The overall aesthetic quality of your front door is one of the most important aspects of any rental property. The look, feel, and features of a front door are incredibly important to prospecting tenants. It is the first thing they see when they walk in, and the last thing they see when they leave.
Although this element is incredibly subtle, it can actually make a real difference in the overall atmosphere of any rental property. This may even be responsible for significant increases in the value of your rental property, so it is important to invest wisely when it comes to the right door for your rental.
At Utopia Management, their 25+ years of experience in property managing services have led to a level of expertise in choosing upgrades and renovating property affordably. They share the following advice when choosing doors for your rental property, along with some tips that apply to general homeownership.
Wood Doors
This type of door is the most common. Their versatility and beauty are what make them stand out among their competitors. The natural wood finish that comes from a variety of trees like oak, cherry, walnut, maple, and pine are unbeatable and very hard to replicate.
This gives the door a deep sense of character and beauty that is often attributed to the natural wood grain and the heavy and durable feel they tend to have. These types of doors can make a real statement to anyone who walks through your front entryway.
The only downside to this is that a real wood door requires annual maintenance to ensure it retains its quality. This yearly maintenance is required in order to keep the wood at its peak because wood is very vulnerable to the elements outside.
Wood doors also need to be resealed every few years, as well as a nice paint touch-up, too. This material can also sag due to moisture and even warp, making it virtually unusable if it goes without a tune-up.
Fiberglass Doors
A great fiberglass door is durable and virtually maintenance-free. These doors are the optimal choice for harsher climates because the material is resistant to all weather. Fiberglass doors come in a variety of styles, and can very easily mimic the natural look of a wooden door.
This material can also be painted or stained to match pine, oak, walnut, cherry, and a plethora of other unique woods. The upkeep on a good fiberglass door is as easy as using a bit of soap and warm water to help remedy small scratches or scuff marks.
They are also resistant to dents because of the complex fibers that make up this composite. If you are a property manager or landlord, then the fiberglass door is the way to go. Although the price can be high on a quality door, it pays off in the long run due to how durable and easily maintained these are.
Overall, these doors are the best route to go for anyone who is looking for an upgrade to their front entryway. The pros greatly outweigh the cons of this material.
Steel Doors
If security and durability are at the top of your list when deciding on a door for your front entryway, a steel door is the way to go. Steel doors are much stronger than wood or fiberglass and are completely weatherproof meaning these will never crack or warp over time.
This means that its overall quality will last for years to come. The longevity of a steel door gives it a much higher resale value because it is so easy to maintain. Another benefit of steel doors is how energy efficient they can be. If you have a good steel door, its core will keep heat in and the cold out, or vice versa.
The material that is used is fantastic at insulating the air inside your home. Some of the downsides of having a steel door are that it can have an industrial look that may be unappealing to some prospecting tenants. Their designs and colors are also incredibly limited which will make it difficult to find a door that may match your aesthetic.
A steel door is also susceptible to rust if it becomes scratched or dented. This is a problem that is not easily fixed and may completely ruin the overall durability of your door.Another tip is to shop with a door retailer that specializes in doors, such as ETO Doors which is a dominant retailer and wholesale supplier of wood and commercial doors.
Since 2005, they have sold over 1 million doors for residential and commercial spaces. Finding the right door for your front entryway can make a huge difference in the overall appeal of your rental property. If selected wisely, you will have a beautiful front door that will leave a strong first impression for years to come.