Shopping for new windows for your Sonoma home is an inspirational and exciting time. The market has never been filled with so many style options, and design ideas have never been so readily available. It’s easy to see how the excitement can result into rushing into purchasing the first window model you love. Let’s pause for just a moment, however. We want to ensure that you are completely satisfied with your purchase year after year. To assist you in the buying process we have created this short list of factors to consider while shopping for new windows.
Know Your Budget
Before you begin shopping it’s important to know your budget, but that includes both your short term and long term budget. Your short term budget is the retail price of the model, the price you will be paying in store, up front. However, your long term budget takes into account factors like maintenance cost, repair costs (if the material has known issues over time), and eventually replacement costs depending on the predicted lifespan of the windows.
Know Your Priorities
Obviously, you want windows that will tie into the overall style of your home. However, it’s important to know your functional wish list as well as your aesthetic preferences. For example, are you hoping to improve your home’s energy efficient capabilities? Reduce the amount of exterior noise that enters your home? Or simply rest easy knowing your windows feature state of the art security hardware? Knowing the functionality, you’re searching for will help narrow down your options while shopping.
Know Your Time Investment
One factor that often goes overlooked by homeowners throughout the shopping process is the amount of time they will be required to invest in the upkeep and maintenance of their windows. Consider up front how much time you are willing to invest. Are gorgeous windows worth the annual sanding, peeling, staining, and painting that may be required of them? It’s better to make these decisions now than be stuck with the unwanted chore later on.
Know Your Resale Plans
Before taking on any home improvement project, it’s important to know your plans on reselling your home. If you plan on reselling your home sometime in the near future, it’s wise to check in with your real estate agent to find out which type of windows will help increase your resale value. For example, homeowners with vinyl windows can expect to receive up to 80% of their original cost of purchase once their home has sold.
By having a clear idea of what you expect out of your windows, you’ll be able to clearly communicate these concepts with a window professional that will direct you to the right window choice for your home. At American Window Systems we have been pairing homeowners with their perfect windows for decades, and it always helps when customers come with a thought out idea of what they’re looking for. To begin shopping for your new windows Santa Rosa, CA today give us a call at (707) 304-5311 or visit us in person at 1729 Action Avenue, Suite B Napa, CA 94559.