A Guide To New Home Windows
Many homes tend to serve as hot spots for meetings, family gatherings, and play dates, especially with more and more people having to work from home and even do homeschooling.
Homeowners are noticing more and more all the items in their home that are needing some replacing or TLC. After years of use and activity, your home is bound to require some updates — including the windows. There are numerous benefits that come with new home windows, but what exactly are they? Windows can have an impact on the value of your house, and in some cases can lower heating and cooling costs. The following post will cover the main factors to consider when investing in new windows.
How Windows Impact Home Value
As a homeowner, you probably realize that the housing market tends to fluctuate. To keep up, renovations may be necessary from time to time. Even if you don’t plan to sell, performing proper maintenance could help boost your home value. In fact, windows are an often-underrated selling point of a house. While replacing windows isn’t necessarily a cheap DIY project, it almost always boosts value.
On average, it costs about $5,421 to install new windows. To replace all of them in a house, you might spend on average $12,000. However, you could earn roughly $10,000 back in resale value, increasing the likelihood of a larger net profit.
When Should You Update?
It’s expected that over time your house may experience some wear and tear. As such, it might need to undergo renovations. Here are a few ways to tell if your windows need to be replaced:
You feel drafts coming in around the framesYour energy bills are increasingThere’s noticeably more condensation or frost on the glassThe frames are starting to decay or chipThere’s visible damage caused by wind, rain, freezing temperatures, or extreme sunlight
Aside from replacing non efficient or broken panes, you might consider updating the windows to increase curb appeal. If the rest of your house is in top shape but the windows look outdated, it could throw off the aesthetic of the property. Torn screens or old-fashioned window designs might decrease the market price because they make the rest of the house look unkempt.
Modern renovations, such as swapping single pane windows with energy efficient units, can add value to your home and make a positive visual impression. You might be surprised how much more welcoming your residence looks when the outside is well-maintained.
Determining Insurance Coverage
Most homeowners insurance can cover a variety of repairs. Regardless of the provider and reasons for replacing the windows, it’s helpful to know the coverage options and under what terms you can update your property. For example, most plans cover natural damage, such as from a fire, flood, or storm. Peril policies will usually help if the event occurred outside of the home, while all-risk policies can cover more circumstances.
Wear and tear, negligence, and common maintenance aren’t typically covered in most insurance plans, though supplementary damage might be included. Review your policy for the specifics.
How Windows Impact Your Electrical Costs
Most older windows are single-pane, which means more hot and cool air can escape as the seasons change. The more panes you have, the more energy efficient. Consider replacing single panes with windows that are more environmentally friendly to help the planet and your wallet. You could save an estimated $126 to $465 per year, depending on where you live and how many units need to be replaced.
Additionally, heating and cooling costs comprise roughly 40% of yearly energy expenses. If your windows aren’t working efficiently, it might cause air leaks and wasted energy. When they work properly, however, you could spend less on your furnace and air conditioning systems.
When thinking of ways to increase home value, your thoughts probably go to the kitchen or bathroom first. However, don’t underestimate the power of new windows. With a little research and some investment, you could boost the home’s value and your family’s comfort.
Written for Waypointe Realty courtesy of Jaclyn Crawford, a staff writer with ImproveNet in 2016, who enjoys chronicling the latest trends and ways you can make your home the loveliest it can be.
