Most buyers emotionally connect with a house within the first three to six minutes of walking through the front door. Why? Because they can generally see up to five areas of the house from there. If they like what they see, they’re hooked — in love at first sight.
The foyer or front entryway has a huge impact and sets the buyer’s expecta-tions for what they think they’re going to find throughout the rest of the house. This first impression must be a wow so buyers can’t wait to see what’s just around the next corner.
Exits, family entrances, and mud rooms (where the kids, backpacks, shoes, and all the other stuff that comes with family living land) are usually what buyers see last, and can make a lasting impression, as well. You need to make sure all your entrances and exits are up-to-date, clean, and appealing.
If you keep a family calendar or schedule at one of your entryways or exits, be sure to remove and store it during showings. You don’t want everyone who comes through your house to know when you’ll be somewhere else.
Think of a grand hotel lobby or the foyer or lobby of your favorite resort. What do those spaces say about the rest of the hotel or resort? Don’t you
make an assumption about the sleeping rooms upstairs? The same thing’s going on when buyers walk through your front door, so don’t disappoint them.
Whether or not the front entryway is impressive in size, it needs to look as grand as possible so buyers are compelled to spend more time at your house than the others on their must-see list.
