The Pros And Cons Of Renting An Apartment That Has A Doorman



by Joseph Holt


A doorman's job is to open doors, accept deliveries, take messages and even call cabs when you're in a hurry. So having a doorman around might seem like a good decision.

Having a doorman at your apartment comes with a price however. Though most people see the value of a doorman, some simply do not see the price or services as necessary.

When considering apartments to rent, ask if the facility includes a doorman. Since there are pros and cons involved with living at an apartment building with a doorman, it may have significant impact on your choice.

As mentioned, if you choose an apartment building with a doorman, you will be paying for his services. That is because the cost to the landlord to have a doorman is built into the rental price and passed on to all of the residents in the form of a higher rental rate. Before finalizing any rental agreement, ask if there is a doorman. You need to think about whether you would personally take advantage of a doorman's services to know if it is worth paying for it in the form of higher rent.

Having access to a doorman is undoubtedly convenient. While you are away at work, on vacation or just away from the apartment, a doorman can accept packages for you and save you the time, expense and inconvenience of trying to track missed deliveries afterwards.

Doormen are also great at doing secretary work, as they can relay messages and call you a taxi whenever you don't have enough time to do it yourself. Not only you don't miss anything important that someone might need to tell you, but you always have transportation without a sweat.

In heavily populated cities, doorman are often invaluable to ensuring that residents have taxis ready to whisk them to work. Apartments with doormen often are more secure, as doormen will prevent non-residents and unexpected guests from entering the building. Doormen also are ready to report when something seems wrong, either to maintenance or to the authorities, as they may deem appropriate.

Though some feel doormen are unnecessary and even an invasion of privacy, most see the advantages if they can afford them. In the end, whether you chose a building with a doorman or not, the decision is up to you.




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