I’m a property expert – here’s a simple home improvement trick that can increase your house’s value by thousands

PAINTING your front door red could increase the value of your home by up to 36 per cent, according to a property expert.

A simple colour switch can seriously boost a house’s “kerb appeal” and improve the chances of a prospective buyer booking a second viewing and making an offer.

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Research by window and door retailer Safestyle found homes with red doors sold for £413,279 – 36 per cent more than the average UK house price.

Grey was next best colour, at 20 per cent, followed by black (11 per cent), blue (two per cent) and white (one per cent).

James Smith, from estate agents Richard and Smith, puts it down to these hues looking smart and welcoming.

He said: “When buyers view a property for the first time, initial thoughts are typically based on the appearance of the exterior of the property, the location and any potential scope for an extension or loft conversion.

“Of course location is always important but the condition of a property and value for money are a high priority for buyers too.

“As exterior shots of a property are often the first image a potential buyer will see on an online listing, it’s important to think about your front door design as well as the wider exterior of your property to drive in-person viewings and the likelihood of a higher asking price.

“Whether you have a new build or a period property, we often find that coloured front doors in bold, striking shades such as red or black help to improve kerb appeal as they create a stronger first impression and add stylistic features to a property.”

There are some geographical differences when it comes to shade preferences though, the study discovered.

In Newcastle, houses with sage green doors proved to be the most lucrative, selling for 16 per cent more than the average in the region – £261,250 vs £218,839.

Those in Liverpool seem to prefer the colour navy, while homeowners opt for grey in Leeds and black in Cardiff.

But in Manchester, in line with the nation overall, properties with red doors were found to be worth 60 per cent more – perhaps due to the city’s top football club.

Safestyle analysed a sample of the top 1,000 semi-detached properties sold across the top 20 cities in the last 12 months.

The average sold price was compared to different front door colours against the House Price Index to understand how it affected the sales value.

This post first appeared on thesun.co.uk