Did you stop by the blog today because you’ve been asking yourself, “Should I buy replacement windows before I put the house on the market?” Getting ready to sell a home in New Jersey or New York is a lot of work. Real estate brokers recommend de-cluttering your home, adding a fresh coat of interior paint in a neutral color and really putting a shine on everything in your home if you want to make your place attractive to potential buyers. And, it is always a good idea to refresh your landscaping – reseeding brown spots, trimming the trees and shrubbery and adding a nice seating area under a huge umbrella or shade tree will make your home feel more welcoming. You want to do everything you can to boost the sale price.
If you’re already having issues with your existing home windows, like cloudy glass, heavy condensation, and air and moisture leaks that make it hard to control the indoor temperature, here at Renewal by Andersen of New Jersey & New York Metro we believe you will get higher offers if you upgrade before putting your house on the market.
But, to find out what potential home buyers and sellers are saying, we spent some time reading industry surveys and hanging out in the forums on Trulia.com, Angie’s List and Realtor.com. Here’s what we found.
While studies show that homeowners can expect to recover between 60% and 90% of their renovation investment – depending on the type of project and the quality of materials – historic homes have unique appeal. Many people investing in a historic home are looking for original everything, as much as possible. Rehabilitation, not replacement, seems to be preferable. If you plan to market your residence as a historic property, check with the local historical society or the National Park Service for rehab advice before making decisions, or expect to talk discounts at the negotiating table.
One thing everyone in the forums agreed about – and surveys confirm – is that if you want to get the highest price for your home, your windows must function properly and be structurally sound. While some people may think that a broken seal that lets moisture gather between double panes is a cosmetic issue, that isn’t the case. It is a window unit failure that may allow water, dust, pollen, insects, air and moisture to move inside through the window, resulting in poor air quality and more challenges keeping indoor air temperature stable. You can’t expect to simply replace a broken glass panel to get the same insulation value from a double-pane window either, because the damage allowed the gas fill that improves energy-efficiency to escape. Buyers who find just one or two damaged windows will assume they are going to have to replace the remaining windows in the near future.
A 2016 National Association of Home Builders survey reported by Mortgage Professional America showed home buyers are willing to pay more for homes with energy-efficient appliances and fixtures – including Energy-Star low-E windows. If you find functional problems, it is wise to consider that consumers want. Also, if your neighbors have upgraded their homes with modern, high-performance replacement windows and patio doors, you run the risk of coming in low on the appraisal and market comparisons.
This is a tricky question – and we aren’t mortgage lenders or tax accounts; we install custom-built, high-performance replacement windows that improve comfort and add beauty to your home. But, we did some checking and this is what we found. Depending on how long you have owned your home, the amount of equity you have built up and how much the property has appreciated in value, you may find some advantages to financing your renovation project. For example, many homeowners can deduct the interest paid on home equity lines of credit when the money is used for home improvements that boost the value of their primary home. With the average time on the market in New York currently around 164 days, you might be waiting a while for a sale to go through, unless you make sure your property stands out above others. Talk to your tax accountant about your unique situation and ask whether buying on credit will give your a better financial position at tax time.
When it comes to selling your home, you want to make your property stand out from others in the neighborhood. Installing beautiful replacement windows and patio doors is one option to increase resale value and attract potential buyers. Not sure whether you should rehab windows or replace them? Let us help you find out before your buyer schedules a home inspection. We invite you to fill in the short form on this page or call us at 1-888-824-2651 to schedule a home consultation to explore styles and accessories consumers are asking for today.
Learn Everything You Need to Know BEFORE Buying Replacement Windows
