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To replace windows or not

Hi,

We're currently refurbishing our house with a view to selling and getting somewhere bigger.

However, we aren't sure whether to replace the windows or not. Its clear some of them need doing (some are more modern but still 10 years old at a guess). The ones that need replacing could well be 25 years +.

Usually, you'd not make your money back on new windows but would make the property easier to sell.

However, I'd be looking at fitting them myself so rather than paying about £10k it'd be more like half of that. Plan would be to get building regs to sign them off.

Is it worth doing in this scenario? We're not looking at selling until the new year when the market picks up after the usual christmas slump. At least if they're done we can benefit with a warmer house whilst waiting to sell. With the cost of gas, anything helps!

For context, looking at marketing the house for about £475k so £5k isn't a huge figure in that regard (although certainly feels it to me!).

Thanks
«13

Comments

  • tacpot12
    tacpot12 Posts: 9,031 Forumite
    Ninth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Why do they need replacing? 
    The comments I post are my personal opinion. While I try to check everything is correct before posting, I can and do make mistakes, so always try to check official information sources before relying on my posts.
  • JamesN
    JamesN Posts: 787 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Combo Breaker
    tacpot12 said:
    Why do they need replacing? 
    Noticeably old and run down. Some of them have dropped slightly and have gaps. Imagine the insulative properties are poor. You can tell they're 25 years old looking at them. They're quite grotty round the edge of the glass, will be tricky to clean them up.
  • JamesN
    JamesN Posts: 787 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Combo Breaker
    twopenny said:
    It's seldom worth doing anything major to a house to sell it. Buyers will rip out anything that doesn't suit them regardless especially at this price point.
    If people want the house they will buy it and make it their own. You put in white windows, they want grey or wood.
    I was told so many times and didn't believe it till i saw it.
    They may try to negotiate on such points but it won't affect the sale to serious buyers.
    Clean, all major services working and serviced, all documents in a row.
    I get what you mean but there is value in making a house presentable. The carpets are falling apart so I think it’s worth doing them. Else people view it and think they’ve got an entire project on their hands. 

    I need to improve the look of the windows at least. So maybe it’s a case of replacing the ones that can’t be fixed and then buying new handles for them to give a more modern feel to them. It may hide the age of them a bit. 
  • Bendy_House
    Bendy_House Posts: 4,756 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Second Anniversary Name Dropper
    edited 6 October 2021 pm31 10:07PM
    It's a toughie.
    Yes, no question more folk will be attracted by the idea of recently fitted windows - it's considered a 'costly' and 'disruptive' job, so they'd be happy to know it shouldn't be a requirement for decades.
    On the other hand, if your house is still an attractive proposition, then you could just be prepared to factor in - if needed - a small discount to compensate. I say 'if needed', 'cos who knows what difference it makes in this current crazy climate.
    I think it might come down to how much 'help' your house will need, and what the competition is like. People see 'a few windows need replacing', and figures like £15k pops into their heads.
    Are you certain you can do a perfectly acceptable job in fitting them? If so, I would say on balance, that for 'only' £5k, it would be worthwhile.
    You must fit them well, tho', and you must get BC sign-off. Also give some serious consideration to the style - don't swap like-for-like unless you are certain it's the most suitable style. Windows make a HUGE difference to the appearance of a hoosie. Are there similar styles of house in the 'hood? If so, have a slow walk/drive round and clock which ones look best, and why.
  • JamesN
    JamesN Posts: 787 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Combo Breaker
    It's a toughie.
    Yes, no question more folk will be attracted by the idea of recently fitted windows - it's considered a 'costly' and 'disruptive' job, so they'd be happy to know it shouldn't be a requirement for decades.
    On the other hand, if your house is still an attractive proposition, then you could just be prepared to factor in - if needed - a small discount to compensate. I say 'if needed', 'cos who knows what difference it makes in this current crazy climate.
    I think it might come down to how much 'help' your house will need, and what the competition is like. People see 'a few windows need replacing', and figures like £15k pops into their heads.
    Are you certain you can do a perfectly acceptable job in fitting them? If so, I would say on balance, that for 'only' £5k, it would be worthwhile.
    You must fit them well, tho', and you must get BC sign-off. Also give some serious consideration to the style - don't swap like-for-like unless you are certain it's the most suitable style. Windows make a HUGE difference to the appearance of a hoosie. Are there similar styles of house in the 'hood? If so, have a slow walk/drive round and clock which ones look best, and why.
    Yeah, my dads fitted some and did a decent job. Having done a lot of research it doesn’t seem too tricky. We’ve fitted some rolling doors ourselves on the garage which was difficult but we managed it. We are both engineers so good at solving problems. 

    The other consideration I have is that some of the windows are newer albeit still 10 years old. Do I replace these too so they all match or do I leave those ones in? It’s probably a cost of £2k for those 4 windows. 
  • Doozergirl
    Doozergirl Posts: 34,021 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    edited 7 October 2021 am31 7:56AM
    JamesN said:
    It's a toughie.
    Yes, no question more folk will be attracted by the idea of recently fitted windows - it's considered a 'costly' and 'disruptive' job, so they'd be happy to know it shouldn't be a requirement for decades.
    On the other hand, if your house is still an attractive proposition, then you could just be prepared to factor in - if needed - a small discount to compensate. I say 'if needed', 'cos who knows what difference it makes in this current crazy climate.
    I think it might come down to how much 'help' your house will need, and what the competition is like. People see 'a few windows need replacing', and figures like £15k pops into their heads.
    Are you certain you can do a perfectly acceptable job in fitting them? If so, I would say on balance, that for 'only' £5k, it would be worthwhile.
    You must fit them well, tho', and you must get BC sign-off. Also give some serious consideration to the style - don't swap like-for-like unless you are certain it's the most suitable style. Windows make a HUGE difference to the appearance of a hoosie. Are there similar styles of house in the 'hood? If so, have a slow walk/drive round and clock which ones look best, and why.
    Yeah, my dads fitted some and did a decent job. Having done a lot of research it doesn’t seem too tricky. We’ve fitted some rolling doors ourselves on the garage which was difficult but we managed it. We are both engineers so good at solving problems. 

    The other consideration I have is that some of the windows are newer albeit still 10 years old. Do I replace these too so they all match or do I leave those ones in? It’s probably a cost of £2k for those 4 windows. 
    I think that depends on whether you can improve the look of the house by doing it. 10 years old really isn't bad, but if you changed the look of the house by using flush casements, sash windows or a different colour, for example, that might give it new kerb appeal that is worth the extra £2k if it makes people feel that the house is 'done'.  


    Everything that is supposed to be in heaven is already here on earth.
  • Bendy_House
    Bendy_House Posts: 4,756 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Second Anniversary Name Dropper
    JamesN said:

    The other consideration I have is that some of the windows are newer albeit still 10 years old. Do I replace these too so they all match or do I leave those ones in? It’s probably a cost of £2k for those 4 windows. 
    Has to be your call - if the kerb appeal will definitely be given a lift, then £2k is nothing.
    If you post a photo of the house front, I'm sure folk will give their opinion on style and colour?
    Do your research on window fitting, and have clear in your mind what the full procedure is, and what to look out for. Being engineers is grand, but this is not a problem-solving exercise; you should know in advance exactly how it's going to proceed, from the removal of the old, to the types of packers to be used, the securing methods, whether cavities need to be closed, how to measure to allow for clearance gap, how its plumbness will be ensured - everything. And then you solve the unanticipated problems :smile:

  • JamesN
    JamesN Posts: 787 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Combo Breaker
    JamesN said:
    It's a toughie.
    Yes, no question more folk will be attracted by the idea of recently fitted windows - it's considered a 'costly' and 'disruptive' job, so they'd be happy to know it shouldn't be a requirement for decades.
    On the other hand, if your house is still an attractive proposition, then you could just be prepared to factor in - if needed - a small discount to compensate. I say 'if needed', 'cos who knows what difference it makes in this current crazy climate.
    I think it might come down to how much 'help' your house will need, and what the competition is like. People see 'a few windows need replacing', and figures like £15k pops into their heads.
    Are you certain you can do a perfectly acceptable job in fitting them? If so, I would say on balance, that for 'only' £5k, it would be worthwhile.
    You must fit them well, tho', and you must get BC sign-off. Also give some serious consideration to the style - don't swap like-for-like unless you are certain it's the most suitable style. Windows make a HUGE difference to the appearance of a hoosie. Are there similar styles of house in the 'hood? If so, have a slow walk/drive round and clock which ones look best, and why.
    Yeah, my dads fitted some and did a decent job. Having done a lot of research it doesn’t seem too tricky. We’ve fitted some rolling doors ourselves on the garage which was difficult but we managed it. We are both engineers so good at solving problems. 

    The other consideration I have is that some of the windows are newer albeit still 10 years old. Do I replace these too so they all match or do I leave those ones in? It’s probably a cost of £2k for those 4 windows. 
    I think that depends on whether you can improve the look of the house by doing it. 10 years old really isn't bad, but if you changed the look of the house by using flush casements, sash windows or a different colour, for example, that might give it new kerb appeal that is worth the extra £2k if it makes people feel that the house is 'done'.  


    Thats my predicament, all the newer windows are on the back of the house so they potential buyer might not even notice them being different. In fairness, those windows do seem fine and don't need replacing, it would only be done to match.

    I'm wary of going a different colour given the trend will ultimately change. White uPVC was the preference, they'll just look a bit more modern but will be a standard casement fitting rather than flush.

    JamesN said:

    The other consideration I have is that some of the windows are newer albeit still 10 years old. Do I replace these too so they all match or do I leave those ones in? It’s probably a cost of £2k for those 4 windows. 
    Has to be your call - if the kerb appeal will definitely be given a lift, then £2k is nothing.
    If you post a photo of the house front, I'm sure folk will give their opinion on style and colour?
    Do your research on window fitting, and have clear in your mind what the full procedure is, and what to look out for. Being engineers is grand, but this is not a problem-solving exercise; you should know in advance exactly how it's going to proceed, from the removal of the old, to the types of packers to be used, the securing methods, whether cavities need to be closed, how to measure to allow for clearance gap, how its plumbness will be ensured - everything. And then you solve the unanticipated problems :smile:

    Oh don't worry, we've got it all planned out and have watched/read plenty of guides. The problem solving was more if something goes wrong. We've mapped it out, measured correctly (several times) and the openings are all square (or within a reasonable tolerance). Well used to using packers for frame fixings and my Dad has some experience so we're feeling pretty confident on being ok with this one.

    See images below, excuse the state of them, we've had a lot of building work ongoing (including the beginning of a garage conversion, thus the gap under the garage door). With all the dust, its just not been worth cleaning them until we've finished the exterior/interior (plus if we're getting rid there really is no point!).

    Inside oldest window


    Inside newer window


    Outside newer window


    Front of house, all old windows


    Any other comments are welcomed, i'm difficult to offend (and we bought it in this condition after a short term rental). Have just had the driveway done which will be finished once the garage lintels are in. I'm going to remove that unusued alarm box and all the excess wiring. We are also getting a new front door as well.
  • Niv
    Niv Posts: 2,536 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    edited 7 October 2021 am31 11:57AM
    After seeing the photos: Give them a clean, no way would i replace.

    Edit: added bonus of not replacing. with the 5k you saved you can afford to accept a 5k lower offer and still win.
    YNWA

    Target: Mortgage free by 58.
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