Honestly, who has the time to go out and purchase a mailbox in real life? When is there even a store close to you that sells mailboxes? However, the fact remains that you still need one because the one you have is looking a little worse for wear and is bringing down the property and neighbourhood value. Your best option here is to go online to look for your mailbox. But because mailboxes are not exactly something you buy every day, you might need a little help knowing what to consider when selecting one. Well, you are in luck because you have just stumbled upon the perfect buying “mailboxes for houses” guide that is sure to pair you with the perfect mailbox for you.
What Kind of Mailbox Do You Want?
If you get boxes every week, a simplex mailbox isn’t for you. You likely want large mailboxes or a locking mailbox to keep your things safe.
You will also need to consider how you typically buy your stuff. Do you have to have a larger mailbox for packages because you’re the Queen of Amazon? Are you living in a neighbourhood that is a cookie-cutter clone of more traditional postboxes, and you want something that will blend right in? Find out how much mail you get. Generally, talking all of this through will help you have a picture you want and go for it.
Explore Different Styles and Materials
Now that you’ve considered how big you want your mailbox to be, it’s time to talk style. Do you want your mailbox to blend in with your home and the overall beauty of what’s around it? You can buy a mailbox to match your house!
- Post-Mount Mailboxes: We know you’ve seen messages being put in one of these before. Consider this option if you love a slightly rustic, country, or cottage charm. There are so many post-mount mailboxes out there, so feel free to check out retro and modern versions.
- Wall-Mount Mailboxes: If you do not have a lot of space for a freestanding mailbox by the curb of your home, try a wall-mount solution. You can simply install this box directly to the exterior wall of your home and forget about anything else.
- Locking Mailboxes: Don’t want porch pirates stealing all of your treasures? Us either. Buy a locking mailbox to keep your goods safe.
- Column Mailboxes: Looking to elevate the appearance of your mailbox area a bit? Do you love having a lovely exterior? This one’s for you. Now, column mailboxes don’t mean all of your mail goes to the same place. It does look like one big box! So, turn the eyesore post with three or four mailboxes into a beautiful statement piece.
Material-wise, galvanised steel, aluminium, and wood are all popular mailboxes. Metal boxes are pretty tough, wear well, and resist moisture. Wooden mailboxes are pretty, classic, and going to rot away sooner or later. Either choice is great, but make sure they’re suitable for the weather in your area. Steel will turn to rust in the rain, and wood will rot.
Shop Around: Compare Different Retailers
So you have the list in place; now you want to browse the online stores. Don’t just go with the first mailbox store you see. Look around different stores, high street shops, and retailers. Amazon, online home shops, or even local garden centres. But why look around:
- Prices: Sometimes different shops will have the same product but at completely different prices. So make sure you do your homework.
- Handmade options: Find an independent online store that sells handmade or has handmade items made to order that you will not find anywhere else on the street. You may find the design that speaks to your personality!
- Reviews: Don’t forget to read the reviews of the shop and the items you want to buy. Because some are not so popular! doesn’t mean they are not good. And don’t just look at 5 stars. You also have to see 1 1-star point to know whether it is really good.
Match the Aesthetic of Your Home
The mailbox is the first thing everyone sees before they enter your house, so it should look the same as your house to ensure that it matches all the units. How you can choose your mailbox for your home:
- Traditional or Vintage Home: If you have a traditional house, look for a mailbox with details like brass or copper mailboxes. You also can have a Victorian-style mailbox with an elegant, classy look.
- Modern Homes: This category usually matches with a stainless steel mailbox or powder-coated aluminium mailbox. Also, the box should have straight lines like most of the modern house. It should be in a white or neutral colour.
- Cottage Home: A wood mailbox or a decorative hand-painted mailbox will match the feeling of a cottage home. It will increase the value of the house.
- Coastal Homes: Normally, you have to choose a material that doesn’t rust from the salt water if you are near the seashore. So you can add an aluminium mailbox or a high-quality plastic mailbox, or you can choose the beach-style mailbox.
Consider the Features
In addition to fulfilling the mail’s basic function, modern mailboxes can also contain some handy features.
- Locks: If you’re worried about someone invading your mail, use a unit with a locking feature. It should have a secure locking band and be shallow enough that thieves can’t fish out mail and small parcels.
- Flag for Outgoing Mail: Older post-mounted mailboxes were sometimes outfitted with a red flag you could lift. This flagged mail carriers that you had outgoing mail, so they didn’t have to bother you to collect it.
- Parcel Area: Larger models sometimes feature a separate area to let you house all of your small packages. This is a good pick if you regularly have boxes delivered and you value a way to keep your mail and packages sorted out.
- Address Plate: You can place your house numbers or family names on the unit for some convenience at a glance. Perhaps you want to put off purchasing new house numbers for your front porch or appreciate something with a little more artistry.
Check Reviews and Ratings
This one may be the most obvious. Check the reviews. Taking the time to go over the ratings and the reviews can help you understand more about the product; examples could be if it was a high or poor-quality product, whether it was easy to put up or it took forever, how long it did or didn’t last with chipping paint or fading numbers. You want to get your money’s worth on these things, so we're sure you’re looking for something that you’re going to enjoy for as long as possible. And with no chipping, fading, cracking, or breaking.
Another big one is to refer to the 1 and 2-star reviews. Many people are complaining about it, how it rusts really fast, is difficult to install, etc., and is also a giveaway. If most of the reviews are glowing and there are only 1–2 that just seem out of place, you are more than likely good to go.
Consider Installation Requirements
Also, one more thing to think about before you buy is whether it is easy to install. Some mailboxes are easy to install as they may be ready to mount. However, some come with quite a bit of assembly; you may even have to hire specialists, especially if it is heavy or has difficult instructions to follow to assemble it. If you love to work with your hands, you might love having to assemble it all by your lonesome, but if you don’t want to spend the extra time or maybe money on assembly, check the reviews and make sure the mailbox you are looking at is easy to get up and running.
Check for Warranty and Return Policy
Once you decide on the mailbox of your dreams, be sure to check the warranty or return information. Knowing that you have a solid warranty in place can put your mind at ease. And — if you do not like the mailbox — having an easy return makes it so that you won’t be stuck with one you are not 100% happy with.
Budget Considerations
Mailboxes on the market stretch from being pocket-friendly to super expensive. Before you pick your desired mailbox, make sure you have an amount you can afford to spend floating around your head. Often, the cheaper the price, the more pleasing it becomes. It’s a way of saying you don’t have palpitations. As much as that might seem true, it’s a damn lie. You are not getting value in the first place juiced from a cheap product. Conclusively, owning one sturdy mailbox up for doing and lasting a lifetime accrues more savings than repairing incoming mailboxes and often replacing them.
But if your pocket is really running low, do not worry; as we said, there are still lots of them on the market that are equally good, cheaper, and convenient for you. They are all over; you need to search more and, on some occasions, be a bit patient.
Finding Your Perfect Mailbox Online
So, to sum up — the best mailbox for your house is right in front of you! And you know you have all of that data above to know!!! — so pick the brain of the person you’re buying from (or off), and find the best one (spoken from the comfort of your keyboard or phone!). Just a few things to know: — figure out what you need first, then compare, fit, work the budget, check the list, and dig install (for future) and warranty! Oh, and give the money, like, no, don’t overspend with it — this doesn’t mean you have to buy cheap. Make sure your mailbox fits the outside of your home when you do find it. It’s there, the ONE mailbox!
