Every week, we ask a real estate professional for their Short List, a collection of tips and recommendations on an essential topic in real estate. This week, leading entry door brand Therma-Tru Corp.’s director of brand management, Donna Contat, shared her tips for deciding when to replace a front door. 

One of the first things a potential buyer is going to see on what could be their new home is the front door, which means having a quality one is important.

There are several easy ways agents and homeowners can determine when it’s time to consider a front door replacement.

5. Open and close your doors on both dry and wet, humid days. Make sure all the components operate smoothly. If your door doesn’t close securely, or fits tightly on humid days, then it’s most likely leaking air on dry days, causing the home to lose energy.

4. Inspect the weather stripping around all sides of the front door to make sure it has not worn out. On a bright day, stand inside near your door and look for daylight flowing through the door perimeter. If light is coming in, then so most likely, is external air and possibly moisture. That means it’s time to determine if your foam-filled weatherstripping may have lost some of its compression, cracked or simply worn out.

3. Examine your locks to make sure they operate smoothly and are strong enough to help protect your home. Multi-point locking systems, like those that can be requested on Therma-Tru doors, offer exceptional peace-of-mind and security for the home.

2. Reach out and touch your door on both hot and cold days. If you feel the exterior temperatures on the inside surface, then your door may not have adequate insulation. In this situation, consider upgrading the door with a replacement that is more energy efficient and has an Energy Star qualified rating for your geographic area. Order a multi-point locking system on your next door for a tighter fit against the weatherstripping, which can help provide even greater energy savings.

1. Look at the appearance of your door. If you have a wood door, it may be warping or rotting after years of service. A steel door can get dinged and rust over time. And, it’s possible that the style of the door simply doesn’t match up with the design of your home. These are all red flags that it’s time to replace your front door.

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