Why Your First Investment Should be Your Windows

Raising kids is one of the most rewarding things you can do. It’s also quite pricey, so anything you can do that will save or earn you money, in the long run, is an absolute must. Fixing up your home so that it’s more energy efficient is one of the few things where investing pays off in the long run. Think of those monthly bills! Your windows and doors are the access points where heat can be lost.

A single-paned window can lose 10x more heat than the same amount of wall space. If that weren’t enough heat lost, poorly fitted window curtains can cool the warm air inside your house, meaning your home needs to use more energy to stay heated enough to be comfortable. Draught-proofing your home is another way to keep the heat from escaping, though that requires far more time, effort, and in some cases, money to properly close and insulate. Windows and doors alone are the biggest culprits of draughts anyway. Upgrade those two, and you’ll have a far more energy-efficient home (not to mention more value added if you sell it).

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You won’t really see the value back when you upgrade these two features until you sell the house. Installing beautiful, energy-efficient windows that add to the aesthetic of your home will not only keep it warmer in winter, it will also return upwards of 73% of your investment back when you sell the house. Between lower energy bills and the added value, new windows are an obvious investment for anyone looking to upgrade their home.

There are two ways to install new windows. One is to fit out an entirely new window. This will likely need safe scaffolding, builders, and a large renovation budget. Going with this option is the best, however, as not only do windows installed like this look better, they are also sealed tight. The second option is to fit a smaller window insert into the existing opening. The window, however, will likely look out of place (not great for potentially selling your home), and these inserts won’t be sealed tight.

If your window itself is fine, but the trimming of it looks rundown, then you can skip the expensive upgrade and opt to fix them instead. Other parts of the window you can fix include replacing the glazing, add weather-stripping, and even replacing broken panes of glass. Knowing your budget and your options are the key to finding the best option for you.


New windows can cut down on cold draughts and lower your energy bills. Couple these new (or repaired) sealed windows with properly fitted curtains to retain heat during those cold months. Cleaning up and fixing the look of your windows will not just add to the aesthetic of your home, but to the value of it as well. A home is the biggest and in many cases best investment you will make in your lifetime, after all. It’s time to put some money into it that will pay off in the long run. 

Karl Young

Part-time daddy and lifestyle blogger. Father of 2 boys under 2. Golfer, scare-fan, tea-lover, traveller, squash and poker player. I write on the @HuffPostUK http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/karl-young/

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