Replace windows, before selling?

LandyAndy

pinkshoes wrote: »

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!

Replacing windows actually creates very little disruption or mess.


In the OP's shoes I would leave the existing windows in situ.

Car1980

Get a quote, but bear in mind you'll likely have to knock it off the offer price. Buyers like certainty and usually overestimate the cost of putting anything right, so a quote would be ideal.

newatc

My instinct, and common sense, would be to leave the windows as is.
I would add though that a neighbour had their house on the market and surprising to me it didn't sell the EA told him the feedback was the state of the windows was a problem and so he got new windows and following that the house sold straight away.

hazyjo

If you did replace (or anyone reading this thread in the future), check the guarantees are transferrable to the new owner! Some are with a fee.

TBagpuss

Mojisola wrote: »

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.

When I sold my house (which was a mid terrace and in a similar price bracket) I got quotes for the work needed ( in my case, updating the bathroom and heating system) and also got the agents to tell me what effect it would have on price and saleability. (They won't comment on it unless you explicitly say that you know x, y or z will need to be done, and how much will it change the value of you do it)

In my case, based on the quotes I got, doing the work would be more or less price-neutral, the cost to me, and the difference it was likely to make to the price were pretty much the same, so I didn't get it done and made sure that the particulars included pictures of the bathroom and referred to the property being in need of updating.

Part of this was because I decided that unless it was going to pay dividends, I didn't want the hassle and that any buyer would probably prefer to make their own choices, partly it was that given the price and type of house I thought m most likely buyers were FTB or BTL landlords, and that both groups might be attracted to a lower price. (I thought that a BLT landlord might well have their own workman and be in a position to do the work more cheaply than I could, and the FTB might prefer to buy at a lower price and save for the work, or alternatively do some of it on a DIY basis after they moved in)

It worked for me, I sold very quickly (the original sale fell through as the buyer was an idiot and got his mortgage offer withdrawn, but it then sold again for full asking price the same day it went back on the market)

It was on an estate and I did notice that the identical one which went on the market at the same time as mine, for a higher price but with a shiny new bathroom etc took longer to sell and ultimately sold for below its asking price.

Windows are a bit less personal that choices about a bathroom suite but they are also something which the buyers might chose to live with for a bit while they saved.

Unless they are so bad that they are letting in a lot of water I would be inclined to leave them, and set your price accordingly, but I would suggest that you get a couple of quotes, and also ask your EA to give you their view about price and saleability with or without the work being done, before you decide.

SallySunshine

i'm in the same boat,
Dark wood double glazed windows, big house, lots of windows, french doors etc.
After 12yrs, a few of the windows have misted up, no firm really wanted to just replace the glass units, plus if you fix a few what's to stop the others going soon after.

Has 2 quotes for replacement upvc ones and actually at 7K were very reasonable, a local firm.
However we can't agree on the colour so have just not bothered about it yet and am thinking new owners would want to choose their own colour/style.

Will probably go down that road if we market the house, although don't think it's in first time buyers price range.

Rags2riches

You will likely find a buyer who will replace them. Some buyers like to have that choice and feel they are getting better value for money. If you spend money on new windows there is no guarantee you'll get this back and a surveyor could easily find something else. I'd talk to your estate agent about how best to market it. If you price it and market it with the view it will need new windows in the first place, that sets the purchasers expectations from the outset.

If you go on the market as it is and its not selling becuase of the windows... then consider replacing them.