Whether you’re looking to move house as soon as possible, or you just want to up the sale price so you can further line your retirement nest egg, investing in home improvements can pay dividends in both the short-term and in years to come.
House painting or landscaping the garden are two obvious ways to add value to your home, but how effective is house window replacement? In this article, we’re going to take a look at what a new set of house windows can do for the asking price of your home.
Source: Wikimedia
1. Make your home more energy efficient
We live in an age where people are concerned about the state of the environment; so potential buyers will always be attracted to a new home if its windows are energy efficient. Energy efficient window installations have lower frame conductivity, meaning better insulation from the outside in the winter, and are double glazed, which, according to Rylock, reduces heat loss by up to 51%.
No one likes to shell out more than they need to on energy bills and buyers will be enthused knowing that the recently installed set of windows in their new home will keep them warm, and will save them money in the long-run.
2. Update or maintain the aesthetics of your home
Whether you live in a modern home, or a period cottage, windows play a huge part in the overall appearance of both the interior and the exterior of your building. Whatever you decide to do should suit the age and style of the original property, so ideally if you have a early Victorian home, you want timber windows with small section sizes. If your property is more modern, contemporary uPVC or composite materials will do.
The wrong type of window can be detrimental in terms of the price you’re hoping to fetch, so ensure you thoroughly research your options before committing to house window replacement, and don’t change unless you feel it is merited.
3. Repairing existing trouble with your windows
Source: glassskills.com.au
House window repairs can come in all shapes and sizes. Whether the kids have smashed straight through your kitchen window during a particularly competitive game of cricket, or the problem is more subtle – as is the case with broken seals, which cause condensation between the panels of glass in your windows – it’s best to have it rectified by a professional, preferably prior to placing it on the market.
If your issue is connected to the glass itself, you’ll need to enlist the help of a glazing specialist, with a Certificate III in glass and glazing to ensure your repairs are competently carried out. Problems with frames or seals can be more complicated, and you may have to invest in a completely new window. Hinge trouble? Anyone remotely competent in DIY should be able to remedy this. What you don’t want is a draughty window compromising a potential offer when it comes to viewing day.
You may still be sceptical, and you have a right to be – windows are expensive to replace, but, not replacing them could significantly decrease the value of your home.
Have you ever replaced your windows? What effect did it have on your home’s value? Tell us your story in the comments below.
