5 Things To Consider Before Buying a Mailbox

by Maggie Hodges, MailboxYES!

Image via ibspro.net

One thing that most people don’t consider when purchasing a home is what kind of mailbox they want. It seems like an extraneous thing to consider but the reality is that you can choose basically any mailbox you want. Like any other accessory, the mailbox is an extension of your home and can be used for functionality and an expression of style. Below are some things to think about before purchasing the perfect add-on to your new home.

1. Style – What kind of style is the house? Before you bought a house it probably never occurred to you that there were different styles of homes. Tudor style, modern, Victorian, etc. It would make sense, then, to match the style of the mailbox to your home. For instance, if you’re living in a converted farmhouse, a more minimal style of mailbox will be a better match than, say, an ornate, Victorian-style box with a pedestal that looks like it came out of a Charles Dickens novel.
2. Size – How often are you going to be at the house? Is this a vacation home, or is this the primary address for your entire family? The bigger the family and house, the bigger the mailbox should be. But if the address is merely a getaway home, then something less substantial will suffice. Also, if you’re not going to be there often, purchasing a lockable mailbox is also something to consider.
3. Weather – This is the forgotten consideration of mailboxes but an important one. A mailbox located in Alaska versus one that’s set up in Arizona have different functions and will have to withstand changes in temperature, rain or snow fall, or extreme humidity. Choosing a metal mailbox in a hot, dry, arid climate is more difficult to contend with than a studier plastic model. But the plastic model may crack too easily during a freezing rain. Weather matters.
4. Color – This is the most fun aspect of mailbox selection because truly the sky’s the limit. However, you probably don’t want to go too crazy with something like zebra stripes lest the neighborhood association get involved. A more conservative idea is to choose the standard black. But with color you can definitely make your new mailbox your own.
5. Price – How much do you want to spend on a mailbox? Surprisingly, a high-end mailbox can run upwards of $500 for the entire model. But for the more thrifty of consumer, a standard $200 model including the box and pedestal may prove to be the perfect box indeed.

What have you done to increase your home’s curb appeal? Let us know by leaving a comment.