What to look for in windows when buying a home
Buying a new home? Congrats! But we do know how stressful and overwhelming the entire process of purchasing a home can be. There’s so much you have to know and look out for to make sure you’re getting the best value for your money. Windows are an important detail to consider when looking at potential homes because they can either add to the overall value of your home or add to the long-term costs. Windows are generally overlooked among the long list of other home buying details, but we’ll explain to you why they shouldn’t be.
Replacement windows are an investment into the value of the home and it’s important to note if you’re going to have to replace the windows or if the previous owner already did. Windows provide light, warmth, and ventilation for our homes, but they can also be a burden on your home’s energy efficiency.
Here a few things to consider about the windows in a home that you may be thinking of buying.
- Ease of operation – if the windows are hard to open and close that might become a safety issue as well as an energy one. A window that doesn’t close properly leaves room for drafts, sending your hard-earned money in heating and cooling right out. You shouldn’t have to wrestle with your windows to open them for some fresh air or to close them afterward.
- Draftiness – This is especially hard to track in the summer but not impossible. If the house seems drafty around the windows, they might be due for replacement. New windows but still drafty? They might not be the right windows for your house. Proper energy efficient windows should keep the heat out in the summer and the cold out in the winter. Of course, insulation and doors contribute to draft but the windows play a major role as well.
- Durability – You don’t want windows you’re going to have to replace the following year or even 7 years down the line. Ask the right questions: Are they double pane windows? What kind of gas fills the windows? Do they have heat mirror to reflect UV rays? If the windows look like they have condensation on the inside they might not be properly insulated anymore.
Window problems but it’s your dream house? No worries! After closing you can replace the old windows with new more energy efficient ones!
You can sign up for a free HR40 window estimate good for one year here!