Replacing the existing windows in your home is a project many property owners forget to prioritize. To new homeowners, it may seem daunting to plan and execute, especially if you have never been responsible for large improvements before. Even if one has experience in home upgrades, concerns over the expense can dissuade even the most confident renovators from taking the steps - which are easier than one might think - to take on the task. But can you afford to wait?
The Cost vs Value Report
The 2020 Cost vs Value Report by Remodeling Magazine Publisher Hanley Wood and the National Association of Realtors (NAR) aggregates data on the cost recouped for 22 different modeling projects every year. Wood and the NAR recruit the expertise of top real estate professionals and the most authoritative market data analysis software and construction cost estimation software. The margin of error is 5%. This indicates that the results for any project’s cost-value ratio would be within 1.6 percentage points of the numbers published. In layman's terms, this report is about as unbiased and accurate as can be expected.
According to the 2020 Cost vs Value Report, on average consumers in the Minneapolis market who choose to purchase new vinyl windows can expect to recoup 65.4% of their job cost in resale value alone.
What’s more, that isn’t the only type of return on investment coming to a homeowner once they take on this project. Energy savings, protection against property damage and theft, aesthetic enhancement and a host of other benefits make new windows an investment a wise homeowner will thank themselves for later.
Additional Returns on Investing in New Windows
Energy Efficiency Savings
The definition of what the 2020 Cost Vs. Value Report considers when they speak about window replacement is when you replace 10 or more existing double hung windows with insulated, low-E, simulated-divided-light, vinyl windows. Older windows don’t have the modern insulation technology more current models do. This indicates a sizable difference in your electric bill. The United States Department of Energy estimates that 25% - 30% of heating and cooling costs are due to air loss through windows.
In upgrading to more energy efficient windows, not only will you be making the right choice for your family’s finances, but you’ll also be rewarded with a more environmentally friendly and responsible home. Also, it is worthwhile to check with local and federal tax laws -- you may also qualify for an energy conservation credit that will rebate some of the costs during tax season.
Visual Appeal
As any architect will tell you, visual appeal is critical for the value of a structure. Aesthetic integrity is a close second to functionality when choosing windows, and the overall vision of a home should be a driving force in the process of choosing new windows. When the windows a prior owner of the house chose are inconsistent with the overall architectural theme, it detracts from the aesthetic integrity of your house as a whole. Other renovations and color changes may have left your windows not just clashing in terms of freshness, but style. Choosing to upgrade your windows gives you the artistic freedom to enhance your house’s beauty, curb appeal and overall value.
Beyond design considerations, there are a host of physiological and psychological benefits associated with the access to sunlight that beautiful new windows can afford you if you add or expand on your home’s existing windows. These benefits include the circadian rhythms that help us sleep and even treating Seasonal Affective Disorder.
Structural Integrity
Damaged or warped window frames is one of the clearest signs that you need to replace your old windows with new ones. When wooden window frames are exposed to moisture, they can develop serious problems fast. Built up moisture damage can also cause severe maintenance issues down the road, including mold, rot, sagging and even floor damage. If you notice that your frames are soft to the touch and chipped, your windows are in serious need of an upgrade.
Security
An outdated window often will become more difficult to open and close or lock. This is not just an inconvenience but a home security risk. Unwanted intruders can break in much more easily to a broken or failing window, and in case of a fire, every home needs windows that can easily open as a means of escape.
Ready to take it on? Builders & Remodelers’ years of industry experience has helped us find and offer the most energy-efficient and low-maintenance windows available on the market today. The crews from Builders & Remodelers who perform custom home window replacement installations are all licensed, bonded, and insured, as well as full-time employees - specialists, not subcontractors. Our vinyl replacement windows are also Energy Star-rated and boast a .16 U-value (a measure of thermal transfer), which is the lowest available in the industry.
Follow this link for a free consultation or call (612)261-0437 for an instant quote today.
