For better or for worse, the practice of house flipping, or buying property with the intention of giving it a quick renovation before putting it back on the market, has become very popular in the American real estate world. While some house flippers truly care about creating a well-made, unique home, others are primarily in it for the money. In the worst cases, this can lead to a hasty, low quality renovation and a shoddy final product. Some signs of a cheap reno job are obvious, such as uneven flooring or loosely installed fixtures. However, sometimes it takes a bit more investigation to tell if you’re living in a home with subpar refurbishment. For example, one clear sign that you have cheaply renovated doors is if they are hollow.

Compared to solid wood doors, hollow-core doors are extremely light and flimsy. Because they are hollow, both sound and cold temperatures are able to easily pass through them. This is especially an issue if an exterior door is hollow, since along with providing no insulation from the elements, hollow-core doors can be easily damaged. Additionally, hollow doors are usually quite plain and do little for a house’s aesthetic. Instead, opt for one of the exterior doors that will amp up your home’s curb appeal.

There is nothing inherently wrong with incorporating hollow-core doors in your home. They are inexpensive and easy to install, even for one person, and can be a good choice for a room that doesn’t need a lot of security like a pantry or closet. On the other hand, though, the insubstantial, fragile feel of a hollow door can make entering a bedroom, bathroom, or entire home feel less comforting than one may like. If you’re purely concerned with the style of things, it is possible to give a hollow door a luxurious look on a budget. But if you want to completely replace a hollow-core door, you’ll need at least a couple hundred dollars and recruit an extra pair of hands to help you put up something more solid.

Another small door-related detail to look out for when sussing out the renovation quality of a property is how many hinges there are. In general, a door secured with three hinges is going to seem a bit more fancy than one with only two. So, if you prefer the convenience and cost (usually under $100) of hollow-core doors, you can zhuzh it up by including three hinges. To keep these projects extra affordable, you can install any door with the help of some of the home renovation supplies that are worth buying from Dollar Tree.