Doorman Versus Non-Doorman Buildings - The Pros and Cons

For some people one of their concerns when looking for an apartment is whether it is in a doorman or non-doorman building.
More than opening doors for tenants when they enter the building, doormen serve more practical functions.
The question is whether the services they provide are worth the extra payment in rent.
The two benefits that tenants of buildings with doormen swear by are the sense of security and convenience.
Acting as sentries by the building's entrance, a doorman will limit the access of non-residents into the building.
Visitors are screened before they are allowed to enter.
Residents of non-doorman buildings often have the dilemma of whether to let in someone else who is also about to enter the building or not.
As it is part of a doorman's job to know all the tenants in the building, a tenant will be spared from worrying whether they were not being courteous to another tenant that they just didn't know.
Convenience is also one of the benefits that doormen provide.
You can ask your doorman to hail a cab for you, receive dry cleaning, and sign for deliveries and packages.
Tenants can also leave a note with the doorman for the super which means they don't have to be home for repairs.
Doormen basically make life easier for very busy people.
Knowing all the tenants and their routines can also be a plus factor since it means that there is an extra set of eyes watching your apartment and they will be the first to notice if something is amiss.
This is especially desired by the elderly who are living alone and for those who are always away on travel.
All these benefits will also mean that the apartment will have better resale value.
However, there are some downsides to having doormen.
First of all, there's the cost.
Not only does a doorman add significantly to one's monthly rent but the tips one has to shell out during the holiday season can be quite expensive as well.
While some people are not bothered that their doorman knows their routines, others see this as an invasion of their privacy.
Doormen are in a position to know a lot of things that people would not want others to know - cheating spouses, tenants who were late in rent, etc.
In the end, choosing whether to live in a doorman or non-doorman building depends on one's lifestyle, budget, and which of the set of trade offs one is willing to live with.
Ted Davidson has been writing articles about residential real estate for the past three years.
He also enjoys writing about living in New York City and helping people figure out where to live next.