As we look at the front of the house, what kind of windows
does it have?
Are they well taken care of?
What are they constructed of: wood, aluminum, vinyl?
Overall, vinyl windows are good, with very low maintenance.
Aluminum windows on older houses could be problematic. Those are the ones that frosts over heavily on very cold
winter days. Then that ice is going to melt and you have water seeping
into the drywall. Over the years the drywall and the 2x4s can rot. This
can cost a lot to repair.
Have wooden windows been maintained properly?
Have they been caulked and glazed properly?
Are they painted?
Is it fresh paint on rotten wood?
Is any rot visible on the window sills or bottoms of the sashes?
Are there any indications that the windows were not
installed properly?
Staining in the drywall (under or on either side of the window)
Some wood that looks like it has gotten wet in the
past
Areas on the sill or frame that were repaired with
liquid wood and repainted
It's hard to state categorically what it is I see
that makes me believe there might be damage, but as when defining
pornography, "I'll know it when I see it."
Are any water intrusion areas visible anywhere around the exterior of the window?
New replacement windows are very expensive and get a poor return on investment when it comes time to sell. If we are going to buy an older house lets try to find one that has already had the windows replaced.
