Replace windows, before selling?

MarieA

Hello
First post on the forum, just looking for some points of view / advice please.:)

My mid terraced house was built in the 80's and has secondary glazing, the windows look fine from the inside when closed, but once open bits of the wood surround are coming away. A surveyor would certainly pick up that the windows are rotting and need replaced.

I've recently been made redundant and although I have some funds, whilst searching for a job I'd rather not make any large purchases if I can help it. How likely is it to put people off buying if windows need replaced, should I swallow the cost now, or take a chance that someone will want to buy it anyway?

Estate agents have valued the property at £100,000 - £110,000.

Thanks

lincroft1710

I would imagine any serious buyer would contemplate replacing the wooden windows with uPVC windows. They can then choose their own design rather than something which you have hastily installed in order to sell.

Tiners

The good quality, white upvc windows and doors in one property I've sold previously were less than a year old... the buyer replaced them all with brown upvc less than a week after completion.

MarieA

Great, thanks for both responses, I appreciate it

catshark88

Maybe you could get 2 or 3 quotes for the windows to be replaced?

Any buyer would then have a clear picture of what cost to expect and could make their decision accordingly.

phillw

catshark88 wrote: »

Any buyer would then have a clear picture of what cost to expect and could make their decision accordingly.

You could do that. I personally wouldn't believe any quote given to me by a seller.

pinkshoes

We actually didn't purchase the house next door to the one we did purchase due to its windows that needed replacing.

We just didn't have the cash left over to pay for such a huge job, and the idea of the disruption was off-putting.

Unless it is the sort of house where people would want their own unique windows, then I would at least get quotes to get it done.

Windows are just windows to me, and as long as they don't look cheap, and are energy efficient then great!

Mojisola

MarieA wrote: »

My mid terraced house was built in the 80's and has secondary glazing, the windows look fine from the inside when closed, but once open bits of the wood surround are coming away. A surveyor would certainly pick up that the windows are rotting and need replaced.

Estate agents have valued the property at £100,000 - £110,000.

If that price includes an element of 'work needed to be done', buyers will see that.

My father's house needed updating but I was advised that it was better to price it allowing for the work and let the buyer make the changes that suited them. This was mentioned in the sales details.

The buyers did indeed do things in a different way than I would have arranged and now have the house to suit them.

MarieA

I think getting some quotes is a good idea, I'll do that. Then I guess its just a case of getting feedback from viewers and if the windows are an issue I could potentially get the work done myself.


Its reassuring to know it wouldn't put everyone off though. My understanding was the estate agents valued the property on needing some work doing to it, mainly the windows.


Thanks!

[Deleted User]

I've filled and repaired quite badly damaged wood frames, you can even get products to deal with rotten wood. I'd probably look at that as an option if I didn't want to replace the windows themselves. Then you can paint them and no one would know the windows were an issue as long as you did a decent job. Use tape on windows if you can't paint well.

Davesnave

phillw wrote: »

You could do that. I personally wouldn't believe any quote given to me by a seller.

But the quotes would come from window companies, not the seller.

Are you suggesting companies would produce fake quotes? What would be the point?

Some people have very fixed ideas about what type of windows they want, so quotes and being up-front about the allowance in the price you're making, seems like a plan. Then the buyer isn't tied-in to something they may not want.