Whether you’re selling your home or staying put, a great way of boosting your home’s attractiveness and sale-ability is by repairing or replacing door and cabinet handles and knobs that are making your rooms look dingy and outdated.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 a few suggestions for improving them:
- First, check all your door and cabinet handles and knobs 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 handles and knobs sparkle, just use warm water and a little dish soap, or a homemade paste of equal parts vinegar and baking soda will make dirt disappear.
- 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’re selling your home or buying a new abode in Montecito or any of the surrounding communities I represent, give me a call at (805) 886-9378, or email me at Cristal@montecito-estate.com. I’m happy to share all the tips on selling that I’ve learned over the more than 30 years I’ve been in the industry.
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