A realtor pulls her SUV into your driveway, the doors open, her clients step onto your driveway, and they all approach your door.
One of the first sights they encounter, the item that holds their attention as they wait for their realtor to fumble with the lock box, is your welcome mat.
How will they rate it? How do you rate it?
Times have changed. I could not help but notice the display of welcome mats at Lowe's the other day. I mean, "Hello? What took you so long to arrive, you pretty little underfoot mats that greet me on arrival?"
Have you seen these?
Forget the plain, black mats that look pathetic and depressing on your front step. Forget the natural cocoa fiber mats that shed all over your porch. And definitely forget the ones made of old tires that look like something your grandma gave you!
If you think the ones I've photographed here are garish, well, you could be right, but they are also cheerful, fresh, and new. Those are all qualities you want associated with your home on the market.
So, take a step outside now, and rate your welcome mat on a scale from from one to ten. If it's not an eight, I'd say spend ten bucks to replace it with a mat that really says, "Welcome!" These mats won't last for years and years, but these babies might earn some praise, and help sell your house faster.
 |
| This mat gets the message across, and the price is a less than nine bucks! |
 |
| How's this for a giving a colorful first impression of your house? From Lowe's as well. |
 |
| You say you want something a little more classy? You'll spend a little more. Frontgate.com. |
 |
| Depending on the other colors at your front door, this could be the ticket. Cosigra.com. |
| It's a pebble mat from Squidoocdn.com. Handsome! I think you could hack this. |
 |
| A door mat made from recycled lobster pot lines from Maine. Recyclechicken.com. |
- Don't get something too institutional. It should look homey and friendly.
- Don't use your initial or name on the mat. Keep it impersonal.
- Don't advertise your favorite sports team. People have loyalties of their own.
- No jokes please, like mats that say, "Hi, I'm Mat." or "Not You Again!" or worst of all, "Nice Underwear."
5 comments:
Wonderful post. Doormats are really important. They not only add hospitable atmosphere to your house, greeting your guests at the very front door, but also help you keep grime and grout away from your home. When you walk around your house with your shoes, you bring in a lot of bacteria, dirt and dust, which is dangerous for your health. If you have a doormat, you leave these irritants at the front door.
You are absolutely right about clients at the front door. We poor frazzled Realtors are always fumbling with the keys which give potential buyers lots of time to look around. New pretty door mats are absolutely essential. Thanks for the post.
Those are pretty and fresh looking, aren't they? I always loved the mats at Smith and Hawken...too bad they all close up shop.
This is an easy update!
Yeah, our doormats could use an update. good thing we are not trying to sell our house right now, lol!
Post a Comment