Bob McCay, owner of McCay Building Company, Birmingham, Ala., says prospective home buyers with experience -- that is, those who've already bought and sold homes -- notice windows. "Those more knowledgeable about real estate and housing know that windows make a difference," he says. Especially if the seller can drop brand names.
In this year's Cost vs. Value Report, an upscale window replacement project -- with a national average of $15,502 installed -- yields a slightly higher return -- 77% -- than replacement windows at a mid-range price point, with a national average of $9,424.
Changes in technology, including a host of alterations designed to increase energy efficiency, and convenience features such as tilt-out hardware, can make those recently installed windows a prime selling point for prospective buyers.
Project description
Mid-range: Replace 10 existing 3-by-5-foot double-hung windows with vinyl-clad double-glazed replacement windows. Do not disturb existing interior or exterior trim.
| Mid-range |
| Market | Job Cost | Resale Value | Cost Recouped |
| National Average | $9,424 | $6,951 | 74% |
| Atlanta | 8,835 | 5,065 | 57 |
| Boston | 10,301 | 9,496 | 92 |
| Buffalo, N.Y. | 9,377 | 5,540 | 59 |
| Chicago | 10,690 | 11,939 | 112 |
| Cincinnati | 9,380 | 6,480 | 69 |
| Cleveland | 9,946 | 6,490 | 65 |
| Columbus, Ohio | 9,239 | 4,050 | 44 |
| Dallas | 8,641 | 2,750 | 32 |
| Denver | 8,747 | 4,579 | 52 |
| Detroit | 9,776 | 5,408 | 55 |
| Houston | 8,927 | 3,700 | 41 |
| Indianapolis | 9,279 | 3,700 | 40 |
| Kansas City | 9,268 | 3,713 | 40 |
| Los Angeles metro | 10,301 | 13,732 | 133 |
| Los Angeles | 10,285 | 18,964 | 184 |
| Orange Cty, Calif. | 10,317 | 8,500 | 82 |
| Miami | 8,427 | 6,500 | 77 |
| Milwaukee | 9,863 | 7,025 | 71 |
| Minneapolis | 9,828 | 7,233 | 74 |
| New Orleans | 8,470 | 6,452 | 76 |
| New York metro | 9,986 | 9,718 | 97 |
| Passaic, N.J. | 10,240 | 6,750 | 66 |
| Nassau-Suffolk, N.Y. | 10,200 | 9,290 | 91 |
| Fairfield-New Haven, Conn. | 9,518 | 13,113 | 138 |
| Norfolk, Va. | 7,962 | 6,000 | 75 |
| Orlando, Fla. | 8,539 | 4,535 | 53 |
| Philadelphia | 9,958 | 7,395 | 74 |
| Phoenix | 8,923 | 5,167 | 58 |
| Pittsburgh | 9,639 | 5,750 | 60 |
| Portland, Ore. | 9,452 | 6,083 | 64 |
| Providence, R.I. | 9,695 | 6,200 | 64 |
| Sacramento, Calif. | 9,953 | 6,900 | 69 |
| Salt Lake City | 8,495 | 7,160 | 84 |
| St. Louis | 9,788 | 6,167 | 63 |
| San Antonio | 8,562 | 5,708 | 67 |
| San Diego | 10,445 | 10,750 | 103 |
| San Francisco metro | 10,703 | 11,243 | 105 |
| San Francisco | 10,703 | 10,400 | 97 |
| Oakland, Calif. | 10,703 | 12,085 | 113 |
| Seattle | 9,990 | 5,499 | 55 |
| Tampa, Fla. | 8,275 | 4,569 | 55 |
| Washington metro | 8,576 | 5,966 | 70 |
| Washington, D.C. | 9,018 | 8,000 | 89 |
| Baltimore | 8,638 | 4,773 | 55 |
| Richmond, Va. | 8,073 | 5,125 | 63 |
Upscale: Replace 10 existing 3-by-5-foot double-hung windows with double-glazed divided-light windows with an interior finish of alder or cherry and an exterior finish of copper or aluminum cladding.
| Upscale |
| Market | Job Cost | Resale Value | Cost Recouped |
| National Average | $15,502 | $11,941 | 77% |
| Atlanta | 14,835 | 10,645 | 72 |
| Boston | 17,687 | 17,260 | 98 |
| Buffalo, N.Y. | 15,377 | 9,200 | 60 |
| Chicago | 18,031 | 17,437 | 97 |
| Cincinnati | 15,380 | 9,000 | 59 |
| Cleveland | 15,946 | 11,890 | 75 |
| Columbus, Ohio | 15,239 | 7,203 | 47 |
| Dallas | 14,641 | 4,750 | 32 |
| Denver | 14,721 | 9,333 | 63 |
| Detroit | 15,776 | 9,705 | 62 |
| Houston | 14,927 | 5,900 | 40 |
| Indianapolis | 15,278 | 7,700 | 50 |
| Kansas City | 15,290 | 7,588 | 50 |
| Los Angeles metro | 16,205 | 21,315 | 132 |
| Los Angeles | 16,285 | 29,714 | 182 |
| Orange Cty, Calif. | 16,125 | 12,915 | 80 |
| Miami | 14,428 | 11,250 | 78 |
| Milwaukee | 15,862 | 12,052 | 76 |
| Minneapolis | 16,828 | 11,300 | 67 |
| New Orleans | 14,470 | 10,802 | 75 |
| New York metro | 15,986 | 17,220 | 108 |
| Passaic, N.J. | 16,240 | 14,667 | 90 |
| Nassau-Suffolk, N.Y. | 16,200 | 17,490 | 108 |
| Fairfield-New Haven, Conn. | 15,518 | 19,504 | 126 |
| Norfolk, Va. | 13,962 | 8,800 | 63 |
| Orlando, Fla. | 14,538 | 8,400 | 58 |
| Philadelphia | 15,958 | 13,215 | 83 |
| Phoenix | 14,923 | 9,833 | 66 |
| Pittsburgh | 15,639 | 8,500 | 54 |
| Portland, Ore. | 15,452 | 11,750 | 76 |
| Providence, R.I. | 15,695 | 10,900 | 69 |
| Sacramento, Calif. | 15,942 | 12,188 | 76 |
| Salt Lake City | 14,495 | 11,800 | 81 |
| St. Louis | 15,788 | 11,583 | 73 |
| San Antonio | 14,562 | 10,187 | 70 |
| San Diego | 16,045 | 15,750 | 98 |
| San Francisco metro | 16,704 | 18,134 | 109 |
| San Francisco | 16,704 | 16,600 | 99 |
| Oakland, Calif. | 16,704 | 19,667 | 118 |
| Seattle | 15,990 | 12,099 | 76 |
| Tampa, Fla. | 14,275 | 8,569 | 60 |
| Washington metro | 14,607 | 10,813 | 74 |
| Washington, D.C. | 15,109 | 14,667 | 97 |
| Baltimore | 14,638 | 9,273 | 63 |
| Richmond, Va. | 14,073 | 8,500 | 60 |