They say the best things in life are free. And while that does hold true for love and friendship, remodeling and home improvement are almost guaranteed to set you back.
Now, if you’re like me, you’ll find ways to convince yourself that you’re making the right decision when you go digging into your savings to finance a new project for your home. It is, after all, more than just the place you spend most of your time, more than just a roof over your head. It’s your sanctuary, your nest, it’s an extension of yourself, and naturally you want it to be the best it can be.
Bright. Cozy. Safe.
And what good is money, really? Was it really doing you any good, sitting there in some digital vault? It isn’t as though savings actually earn interest anymore. The fact is, the longer it sits, getting eaten away by inflation, the less your money is worth to you. Better to invest it in something that provides value. Something that improves your mood day to day. Something that lets the light in, like a pair of sleek glass and steel doors from Pinkys — more glass than steel.
Right?
Right?
Okay, maybe it would make better financial sense to invest in stocks. A nice, safe index fund. Put it toward your retirement. You plan on having one of those. With a 6-8% return year over year practically guaranteed, it’s certainly better than letting it waste away in the bank.
That’s a decision you can feel good about. And you’ll know that it’s there if you need it. For a rainy day. It’s the responsible thing to do.
It’s a shame that you can’t live in an index fund. It’s a shame that other than that warm feeling you get when you see a line graph ticking upward, index funds aren’t all that fun to look at.
If only you could make your life better today and practice responsible financial decision making at the same time. Imagine if outfitting your abode with a luxurious pair of steel doors with sidelights (and maybe a transom?) was an investment, rather than an indulgence.
In case you hadn’t already guessed it, I have some good news. You can implement home improvements and still meet your financial goals for the future. How? Well according to a 2024 Cost vs Value Report compiled by The Journal of Light Construction, replacing your existing entry door with a steel one like the line of Air doors offered by Pinkys can increase the resale value of your home by enough to recoup nearly 200% the cost of the project.
Let’s look at some numbers, shall we?
The national average cost for a steel entry door and installation in 2024 was $2355, while the resale value came in at $4,430, recouping a whopping 188.1% of the job cost.
For reference, that’s one of the lowest cost and highest impact home improvements you can make to impact the resale value of your home. Replacing your garage door, for example, will cost you $4,513 on average and increase resale value by $8,751, recouping 193.9%. But other than that no project costs less or recoups more than outfitting your home with a steel door.
And let’s not forget, it’s not all about money. Steel doors like the Air 4 Dutch - Single Full Arch, available at Pinkys in a variety of colors, add an elegant and sophisticated modern look to any home, brightening your space with natural light, letting the room breathe, and enabling you to enjoy the view of the world outside.
Curious what the impact of a steel door replacement looks like in your area? Let’s drill down into the average price benefits region by region.
| Region | Job Cost | Resale Value | Cost Recouped |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Average | $2,355 | $4,430 | 188.1% |
| East North Central | $2,257 | $3,652 | 161.8% |
| East South Central | $2,204 | $3,377 | 153.2% |
| Middle Atlantic | $2,480 | $3,934 | 158.6% |
| Mountain | $2,275 | $4,213 | 185.2% |
| New England | $2,426 | $5,730 | 236.2% |
| Pacific | $2,402 | $6,001 | 249.9% |
| South Atlantic | $2,326 | $4,627 | 198.9% |
| West North Central | $2,294 | $3,498 | 152.5% |
| West South Central | $2,244 | $3,662 | 163.2% |
Wow. Some of those numbers are pretty remarkable. You’ll notice that nowhere in the United States will a steel entry door recoup less on average than 150% of the original cost to have it installed.
In the South Atlantic States (North Carolina, George, Maryland, South Carolina, Florida, Virginia, Nebraska, Illinois, and Washington D.C., you’ll recoup right around 200% of the initial cost of your door.
In New England (Massachusetts, Vermont, Connecticut, New Hampshire, and Maine), those who replace their entry door with a steel one recoup a whopping 236% of the original cost.
And down in the Pacific states (Oregon, Washington, and California), a new steel door on your home like the ones from Pinkys will recoup an eye-popping 250% of the cost of the project on average.
The numbers are clear. While it may feel like an extravagant purchase, no matter where you are in the US, purchasing a steel entry door for your home is a sound financial decision if you can afford it. And while naturally you’ll want to enjoy your new front door for as long as possible, it even makes sense if you’re planning to sell your house in the near future. It’s a project that pays for itself, and then some. And who doesn’t like a little extra cash?
So what are you waiting for? Brighten your home and boost your property value with a new steel entry door today.
