Cheap and Quick Ways to Increase your Homes Value

I just read an article sent to my by my friend who is a real estate worker in Maine about the 4 quickest and cheapest ways to increase the value of your home.  The article can be found at HGTV's Frontdoor.com but you can read the summary right here!

The best way to successfully pre-sell your home is to keep up with the neighbors but never surpass them.  If you are trying to get the highest ROI on home remodeling projects keep in mind what is standard in the area.

If everyone has laminate floors and you splurge on hardwood, you will be the envy of your neighbors but you won't get the money back at the resale.  If you are in a higher end location and down grade your countertops to laminate you will sell for less or may even sit on the market indefinitely. 

You never want to be the last person in the neighborhood to remodel, homebuyers will pass on your home for the one down the road where everything is already updated.

If you are tight on cash here are some quick fixes to add the most value to your home for the least amount of money:

• Interior Paint
• Flooring
• Front Appearance (paint and landscaping)
• Light Fixtures

You will be surprised how little changes can make a huge effect on the look and feel of your home.  Try one, or all, and enjoy the new appearance of your home.

Survey shows what homeowners are looking for in windows

Builder Magazine published and article recently quoting a survey conducted by Ventura Associates and Simonton Windows that found Energy Efficiency is a homeowners highest priority when considering replacement windows.  After contacting 13,600 people they found somewhat shocking news: aesthetic appeal landed at the bottom of the list.  I always thought aesthetics would be somewhere near the top, after all these homeowners are remodeling their largest and most important investment so you would think they would something attractive installed in their home.  Nearly 90% of all surveyed said the Federal Energy Star Rating is of extreme importance when considering new windows.  Here is the break down of the features and how the test group ranked each characteristic:

1. 66.1% - Energy Efficiency
2. 12.3% - Maintenance Free
3. 8.3%   - Security
4. 4.7%   - Impact Resistance
5. 4.4%   - Noise Reduction
6. 4.2%   - Aesthetically Pleasing

My guess is that these opinions would change after a homeowner gets the windows installed and while the number one spot would stay the same I think the next important would be aesthetics, noise reduction and maintenance.  Who knew people cared so much more about function over form when it comes to windows?

Do Your Homework

There are thousands, yes thousands, of window manufacturers in the USA. Many have been in business for a long time and others started as spin-offs of the older established companies. Before you buy, make sure the company you are dealing with is reputable, solvent and a member of either the National Association of Home Builders http://www.nahb.org/ or the National Association of the Remodeling Industry http://www.nari.org/ Also make sure their windows are tested and listed in the directory of the National Fenestration Rating Council http://www.nfrc.org/

The second most important thing to look for is an EnergyStar rating that qualifies for the Reinvestment and Recovery Act federal tax credit. Qualifying wndows must have a Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC)and a U-Factor of .30 or less. Every homeowner is eligible for a $1,500 tax credit for installing energy efficient windows, doors and other qualifying products. For more information go to http://www.energystar.gov/

6 ways to increase your homes value

There are many different ways to increase your homes value these days, but here I have compiled a list of six ways you can boost the value of your home:

1. Green thumbs up - one of the simplest and cheapest way to increase your homes exterior appeal is to clean up the landscape.  Any bushes, weeds or dying flowers should be removed or trimmed back.  Get rid of any foliage creeping up the side of the house or overflowing in your drive or walk way.  This simple effort will do wonders for your home's look
2. Speak with accents - an easy way to make your home a better place to live is to change accents like window treatments and rugs with the seasons.  Use darker colors in the fall and winter months and swap them out for lighter colors in the warm months.  It is an easy fix to keep your home looking fresh.  Another trick is to remove those area rugs, as long as the floor is in decent shape, to create the perception of a larger living space
3. Floor it - homeowners often overlook how large a difference new flooring can have on their home.  No matter the material you install, if you choose a lighter color it brightens the entire space and will give it a updated and modern lookS
4. Window shopping - do not over look updating the actual windows.  New windows can save a ton of money on your heating and cooling bills while also updating the look of your home.  
5. Freshen up the interior with a new paint job - a new coat of a lighter color of paint can really make a room, or house, feel like new.  Darker colors are trendy and stylish, but lighter colors really warm up a room and make it comfortable.  A trick to make a place look larger is to paint walls different colors to trick your depth perception.  Another trick is to have bolder colors on the walls of your living room combined with a white ceiling, this gives the effect of making the room look taller
6. Exterior decorating - after you trim the hedges a fairly simple value added technique is to install some exterior decorations.  Stepping stones, walk way lighting, fountains and benches are easy to come by and can really add to your home's appeal.  Get creative and have fun decorating the outside of your house.

What to expect from a replacement window warranty

With the level of technology and research that goes into replacement windows these days there is no surprise that many companies offer warranties on their windows. In a standard replacement window warranty you can expect to get the following coverages (and make sure you do; if the company you are working with does not have all these guarantees, it should be easy to find one that does):

• Glass breakage - this is offered because many windows now-a-days come with double strength glass which makes the window panes more than twice as strong as the old single pane glass.  The warranty should cover any kind of breakage whether it be from moving furniture inside you house or if a rock gets kicked out by a lawn mower and strikes your window.  Acts of god like hurricanes and lightning strikes are not usually covered.
• Parts - there are many moving parts to a window like the balance systems, lock and keeper hardware, vent tabs and tilt latches to name a few.  Make sure these are protected in the warranty
• Labor - some handy men will not warranty labor but larger remodeling and contracting companies will make sure they install the windows correctly the first time allowing them to guarantee nothing will happen because of the installation.
• Frame failure - sometimes the frame of the window will fail because of improper installation, damage during transit, or just because of a manufacturing defect.  
• Seal failure - we have all seen the windows that have the foggy condensation built up between the double panes.  This is cause by the seal keeping the air in between the glass deteriorating either from sun damage or just old age.  
• Transferable - since these windows are usually warrantied for the life of the house make sure your warranty is transferable.  That means if you ever move or sell your house the warranty transfers to the next homeowner; not only does it add extra security to you but also adds a nice selling point if you try and sell your home.

Painting Vinyl Windows: Good Idea or Bad?

Whether or not painting vinyl windows is a good idea or bad, the answer you get depends on who you ask.

If you speak with a rep from a paint store or a painter they will most likely assure that painting replacement vinyl windows is a good idea and will update the look of your home.

On the other hand, when you speak to a window professional or a window manufacturer they will usually advise against painting.  One of the great benefits of vinyl windows is they never need painting.  And currently most of the companies that make these windows are offering 7 or 8 exterior colors to choose from.

Another consideration you need to make if you are thinking of painting your windows is the long term warranties that come with these windows.  The chemicals that come in some paints and primers can have a weakening effect on the vinyl used to make the window which can void the warranty on the frames.

In my opinion I would explore all other options like painting the trim, shutters or other window treatments before I would consider painting the windows themselves.  Vinyl windows are warrantied to never chip, crack, peel or fade and once paint is applied all those great guarantees are thrown out the window.

How to Choose a Contractor

Every time a homeowner decides they want to have a project completed on their home they inevitably come to the question, "How do I know which contractor to choose?"  Follow these steps below to ensure you choose the right person for the job:

1.  Look first to get a referral for a contractor from a friend.  Anyone that has had a positive experience with a contractor will love to spread the word.
2. Every contractor out there has more expertise in some areas than others.  Give yourself the best chance for success by narrowing down your options to contractors that are experts in your desired project.
3. Always make sure anyone that works on your home is licensed and insured.  If you allow someone to work on your home without these certifications you run the risk of having to pay for someone's injuries or having no recourse if the job is done poorly.
4. Get some references from your short list of potential contractors, if possible go and see the work for yourself.  Ask specific questions about the job.
5.  Search online for reviews about the company.  Websites like Kudzu and The Better Business Bureau are a good place to start, but doing a more broad search will give you more info about who you choose to work on your home.
6. Demand a written estimate, if one is not provided DO NOT let this person or company work on your home.  This protects you from unexpected charges and forces the contractor to complete all work that was quoted. 
7. Make sure the contract satisfies all your needs and expectations then sign on the dotted line... and get them to sign too, make sure you keep a copy. 

During the project keep an eye on the workers only to make sure everything is being done within the agreement.  It is much easier to fix something half way through the project than once it is completed.  

Specific Window Types

Once you have determined how many windows you want to replace and what you budget looks like, now you need to starting thinking about what type of windows you want.  Double Hung windows are the most popular, but there are a variety of windows that serve many different functions and come in many forms.  Aside from the double hung here is a short list of other windows types that are out there:

• Single hung - same as double hung except only the lower window sash moves
• Slider - a vertical form of the double hung; sashes move horizontally rather than vertically
• Casement - uses a crank arm at window sill to crank the window outward; hinge is on the side
• Awning - uses a crank arm at window sill to crank window outward, hinge is at the top
• Picture window - one large piece of glass that cannot be opened
• Bay and bow - protrude outward from the exterior wall of the house, usually comes in three sides
• Garden - similar to bay and bow windows, except these are smaller and usually do not open

After you determine what type of window you want, you will need to decide which window line you will use for your replacement windows.  Most companies offer a range of windows that have different features and different prices.  Discuss different advantages and disadvantages of each line with your rep and determine what fits for your specific situation the best.  

Once you choose the window type and window line, the next step is to choose the accessories and upgrades you want with your windows.  Check the next post for information about options for vinyl replacement windows...

Having trouble finding replacement window prices?

After determining how many windows you need in your home, the next thing you need to do is figure out how much you want to spend.  Every one that searches online for window pricing realizes quickly how hard it is to get a price to replace their own windows.  


There is a reason very few contractors and remodeling companies publish their prices.  I have listed some of those reasons below:

1. The base price for a window comes from what we in the industry call United Inches (UI for short)  and that number comes from adding the height of the window and the width of the window.  Depending on the overall size, or UI, of each window the price can vary quite dramatically between 3 or 4 inches.  To give a price without measuring each window would be like calling Dell and asking how much a computer costs.  
2. Different lines  or models of windows have very different prices.  Depending on your particular needs you will have a different priced window.
3. Every window has different upgrades and options that each homeowner needs to consider before making a purchase.  Things like grid patterns and colors, to have grids or clear glass, argon gas filled windows, layers of low-e coatings, interior and exterior frame colors, grid colors, hardware colors, exterior capping colors, tempered glass, etc.  As you can see there is a lot that goes into the pricing for a window.  There are offers out there for windows installed for around $200 but that is the stripped down economy version of a replacement window.  Most people will not want that product in their home, but for some it is the right fit.
4. Other factors affecting the price include what kind of blinds or shutters you have installed that need to be removed and replaced, any rotted wood that needs to be replaced (be sure your contractor checks for this and does not install over rotted wood!), condition of the current wood or metal windows and any other special circumstances unique to your home

As you can see there are many variables that contribute to each project's price quote.  Some sales reps and contractors can come in and just look at your home and determine a price without measuring.  This is not always a bad thing as some of these guys have been around for years and are just that good.  Other times these guys know their margins so well and throw out a price they know will cover any issues that may come up. 

How to determine how many replacement windows you need

One of the first questions you need to ask when considering installing new windows in your home is how many windows do I need?


If your goal is to maximize your home's efficiency the answer is simple: replace all of them. You can compare installing replacement windows to increase your home's efficiency to replacing the tires on your car to increase miles per gallon. If you only swap out one tire, you will have a slight increase in fuel efficiency; if you replace all 4 tires you max out the miles per gallon saved by having new tires.  Same goes for windows in your home.


If your goal is to update the look of your house, to make that one room in your home that gets very hot during the day because of the sunlight shining through, or to replace some windows that leak or don't open then only install the number of windows that you need to meet your needs.  In these situations you need to keep in mind that the new windows will look different than the ones you have in your house now.  If you want to make one room on the front of your house more comfortable, consider how the new windows will look compared to the rest of the windows on the front of the house.

How to Buy Vinyl Replacement Windows

I was reading at eHow.com about the steps someone should take to by replacement vinyl windows. There was some very good information presented, but I think there needs to be some elaboration on their steps. You can read their steps here, or just read mine as you can probably figure out what their steps were base on my responses:

Step 1 - How many windows?: If you are trying to maximize the energy efficiency of your home you will want to replace most, if not all, of your windows. The windows that are out there now are great at minimizing energy transfer in and out of your home, but if you only replace 4 or 5 of your 15-20 windows you will not see a large impact on your energy bills. Of course the rooms you replace those windows will feel better on very hot/cold days, but the overall efficiency of your home will not dramatically increase.

Step 2 - Your Budget: Replacement windows range from $200 to $500 EACH and higher! Be wary of the ads for windows that run less than $200 installed, they are the lowest end and do not offer much, if any, energy efficiency. If you are merely looking to replace the windows with a substitute that only puts glass on your window openings those are a good option

Step 3 - Functionality: Think about what type of windows you want. Double hung's are windows where both top and bottom sashes open and close, sliders are the same but slide horizontally, picture windows are one large piece of glass, casement have the crank at the bottom. Those are the 4 main kinds of windows but you also need to consider what kind of grid package you want, interior and exterior colors, colors for hardware and full or half screens.

Step 4 - Installation Process: In my experience installers can generally install about 10-12 windows in a day. This depends on each job and its own circumstances, what your existing windows are made of (wood, metal or vinyl), but expect 10-12 windows per day for the actual install. Most of the window company's I know only install custom windows, and they usually take 3-4 weeks to be manufactured. Take that into consideration too

Step 5 - Multiple Quotes: Good advice to ensure you are getting a competitive price. However, you will probably see a huge range in prices from different companies. The best thing to do is research what model and brand windows each company uses to compare apples to apples.

Step 6 - Color Options: Many of the vinyl window manufacturers are now offering different colors for the exterior of the windows. It used to be they would only offer beige or white on the exterior, now they are providing 6 or 7 different color options.

Step 7 - Upgrade Options: If you are going to replace your windows you should take on the extra expense and get at least the minimum energy efficient options included that meet either the Energy Star or Federal Energy Tax Credit requirements. It does not cost much more to include the low-e coatings and argon gas and you will be happier in the long run. Vinyl and aluminum may be less expensive, but as long as you choose a window that meets the stringent Federal Energy Tax Credit requirements, you know you are getting a very efficient window, with WAY less maintenance.

Step 8 - References: Asking for references is always a good idea. Any good company will have a list of satisfied customers that will be happy to speak on their experience.

Step 9 - Choosing an Installer: Choose based on price, window type, references and your overall level of trust with the sales person and company.

Step 10 - Guarantees/Warranties: Always get guarantees in writing as well as the terms and prices for your installation. Always ask if there is anything that might come up that would be extra. Some installation companies do not include replacing rotted wood which can be hard to see before your current window is pulled out.

Step 11 - Insurance: Asking for insurance from anyone working on your home is highly recommended. If someone doing work on your home is not insured and gets hurt, it might be on you to pay for their medical expenses.


Tip/warning #2: Go ahead and get double pane windows, they are slightly more expensive but offer a much more durable window, better efficiency, and keep out noise better than single pane. Triple pane is more of a marketing ploy and does not offer too much greater efficiency over double pane windows.

Tip/warning #3: True divided lite windows have separate pieces of glass in between the grids of the window. One of the attractions of double paned glass is the option to have the grids in between the glass to make cleaning and long term maintenance easier.

Tip/warning #4: Be wary of installing your windows yourself unless you are VERY handy and have some experience. The best and most expensive window in the world will be worth nothing if the installation is not performed correctly.


Link

Replacement Windows: an introduction to efficiency

Many homeowners know what it is like to have windows that need replacement. The cloudy glass, being stuck open or closed, rotted wood and air flow are all problems many people have experienced. When they decided to get vinyl replacement windows most of those problems were eliminated.

I am going to try and explain the reasons why new vinyl windows have satisfied millions of people through the next few posts at this location. The first reason I would like to share are the savings you get with these windows.

The high tech glass packages will save money by reducing your cooling and heating bills. By decreasing the amount of solar heat allowed through the window by 70%, the low-e treated glass keeps the temperature of your house lower during the hotter times of the day. With less heat coming in, your A/C has an easier job maintaining the set temperature.

With gas filled window sashes, the gap between the panes of glass acts as an insulator toward heat escaping through the window during the colder months. Custom fitting windows reduce air flow coming in through the space between the house and the window frame. The goal of these is ultimate efficiency at the best price and what is out there will not displease.

The stainless steel spacer is the third part of the window that makes it so efficient. There is a metal spacer separating the two pieces of glass that slows energy transfer and prevents leakage. Most of the energy transferred through a windows comes in at the edges, not in the center. The window scientists figured out the best way to stop energy from coming in your house was to make a spacer out of steel and construct in a "U" shape. The stainless steel is very non-conductive and the U shape allows the spacer to expand and contract with the glass during temperature fluctuations. Both of these benefits also protect against the seal keeping the argon or krypton gas from deteriorating, which causes those foggy windows.

Vinyl replacement windows are a very good option to consider when choosing what type of windows you want in your home and their energy efficient properties are very impressive. I hope this brief explanation of the efficient glass packages helps you in some way and you check back for more on replacement windows.


Look for more posts in the near future explaining things such as correct installation methods and spacers...