Although economic uncertainty still has some potential buyers a little skittish, rising demand and increasing property values make 2025 a promising time to sell your home. You may have already heard that customers are looking for move-in-ready homes with updated kitchens and bathrooms. Outdoor living areas and low-maintenance landscaping are also popular, as are homes located in suburban areas (which are in especially high demand). Some experts say timing is everything when you’re selling your home, while others think setting the right price is the ultimate factor. 

But according to many realtors, none of that matters unless you can get potential buyers in the door. And that comes down to one main factor: curb appeal. From new windows to updated landscaping, there are a lot of ways you can improve the look of your home’s exterior to make a great first impression. Contractor and construction expert Kevin Keen, owner of Keen’s Buildings, says replacing your garage door is one exterior home renovation project that offers an extremely high return on investment.

“It might sound super obvious, but garage doors often take up a big portion of a home’s front, which means that a new and well-designed door can create a great first impression to potential homebuyers,” Keen told House Digest during an exclusive interview. “Newer doors will offer good selling points such as weather sealing and better insulation,” he added. According to Keen, improved security is another benefit, especially if you’re replacing outdated or damaged garage doors, because they “will come equipped with better locking mechanisms.”

Replacing a garage door is one of the simple ways to get your home ready to sell, but according to Kevin Keen, the ROI could be higher than 100%. “Of all the home improvement projects you could undertake, a garage door replacement has one of the best return rates,” he explained during his exclusive interview with House Digest. “It’s a high-impact, low-effort upgrade that immediately improves a property’s curb appeal while also enhancing its resale value.” Keen said your exact return will vary depending on the garage door material and mechanism you choose, as well as overall labor costs.

When we asked the construction expert how much a typical garage door replacement costs, he advised budgeting anywhere from $760 to over $5,000, based on your garage’s size and capacity. “If you’re looking at a two-car garage, you’re likely to spend closer to $3,000,” Keen explained. “If we’re estimating in terms of the door mechanism, a roll-up garage could cost anywhere between $450 and $1,700. In terms of materials, a basic fiberglass garage door shouldn’t be more than about $2,000.”

You’ll also need to factor in the cost of professional installers. Although garage doors are fairly simple, they’re much heavier than they look. When improperly installed, they can be extremely dangerous to you, your family, and potential buyers. Along with the cost of the door, you can expect to pay an installer $350 on average. Additional charges, like removing and disposing of your old door, can add to the overall of the project.

Despite being one of the easiest ways to increase your home’s curb appeal, replacing garage doors isn’t always the best investment. In his exclusive interview with House Digest, Kevin Keen said he thinks it’s usually a good move for sellers. “That being said, if your current garage doors are in good condition, then you may wish to skip a full replacement,” he cautioned. Keen said doing a deep clean or covering any signs of wear with some touch-up paint may be enough to make your old garage doors look like new. The upfront cost is another downside. “If you’re busy renovating other areas of your property, then garage doors may not be high up on your list,” Keen acknowledged. “The cost could make the replacement tricky, especially if you’re on a tight budget,” he added.

Even if new garage doors do fit into your budget, choosing the right style is also critically important. “I’ve seen homeowners fall into the trap of picking garage doors that don’t actually match the style or aesthetics of their property,” Keen said. “If you end up picking something that looks misplaced then it could have a negative impact with potential buyers.” Whether you love the traditional look of wooden carriage doors or you think a frameless glass design will add the right kind of wow factor to your contemporary home’s listing pictures, there are several modern ideas worth considering.