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Before buying a new house, it’s important to perform a thorough visual inspection of the property. As essentially “holes” in the building envelope, it’s critical that you inspect the windows. Windows can be a major source of ingress for water, air and insects and a these can all cause major structural damage, not to mention high heating and cooling bills. Replacing a house full of windows is an expensive proposition that you probably don’t need when sinking your life savings into a new home.
Most people get a licensed home inspector to look at the house and provide an assessment of any problems. While this is an important part of the real estate purchase process, you can identify some signs of damage and problems on your own before you make an offer and incur the expense of an inspector. Below are 6 window red flags to watch out for when you’re looking at a new home and trying to evaluate it for purchase.
Water stains on the inside of the windows can be a sign that the windows in the house are leaking. Sometimes stains are a sign of condensation gathering on the window panes. Either way, water stains can indicate a moisture problem, which can lead to mold, mildew and poor indoor air quality. Beware.
Single-pane windows aren’t that common anymore because they’re so energy inefficient. If the house you’re thinking about buying has single-pane windows, keep this in mind as you negotiate the price. There’s a good chance you’ll want to replace the windows sometime in the near future.
Wood can start to deteriorate when it’s not well maintained. If the wooden frames around a home’s windows have poorly maintained or peeling paint, the wood itself may have sustained damage. Look for signs of wood rot, like discolored or soft spots in the wood.
If you notice temperature irregularities in a house, windows in the home may be allowing energy to pass between the inside and the outside. Watch out for drafts coming through the cracks around the windows. If the rooms exposed to sunlight seem stuffy while rooms in shade are much cooler, this is also a sign that the windows are inefficient.
Are the rug and couch discolored or faded? Are the curtains faded on the side facing the sunlight? This will happen to your couch and curtains too – if you purchase this house. Plan to replace the windows in this home with windows that have high-performance low-e4 glass to protect your furnishings and floors from the UV rays of the sun.
Double and single-hung windows rely on parts inside the window frame to stay up when the window is open. If the windows are propped open with rulers, office supplies or books, this is a sign that those pieces inside the windows are broken. Broken window parts can be dangerous and should be fixed. Have this repair negotiated before buying the home!
Renewal by Andersen of Long Island windows are long-lasting, durable and backed by a 20-year transferrable warranty. We make window replacement easy and deeply satisfying. To find out more about installing windows in your newly purchased home, contact Renewal by Andersen of Long Island today at .
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