First-Time Home Buyers: When Is the Best Time to Purchase Replacement Windows?

Have you recently purchased a home for the first time?  If you have, you are more than likely experiencing a broad assortment of emotions. These feelings can range from being over joyed to very enthusiastic to fear itself.

Since you are a new home owner we bet you are very excited about owning your very own home. Depending on the age and type of home that you purchased you may not have to do any type of maintenance to it for many years. If you purchased an older home or even a fixer-upper you may have plans for remodeling already.

An area of your home that you may not even think about replacing at first is your windows and doors.

If the home that you purchased is in fact an older home then you may want to do an inspection of your own before you decide to move in.  Check to see if those windows need to be replaced with new energy-efficient ones that will save you money in the long run by lower the cost of your monthly cooling and heating bills.

Are the windows single-paned?  They definitely will need replacing.  Single pane windows aren’t very good at keeping out Minnesota winter cold and summer heat unless you add good quality storm windows.  Double-paned or even triple-paned windows are much more energy efficient.

When Should You Purchase Replacement Windows?

As you are walking through your new home, inspect the windows as well as the doors to ensure that they lock properly as well as close all the way. At times you are able to feel heat or wind coming through your doors and windows; place your hand around the edge of the window and see if you can feel the outside weather.

There are also other ways in order to inspect your windows and doors which include:

• Holding a lit candle around the window or door frame to see if the flame flickers is an easy test. 
• Inspect the caulking that is around the doors and windows, if it seems to be dry and/or crumbling, it will need to be replaced.
• Inspect the paint, if it seems to be weathered or peeling, you will want to scrape off the peeling paint as well caulk and redo them.
• Inspect the windows and make sure that you are able to open as well as close them. Windows that will not open or open hard may be a sign of swelling wood.

Choosing the Right Replacement Windows

Choosing the right windows is an important step, but choosing the window contractor to install them is also very important.  Selecting a replacement window company can become a very overwhelming experience, due to the fact that there are so many companies that install them.  Look for a window contractor that is licensed and has the client recommendations to back up their claims.

Many new homeowners are guided by their budget when it comes time to remodel, but this should not be the main focus on who to hire or what windows to purchase.  The simple fact is that replacing your doors and windows tends to be a one-time project. In other words, since you are only going to do this replacement once in your home, you should invest in the best products as well as installation because you want those windows to last.

For quality replacement windows and expert installation in the Minneapolis area, contact Window Outfitters.  We can make a no-obligation appointment for you at our Savage showroom and help you through the process of selecting the right windows for your new home.  Call us today. 

Window Outfitters is a premier Window Replacement, doors, siding contractor and installer. As Contractor in the St Paul, Minneapolis, (Twin Cities) Minnesota (MN) metro, we proudly serve, but are not limited to, the following areas: Minneapolis Energy Efficient Vinyl Windows, Replacement Window Contractors Minnesota, Burnsville, Apple Valley, Lakeville, Savage, Bloomington, Edina, Richfield, Eagan, St Paul, Hastings, Minnetonka, Plymouth, Maple Grove, Eden Prairie, Farmington MN, Chaska, Shakopee, Chanhassen, Victoria, Mendota Heights Anderson Windows Minneapolis, Marvin Windows Minneapolis.