Are Replacement Windows Worth the Investment?

When you’re thinking about what might make a good investment to your home, there are a few questions you should ask yourself. First of all, does the home improvement actually increase your home’s resale value? If not, does it somehow improve the quality of life for you and your family members? And does the intended improvement save you any money in the near term? There are other yardsticks you could use of course, but by answering these questions you should be able to identify if any particular project is really worthwhile in financial terms.

Return on Investment

As it turns out, replacement windows might just be one of the best possible investments you can make. The magazine Architectural Digest declares that not only can you get your money back on window replacements, you can actually exceed your initial investment. That’s right – you can make money by installing brand new windows. For every dollar invested, you might get back $1.15 in resale value. Even kitchen and bathroom remodeling projects normally only get a return in the neighborhood of 70-80% of an investment. And while you’re still living in the home, you’ll have the added benefit of increased curb appeal and much greater energy efficiency.

Monthly savings

You’ll receive a number of short-term benefits from a complete window replacement as well. When you install new energy-efficient windows, you can expect to save money on your utility bills, because your heating and cooling systems won’t have to work so hard to maintain conditioned air in the home. Especially if you had old, leaky windows in place, you’ll notice an immediate decrease in the cost of energy, because your home will be much more weather-tight, and less energy will be needed for heating and cooling. New windows come with good, tight seals, and that prevents unconditioned air creeping in from outside, while also preventing the loss of conditioned air to the outside.

A whole new household

If you really get ambitious with your window replacement, you can actually transform your house into a much warmer and more livable space for the entire family. You might want to install a casement window so you can view wide landscapes in the back yard, you might want to put in a bay window that gives you a view of your entire block, or you may simply want to install some Low-E windows that block ultraviolet rays, and prevent fading of furniture and curtains.

There are so many ways that windows can improve the quality of life of your household, that it would be impossible to count them all. If you take the time to do a little research into window types, you’ll probably find something that’s a perfect fit for your own home, and that would add significant appeal and value. The bottom line on our original question is – yes, replacement windows are absolutely worth the investment. All you need to do is find out exactly which kind of windows will be upgrading your living space.