Windows: lots to look at

Let’s talk about windows.  When you are buying a home, if the seller was wise, you are barely noticing the windows themselves because they are sparklingly clear.  You are admiring the lovely outdoor views but not noticing the windows themselves.  Well, start noticing them. Why? Because they can be a very costly system to update/repair/replace. First, note if they are updated, double-paned thermal windows. If not, and you’re looking through single pane, non-insulated glass, you may have some hefty utility bills. Energy-efficiency has become more and more important, not just from a cost of utility standpoint, but also from an environmental pollution perspective. If the windows are old, they may well be wood, which isn’t inherently bad. But what if they have rot? or broken panes? or the chains or locks don’t work? or they are painted shut?  Hmmmm.

If they are old, but not terribly old, they may be aluminum framed. These are often single-pane windows, so check. Vinyl is what you will usually see as replacement windows. If someone went “bottom of the line”, these windows often fall out of square after a few years and sag or don’t fit properly in their positions in the wall. So pay attention.

How do they open? Are they sash windows that you raise and lower? If so, do both panes move? Or do you open them by winding a crank? What about cleaning them? Some tilt in, but others don’t. How about screens? If they aren’t visible, be sure to ask the seller (if you’re considering an offer) if there are screens somewhere. They can be a hidden cost for buyers who like to open windows but only if they have screens.

Replacing all of the windows in an average sized home on the Main Line could easily cost $15,000 and that’s for a middle of the road vinyl replacement window. Most people say to budget $400-$700 per window for an estimate. The moral of the story (or blog post, in this case) is that while windows should “disappear”, I advise that you make a firm effort to “see”  their design, age and condition because the oversight of NOT noticing them could cost you a lot of money and headache down the road.