A recent survey of real estate agents found that homeowners who invest in replacement windows before placing their homes on the market tend to recoup over 80% of their costs. A deeper look at the survey figures reveals even more interesting data about how the subtle differences between wood replacement windows and vinyl replacement windows can affect the bottom line at closing.

Wood Replacement Windows Enhance Resale Values at a Price
Most commercial builders and homeowners agree that wood replacement windows often look better than vinyl replacement windows. In fact, replacing vinyl windows with standard wood replacement windows typically results in a return on investment of about 85%.

New wood treatments and quality installation can make wood replacement windows as energy efficient as vinyl. However, wood replacement windows require far more care and routine maintenance than most vinyl replacement windows. Wood frames must be treated and stained properly during installation to avoid costly leaks.

Spending More Money on Vinyl Replacement Windows Pays Off
Respondents to the real estate agent survey noted that standard vinyl replacement windows retained only 83% of their retail value at resale. However, the agents made a distinction between standard vinyl windows, which some homeowners consider outdated or boring, and the latest vinyl replacement windows with textures and colors that mimic traditional wooden frames, even up close.

Homeowners who paid a few thousand dollars more for higher quality vinyl replacement windows often found themselves recouping 85% or more of their project costs. At the same time, survey respondents told researchers that homeowners who paid for more expensive wood replacement windows often saw their return on investment drop to 82%. Therefore property owners who care to invest a little more money while installing replacement windows can enjoy the highest resale value and the lowest maintenance costs by choosing premium vinyl products.

Sources
Bob Vila
Cincinnati Enquirer
Remodeling Magazine