What’s My ROI For Replacement Windows? What To Consider

April 15th, 2022 | 7 min. read

When you look around your home at your windows, do you ever think, “How old are these windows?”

Maybe you’ve been in your home for decades, and your windows haven’t been replaced since you’ve been there. Or maybe you’re moving into a fixer-upper, and you can tell the old and deteriorated windows must be replaced.

No matter the circumstances, if you’re thinking about replacing your home’s windows, you want to know it will be worth it.

Replacing your windows certainly isn’t cheap. Whether you want to replace the windows in just one room or your entire home, it’s an investment.

So, before starting this big home remodeling project, you may be thinking first if it is worth the investment and second if you’ll see any of your money back. I mean, that’s the point of an investment, right?

In other words, you’re curious what your return on investment (ROI) will be if you replace your windows.

Southwest Exteriors has been a window replacement contractor in San Antonio since 1989. We offer high-quality replacement windows to be lifelong solutions for your home.

With that in mind, we know that we are not the least expensive contractor on the market because of the quality windows we offer, expert installation and services, and lifetime warranty.

We are a long-term solution for long-term homeowners. Whether you work with us or not, we want you to know your window replacement will be worth it for you.

This article will outline the ROI for a window replacement in 2021, nationally and locally to San Antonio. We will also dive into what you need to understand about ROI to ensure your window replacement is worth it and what it can do for your home.

After reading, you will know what your ROI for your window replacement project may be and can have a better perspective of how replacing your home’s windows can increase its value.

What is my ROI for a window replacement in 2021?

Because a window replacement project is a large project and a large investment, you want to consider what your ROI will be to understand the value of your project.

When you make a big purchase, whether it’s new windows or a new car, we all evaluate what we will get out of that investment.

You want to know that replacing your windows will be worth it and what your ROI may be so that you know the value of replacing your home’s windows.

According to the Remodeling 2021 Cost vs. Value Report (www.costvsvalue.com), the cost recouped for a vinyl window replacement is 68.6%. For a wood window replacement, the cost recouped is 67.4%.

These percentages are the 2021 national averages calculated using real value data from realtors around the country. However, it’s important to remember that many factors influence the cost of a window replacement and what your projected ROI would be.

For San Antonio window replacements, the cost recouped is 50% for vinyl windows and 48.8% for wood windows, according to the Remodeling 2021 Cost vs. Value Report (www.costvsvalue.com).

What do these ROI values mean to me?

According to the national data, this means that around 67%-69% of the cost you put into your window replacement project you will see back, whether it’s through lower energy costs or increasing the value of your home if you resell.

For the San Antonio area, this means you’ll see about a 50% return on your window replacement costs.

What makes up the ROI of a window replacement?

Sometimes, looking at a number can be hard to understand. You know what a percentage means and can read what that cost recouped percentage would be, but why should you care?

How can you better understand what these values mean to you and what affects the ROI?

To better understand what affects your window replacement ROI the most and help you understand the value of replacing your windows, let’s look more into two key things that affect your window replacement ROI.

#1. Replacing your windows increases your energy savings

The first main factor that influences the ROI of a window replacement is your savings on energy costs.

If your home’s windows are old, you may not realize how much they are costing you because they aren’t performing as they should. The older windows are, the more wear and tear they endure.

Glass glazings fade, caulk starts to peel, and sometimes windows break, not allowing you to close them fully. Each of these symptoms is an example of ways that air is passing in and out of your home.

Typically with older windows, whether you see visual deterioration or not, they start to fail. The longer they are in your home not functioning as they should, the more it causes your energy costs to rise.

The outside air evenly exchanges with the air inside your home, meaning the cool air isn’t staying in during the summer and the warm air during the winter. With this, you may have noticed your HVAC bills rising or noticed your air system never seems to turn off.

When you replace your old windows, you see ROI in lower energy costs over time. You could even save 30%-40% on your monthly energy bills if you replace all windows in your home. This is the first factor to consider for the ROI of your window replacement project.

#2. Replacing your windows can increase the resale value of your home

The second factor to consider for the ROI of your project is the possible increase in the resale value of your home.

Now, if you are about to sell your home, replacing your windows before putting it on the market will not give you a high ROI. But, if you know you will be moving eventually and you suspect you need a window replacement, this can increase the value of your home, thus increasing your ROI.

For example, if you live in an older home where you know the windows have not been replaced in a while, replacing them a few years before you put your home on the market can help increase the value of your home and help you sell it at a higher price.

Replacing old windows can help improve curb appeal and may also be a deciding factor for some buyers. If they are deciding between two homes, one with old windows that will need replacing and one with newer windows, they will likely choose the home with newer windows.

However, replacing your windows right before selling your home is not worth it for you, and your ROI will not be as high.

So, will replacing my home’s windows give me a high ROI?

Now that you know what the 2021 average ROI for a window replacement is and what factors to consider when thinking about the ROI of your project, you can better understand what the value of replacing your windows is to you.

A window replacement can give you anywhere between a 50% and 70% return on investment. But, it’s important to remember that many factors influence what your actual ROI will be, like window longevity, care, and warranty.

If you are a long-term homeowner and know you have old windows, replacing your windows will give you a notable ROI through savings in energy costs. Replacing your old windows a few years before selling your home can also help increase the resale value of your home and provide you with a higher ROI in turn.

Ultimately, the longer you are in your home, the higher your ROI for replacing your windows will be.

With Southwest Exteriors, we want you to make the best decision for your home and get the most out of your window replacement. While we offer high-quality windows for long-term solutions, we want you to know how you can get the biggest ROI on your project.

We want you to have all the knowledge you need to make the best decisions for you and your home. This means providing you with unbiased information to help you choose the best products and services to meet your goals.

If you’re thinking about replacing your windows and want to make sure you get the biggest ROI you can, you need to outline your goals to make sure you have the right budget for your project.

This article will give you five steps to create the right budget for your home remodeling project. Then, you will be well prepared to invest in your new windows and have realistic expectations for the cost and ROI.