Find out the latest tips on how you can maximize your home’s overall value by choosing the right windows for your home. Erin Vaughn of Modernize, has shared a few things to consider about the windows in your home and how it can impact your home’s overall efficiency.
When you’re considering selling your home, or just trying to improve its overall value, it’s tempting to jump right to the big renovations—the full kitchen remodel, the luxury bath. But in terms of resale value, these improvements aren’t always what they’re cracked up to be. For instance, a bathroom remodel only recoups about 70 percent of its price, and costs an average $16,000 to complete.
Smaller updates, on the other hand—particularly those that improve the energy efficiency of your home—are often a much smarter bet. More than ever before, homeowners are on the lookout for properties with green features, and these homes tend to fetch more on the market—particularly in areas where electricity bills are high.
And windows often serve as the stopgap that can make or break a home’s overall efficiency. According to the Department of Energy, up to 40 percent of home heat loss can be attributed to outdated windows. Making an update here can have a real and dramatic effect.
Improved Energy Efficiency with ENERGY STAR Windows
According to Consumer Reports, ENERGY STAR windows can reduce your home’s energy bills by seven to fifteen percent. How does that translate to property values? Well, when the National Association of Homebuilders surveyed buyers in 2013, 90 percent responded that they would be willing to pay two to three percent more for a home with lower utility bills. In fact, professional energy experts estimate that for every dollar you lower your energy expenses, that savings translates to $15 to $20 of improved resale value.
If your home has old or outdated windows, the effect will be even more dramatic. According to the Department of Energy, when homeowners replaced inefficient single-pane windows with ENERGY STAR rated models, they saved somewhere between $126 to $465. That means you could potentially stand to add over $9,000 to your home’s selling price.
Larger Windows and the Curbside Appeal Factor
While green undoubtedly holds appeal, today’s buyers are also drawn to open plan houses that feature plenty of windows and light. Larger picture windows are hot commodities, as they give interiors the feeling of luxury and lightness so desired by modern homeowners.
Of course, this trend stands somewhat at odds with the urge for improved efficiency, since larger openings in your home’s outer envelope put you at increased risk of heat loss and gain. Picture windows, in particular, tend to have fairly poor energy performance. Homeowners get around this by using some creative solutions to let in more light while keeping the efficiency up. For instance, a popular option is to replace two double paned windows with large side-by-side casement to give the outside view that uninterrupted effect. Another idea is to remodel a single window into a large French door opening to the exterior.
And then there’s the curbside appeal. Modern homes favor frames in contrasting colors that really stand out from the rest of the exterior. Investing vinyl or insulated frames also improves the overall efficiency, as well. All in all, new windows add up to big benefits for your home—and your pocketbook, too!
About the writer
Erin Vaughan is a blogger, gardener and aspiring homeowner. She currently resides in Austin, TX where she writes full time for Modernize.com, with the goal of empowering homeowners with the expert guidance and educational tools they need to take on big home projects with confidence.
