe dream.
The house on Martingale Trail was promising in photos, but upon arrival, it was clear it had seen its better days. This made it perfect for me! I’m a flipper-turned-REALTOR®, and a solid home that needs updating is a dream come true! Some girls like purses and shoes. Projects are my obsession, and this would become my next masterpiece!
The home was 16 years old but seemed much older. The original door (below) had been beautiful but dated and busy. A previous owner had simplified it by removing the ornate iron, which is much more to our liking. The photo to the right shows how it looked afterwards, stained on both sides. The interior needed minor cosmetic repair, but outside, it was completely weathered and dried out. If the front door is the smile of the home, mine was scowling. Turning the frown upside down was a first year renovation priority!
The original old rubbed bronze hardware was missing its finish, so one of my first tasks was to replace all of the door hardware in the home with matte black. It was immediately more modern while still matching the home. And smart door locks on all exterior doors meant we would probably never need keys. All keys were carefully labeled and stored (pro tip: always label keys because you will need them if you sell!).
The double paned glass was compromised and very foggy, and all of the seals and weatherstripping were tearing away. We live on a well-traveled street, and the sound and cold air indicated the door was failing.
I priced several potential solutions. At 6 feet side and 11 feet to the top of the transom, replacements ranged from about $3000 for a wood door, without installation, to $15,000 for iron doors, with installation. Then I priced replacement glass for the existing door at $900, including installation. Professional repair and painting of the door, both inside and out would run $1400. As of the date of this blog, I have not received a price on replacement of the weather stripping and seals.
I chose the more affordable option. After replacing the glass using a local family owned company, I made plans to repair the door and trim. Front doors can be a challenge for painters. They bid a job hoping to beat out other bids, but doors require days to restore correctly. So some painters will cut corners, making the door suitable for payment…but it is a cheap, temporary fix. A few months later, it begins to bubble or flake. So I called Pablo Hernandez, Painter, who is, in my opinion, the best in Dallas. He carefully sanded the exterior and then taped off everything, including plastic and paper to prevent overspray (which is the devil!), before priming. He sanded the primer lightly, corrected imperfections with Bondo, applied more primer, and then sprayed two coats of Sherwin Williams Emerald Exterior Acrylic Latex in a satin finish in Tricorn Black. Tricorn Black is a nice neutral black that goes well with most other colors. The threshold also got a cleaning and light sanding before a coat of Krylon Black to complete the makeover from the outside.
Inside, imperfections were filled with matching putty and stain before a coat of polyurethane sealer was added. Finally, the surrounding trim was updated. The entire process took 4 days. This allowed the layers to cure between coats. Inside and out, the entry is now – once again – beautiful!
A welcoming front door is symbolic and has an emotional impact. It is where guests enter by passing over a welcome mat. It is what neighbors see driving by. It is a major part of curb appeal. It’s an extension of the living space of the home and a reflection of those who live there. It is truly a smile.
I am now a working REALTOR® and have joined Neva at the same team and brokerage. My years of flipping and renovations gives my clients confidence in my ability to spot a promising home for them. My husband and I will celebrate a year on Martingale in a few days. We have prioritized our improvements, completing the kitchen, most of the downstairs, and the entry in just under 12 months – an updated and welcoming smile…by the skin of our teeth!
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suzi@suzihomeseller.com
Suzi Petroff, REALTOR® 