Inspect the windows to ensure a good buy
By Justin Hunter
Before buying a previously-owned house there are numerous
things to inspect and discuss before signing on closing
day. Even if you have personally checked the ins and
outs of a house, the question still lingers in the back
of your head: “Is this a quality
house?”
A home inspector’s
job is to answer this question but he or she can only
determine if the house is functional and up to code.
As for the quality of the property, you may be able
to determine this without even having to walk inside.
Raynor James explains in his article, “Considering
Windows When Home Buying,” how inspecting a house’s
windows can provide you a good assessment as to its
condition and quality.
Evaluating a home’s windows is not the first thing
you think of when trying to decide if you want to buy
the home, but it may save you a lot of time.
“In real
estate, the term curb appeal is bandied about frequently
and rightly so. Curb appeal refers to visual appeal
of a home and highlights a very important aspect of
the buying process. Simply put, many people have an
emotional reaction to a property and choose to make
an offer or not make an offer based on that emotional
tie.”
This is what can get a home buyer into trouble. The
landscaping or added amenities of a house can create
an obvious distraction away from defects of the property.
While many houses are aesthetically pleasing and functionally
sound, there is a simple way to at least determine if
you should spend more time in considering buying the
property.
“One of the tricks to evaluating a home is to
closely inspect the windows. They say that eyes are
the paths to a person’s soul. Windows serve the
same function when it comes to homes. Windows can tell
you the overall quality of a home based on their type
and construction.”
James explains how focusing on the current condition
of a house’s windows can provide insight as to
how the house has been maintained over the course of
its years. In fact, it is very rare that a house’s
upkeep cannot be determined by the condition of its
windows.
The first thing you want to determine when examining
the windows is whether they are single or double pane.
“Double pane windows offer far more insulation
properties than single pane. Unless the area of the
country you are living in is perpetually hot, such as
Arizona, double pane windows are signs of quality. Also
ask to see the documentation on the “R”
rating of the windows. This term refers to the ability
of the window to act as an insulator with a rating of
7 being excellent.”
In another effort to determine the quality of the house’s
maintenance during the years you were not around, there
are a few more things you can discover from the windows.
Do the windows have screens, and if so, have they been
washed? Do they open and close easily? Is the seal around
the tracks of the window cracked, peeling?
“Finally, do the windows seal when they close?
If the answer is no to any of these questions, issues
with maintenance should be raised. Specifically, one
has to ask whether the home was maintained throughout
the period of ownership or just when the owner
tried to get the home cleaned up to sell it.”
You may be thinking that windows are a small aspect
of a home, so even if they are old and slightly corroded,
it doesn’t really matter. But you want to determine
how the house was cared for.
An owner who paid attention to the windows obviously
was not messy and took pride in the home. Everyone vacuums
now and then but not everyone takes care of their windows.
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