The “Company's Coming” Home Check: 7 Things You'll Suddenly Notice Five Minutes Before Guests Arrive

There are two versions of your house.

There is the house you live in every day.

And then there is the house you suddenly see when someone texts, “We're five minutes away!”

That is when you notice everything.

The fingerprints on the glass door.

The crooked rug.

The pile of shoes.

The interior door that squeaks like it lives in a haunted mansion.

The garage door that sounds like it is announcing every arrival to the entire neighborhood.

August is prime entertaining season, so before the next backyard barbecue, birthday party or spontaneous gathering, walk into your house like you're a guest.

You may be surprised by what jumps out.

Start at the curb

Pull up to your home as though you have never seen it before.

What catches your eye first?

The front door? Landscaping? Garage?

If the garage door dominates the front elevation, make sure it looks intentional rather than forgotten.

Then walk toward the front door.

Does the hardware feel solid? Does the storm door close properly? Is the glass clean? Does the front door drag, stick or need an extra shove?

You use these things every day, which means you become incredibly good at ignoring them.

Guests don't.

Listen to your house

This one is strangely revealing.

Open the front door.

Open a few interior doors.

Run the garage door.

Windows and doors should not sound like a percussion section.

A little lubrication or hardware adjustment may solve minor squeaks, but grinding, banging or major resistance deserves attention.

Look at the interior doors

Interior doors quietly influence the look of a house more than people realize.

If you have updated paint, furniture and lighting but still have heavily dated doors throughout the house, they may be what is keeping everything from feeling finished.

A clean shaker-style door can create a very different feeling from an older six-panel style, while glass doors can make sense for offices, dining rooms or spaces where you want separation without losing light.

Check the patio exit

Summer guests often move repeatedly between the kitchen, patio, deck and backyard.

Make sure the door they are using slides or swings smoothly and locks properly.

Nothing kills the effortless-hosting illusion faster than saying, “You have to lift it up, pull toward you, then slide.”

Look at the little things you have learned to tolerate

A sticky lock.

A loose knob.

A torn screen.

A door that won't latch.

A window you never open because it's difficult.

Homeownership is funny. We can adapt to a minor annoyance so completely that we stop realizing it is annoying.

Until company comes.

The good news is that many of these things are fixable, and larger upgrades can make your house feel noticeably fresher without tearing apart your entire home.

So invite people over.

Enjoy the last big stretch of summer.

And maybe thank them for accidentally conducting your annual home inspection.

Call or text us now for a free quote:

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