How New Doors & Windows Can Boost Your Home Value

Do New Doors & Windows Improve The Value Of Your Home?

How Windows & Doors Can Boost Your Home Value

Curb appeal is essential to making your home more attractive to buyers. No matter how much more time we spend inside our homes, we know the exterior matters just as much – if not more. Especially if your home is on the market.

Landscaping, re-painting, and fence replacements all go into sprucing up our home’s exterior. However, homeowners will often dedicate so much time to these tasks, they’ll overlook the importance of replacing the doors and windows.

Window replacements are one of the home improvement projects that add the most value to your home. So much so, new windows often see an 85 percent ROI once the home is sold, according to CNBC. Due to the fact that doors and windows are not only an aesthetic touch, but one crucial to energy efficiency, it’s no wonder buyers place so much weight on these two areas.

Finding the Right Door

A front door can be expensive, and budget can play a big role in determining what kind of front door you replace your current one with. As a guide, don’t overdo it.

Yes, a large copper door with elegant scrollwork may capture attention, but when paired with other exterior touches, could just look gaudy and excessive.

Your front door should make a statement, but it should also serve a purpose. The recommendations vary by price range.

Budget-Friendly:

Steel doors are sturdy yet affordable. They can easily be painted to match your home’s exterior and comes in versatile designs (from French doors to basic front doors). They also typically come with foam insulation for increased energy-efficiency, and are fireproof. Steel doors start at around $150, and rarely cost more than $400. They can be easily customized to include pet door inserts, windows, and stained glass designs. Furthermore, they’re sleek, modern, and minimalistic for that more contemporary look.

Mid-Range:

Wooden doors are always a classic, although they can require some maintenance. Wood is a natural insulator, so it will keep warm air in during the winter and cool air in during the summer. Furthermore, their traditional and elegant appeal never goes out of style. Nonetheless, they can swell and crack, so upkeep is important. When it comes to variety and uniqueness, however, they can’t be beat. They remain reasonably priced at about $300-$600.

Luxury:

If you own a more high-end home and are thinking about selling your luxury home, you can probably afford to invest in a more antique and extravagant front door design. Wrought iron front doors are the epitome of luxury. They are well-insulated and extremely durable, making them weather-proof, hurricane-proof, and fireproof. Their sturdiness allows them to last for decades, which will be a major selling point to potential buyers. Additionally, maintaining them is easy. They may need to be wiped down with soap and warm water from time to time, but that is about it. Their intricate scrollwork, lavish appearance, and incorporation of sidelights and transoms makes them a best fit for mansions and estates.

Experts also agree that certain door colors could boost home value. More specifically, the color black. An analysis by Zillow showed that, on average, homes with black front doors sold for approximately $6,000 more than expected.

As a seller, painting the front door is one of the least expensive and involved projects you can take on, which makes this fact all the more enticing. Realtor.com states that a solid black door gives off a “stately” vibe, and generally makes the home appear safer and better-protected.

It’s a mind-boggling fact, but it’s tried and true. Fortunately, even the most affordable front door replacements can be easily painted black for a big boost in home value

Window Replacement Tips

Helpful Window Replacement Tips – How Windows & Doors Can Boost Your Home Value

Old, leaky windows can quickly turn buyers away. Windows are one of the most essential, yet overlooked, home improvement projects for sellers.

A well-done window replacement project can lead to a minimum of 74 percent ROI. That means that if you spend $15,000 on replacing your home’s windows, you could boost your home’s value by $11,000.

Much like with doors, new windows can increase your home’s energy-efficiency, a huge selling point for buyers that live in fear of astronomical electric bills – particularly where the weather can be turbulent.

The latest trend for window replacements is Energy Star windows. These vinyl windows are extremely energy-efficient and can save homeowners hundreds of dollars a year in heating and cooling costs. Replacing single-pane windows with Energy Star windows can save homeowners up to $583 per year. Meanwhile, replacing double-pane, clear glass windows with Energy Star ones will save up to $197.

These amounts will vary by home size and location, but do make opting for these new windows a major selling point.

Beyond the practical purposes of new windows, there are aesthetic ones too. New windows can make even older homes look updated and rejuvenated. According to Time, even a mid-range window replacement costing just a few thousand dollars will deliver an incredible boost in home value. Experts believe that more expensive window replacement projects often cause homeowners to lose sight of the project’s practicality, and shoot for visual appeal more – making the ROI less impactful.

Your ROI will vary based on the kinds of windows you put in. While vinyl replacement windows will add about $10,000 to a home’s value, wood windows can add up to $13,000. You don’t need to spend excessive amounts of money to make this boost possible.  A window replacement can be a major investment, but it’s almost sure to pay off.

Importance of New Doors & Windows

Many homeowners don’t put a lot of stock into curb appeal. They think it’s what’s on the inside that counts. And while they’re not wrong, it can certainly be a misleading philosophy. Curb appeal is not solely synonymous with aesthetic appeal. Certain exterior touches indicate what life is like inside the home.

High-quality windows and doors that appear to be newer symbolize safety and security, which is extremely important for families and individuals with small children. Furthermore, in areas where the weather has a habit of being turbulent or hurricanes run rampant, sturdy doors and windows make all the difference.

Compared to landscaping, trim replacement, and new siding, door and window replacements tend to be more impactful. Replacing doors and windows improves the structural integrity of your home, and frequently combats other issues like mold buildup, wood rotting, and cracked glass. These door and window-related issues can be harmful and lead to even more expensive fixes.

While you should always consult with a contractor about window replacements, front door replacements can be a DIY project.  That is, unless you’re opting for the heavy wrought iron front door. Pursing door replacement as a DIY project will increase your ROI even more, and make this a less weighty investment.

Window and door replacements are the two home improvement projects that affect how people experience the inside and outside of their home, which makes their impact on home value warranted. If you’re a homeowner preparing to put your home on the market, assessing the state of your doors and windows could be a huge turning point in making the sale.

Other Home Improvement & Selling Resources

• 5 Low Cost Fixes To Make Your Home More Appealing
• 9 Things NOT To Do When Putting Your Home On The Market via Bill Gassett
• Tips For Preparing Your Home For The Spring Real Estate Market
• What Home Sellers Need To Know When Selling Their Home via Kevin Vitali
• 8 Home Improvement Mistakes To Avoid via Sharon Paxson

About The Author: The above article “How New Doors & Windows Can Boost Your Home Value” was written by Ellie Batchiyska.  Ellie is a writer for Nick’s Building, a wood entry door manufacturer specializing in custom and stock doors of various sizes and styles.

About Rochester’s Real Estate Blog: Rochester’s Real Estate Blog is owned and operated by Kyle Hiscock of the Hiscock Sold Team at RE/MAX Realty Group.

With over 35 years of combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise.

We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY.