“You hate to say it,” Meredith said, “especially when you’re talking about half-million, three-quarter of a million dollar homes, but it’s true.” Meredith is a real estate agent specializing in high end properties. “The windows on these homes, particularly the newer homes, are disproportionately cheap. They don’t open, or it looks like the installation was done by a bunch of fifth graders.”
We’d all like to think that contractors never cut corners. Ideally, the builders construct every home as if they, themselves, were going to live in it. Love and attention is given to every detail, and only the highest quality materials are used.
While we’d all like to think that, often it isn’t true. Time is literally money for most contractors, who take advantage of short building seasons by building as quickly as possible. One route where corners are often cut, both in terms of time and quality of products installed, is the windows.
Original construction windows tend to be thinner and less well constructed than the average home replacement window. From frame composition to glass seals, usability of the hardware to basic craftsmanship, there are dozens of points where original construction windows fall short.
Homeowners, justifiably proud of their new homes, often want the windows to reflect the look, quality, and style of the rest of their home. Original construction windows that look cheap and perform poorly just don’t satisfy.
Shopping for home replacement windows can be an eye opener. The need for research is paramount — you want to select home replacement windows that not only enhance your home’s appearance but offer you maximum benefit. Benefits associated with home replacement windows include increased energy efficiency, which lowers utility bills.
“Windows make a difference,” Meredith said, “when it comes time to sell your home.” In her market, a family stays in a home for five to seven years. “Then the transfers come through or someone takes a new job on the other side of the country. They’ve got to sell the house.”
“Buyers don’t want original construction windows.” She shook her head. “They know they’ll just wind up replacing them with vinyl replacement windows, fiberglass replacement windows, or wood replacement windows. If they’re selecting between two otherwise comparable homes, they’ll go for the one that has the replacement windows already installed, nine times out of ten.” Her advice for high end homeowners who know that they’ll have to sell sooner rather than later? “Get rid of those original construction windows as soon as you can. Replacement windows are better built, more attractive, and save energy — all of which appeals to buyers.”
Even if you’ve no plans of selling your home, replacing original construction windows with home replacement windows can be a good idea. Saving energy is good for your budget and the environment. The improved aesthetic that home replacement windows offer can help your home ‘fit’ into the neighborhood better– after all, who wants to own the house that isn’t ‘quite right’? Finally, home replacement windows can make your living areas warmer and more comfortable — and isn’t that how home is supposed to be?