2002 Cost vs. Value Report

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