There’s a little-known secret about prepping your home for sale that we want to let you in on. You likely have a laundry list of upgrades and repairs that you’re planning before putting your house up for sale, and there’s a good chance that the garage door isn’t on there. If that’s the case, you may be missing out on a relatively inexpensive and easy way to increase your home’s value, especially if the garage door is ugly, outdated, broken, or damaged. “Updating your garage door is one of the least looked at items on the exterior of a house, along with doors and door framing,” says Gwen Johnson, a top Iowa real estate agent with more than 30 years of experience. “It’s the least looked at by sellers, but it’s one of the most looked at things from the buyer’s standpoint. It’s really essential to get the most amount of money for your home.” The garage door’s importance may seem surprising at first glance until one considers its prominence on the home’s facade and that it’s one of the first things prospective buyers and their agents see when they get out of the car and walk up your driveway. Rust, peeling paint, dents, a lack of weatherstripping, or just overall unsightliness can leave people with the impression that the home wasn’t loved, and they wonder what else is wrong. “That first impression is really hard to change,” says Johnson. Let’s take a closer look at why the garage door is such a pivotal aspect of a house and what you can do with yours to help impress buyers.
Upgrading your garage door is one of the very best investments you can make to your house before selling time, and it’s easier than you think. In working with clients over the years, Johnson has seen many sellers double or triple their investment from replacing an old garage door. According to data from Zonda’s 38th annual Cost vs. Value (CVV) report, garage door replacement delivered an average ROI of 268% in 2025, the highest return of any major home improvement project. The study also found that homebuyers are making judgments earlier, often before showings, with garage doors shaping first impressions. This means that even online listing photos showing an outdated or ugly garage door can turn away potential buyers before they have even visited the property. In addition, the report cautions home sellers that garage doors now act as a proxy for overall home condition and upkeep. In other words, a dented or faded garage door may send an unwanted signal to a homebuyer that the rest of the home has not been well-maintained. Along with devoting resources to other aspects of curb appeal like landscaping and the front door, your investment in a garage door upgrade or replacement can really pay off. How you go about addressing your less-than-appealing garage door will depend in part on what’s wrong with it. Let’s explore some common options to get your garage door up to snuff and when to apply them. According to Thomas Scharpf, CEO of Schartec, a German garage door manufacturer and distributor, if the door is overall in good shape but needs a gentle facelift, or if the opening mechanism jerks, is sluggish, or stops in the middle of the track, there are some inexpensive DIY steps to get it flowing again: If your garage door just needs some TLC, a restoration kit to improve its finish will go a long way. The cost of kits varies widely, but some run under $100 and can offer a nice glossy look with minimal effort. Some homeowners opt for garage skins, magnetic wood-style panels that can be simply attached to existing metal garage doors, providing a high-end look. However, garage skin products only work with metal doors that have minimal dents or damage. If a little TLC isn’t enough, replacing your garage door may be the best option. If your garage door has major damage, dents, is nonfunctional, is ugly, or has a combination of issues, getting a brand-new one will go a long way toward helping you sell your home for top dollar. Depending on how fancy a garage door you want, the cost of a full replacement will vary. According to Angi, the average garage door replacement costs about $1,200 per door, with most homeowners paying between $750 and $4,500 each. Your final cost will depend on: “I recommend getting a garage door sales team to come out and give some ideas about what they could do,” says Johnson. “Sometimes, it’s not necessarily that you have to replace the garage door as much as you have to replace one panel. And maybe you could add windows to that one panel.” If you’re preparing to sell your home and want to maximize your return and sell fast, upgrading or replacing your garage door is a smart and simple strategy. This is true especially if your current one is old, unsightly, or no longer gets the job done. Experts advise speaking with both garage door specialists and your agent to determine the best type and style of door to entice buyers through the threshold. While buying a brand-new one might give your curb appeal the biggest boost, a fresh coat of paint, skins, replacing a damaged panel, or simple DIY repairs can also help improve your home’s overall appeal. Remember that partnering with a top agent is vital to getting an experienced set of eyes to evaluate your home’s curb appeal and condition. They will have the latest information on the local real estate market and what buyers are looking for in garage doors and other features that could improve the sale. Good agents also have connections with local contractors they trust to repair or replace everything from garage doors to that window that hasn’t opened properly in years. Using HomeLight’s free Agent Match tool to select a great agent is a simple and straightforward way to get you on the path to a fast sale that can earn a higher yield. We analyze over 27 million transactions and thousands of reviews to determine which agent is best for you based on your needs. Get more expert home-selling tips on HomeLight’s Seller Resource Center.How much does my garage door impact curb appeal and home value?
What options do I have to upgrade my garage door to help sell my house?
1. Minor improvements
2. Use a restoration kit or skins
3. Replace your garage door
How much will it cost to replace my garage door?
More expert tips about upgrading your garage door
Bottom line: A garage door update can upgrade your home sale
