Whether you are selling your home or staying put, a great way of boosting your home’s salability is by repairing and/or replacing door and cabinet hardware that’s making your rooms look dingy and outdated. Door and cabinet hardware can be simple or ornate, and ranges from $1 a knob to $100 or more. Here are my suggestions:
- First, check all your door and cabinet hardware to determine which ones need to be repaired vs replaced. Repairs can be as simple as tightening screws on loose knobs and pulls. Some will need to be replaced all together, especially if they’re stripped. Be sure to plug any gaps you find with wood filler applied with a putty knife.
- For those you want to keep, tighten and polish. Nothing ages a room like a loose doorknob. Don’t forget to check the hinges too and replace those if necessary.
- Use a commercial polish to make brass doorknobs shine. I suggest Wright’s or Weiman. To make stainless steel and glass doorknobs sparkle, just use warm water and a little dish soap or a homemade paste of equal parts vinegar and baking soda will scrub off dirt.
- For those you want to replace, make sure to count the number of knobs or pulls you need before you head to the hardware store.
- Measure the distance between holes—not the length of pulls—to assure a perfect fit.
- Switching from a two-hole pull to a one-hole knob? Make sure you choose hardware with back plates to cover door scratches and holes.
If you are selling your home or buying a new abode in Montecito or any of the surrounding communities I represent please visit my website, give me a call at 805-886-9378 or email me at Cristal@montecito-estate.com. I am happy to share all the tips on selling that I’ve learned over the more than 20 years I’ve been in the industry.