Are you unsure whether to repair or replace your window? Learn the key factors to consider and the process for determining if replacement or repair is necessary.
Check What State Laws Say
A lot of landlords and investors wonder if they should change out all the windows when they purchase a property. At Pro Services Boston, we handle all types of maintenance, repair, and renovation needs for your investment property.
So we go through your property and make sure that it is in compliance with the laws of habitability that requires windows to:
- Open and close easily
- Stay upright
- Have screens
- Have locks
- If it has glass, it must be intact
– If it’s in a bathroom, it must be glazed so that people can’t see into it
– You also need to have it tempered so people can’t fall out, break it, or cut themselves
You also want to know the different requirements for your windows in the city where you have a property. We will help you go through that and make that determination, so we will check all windows.
If everything’s good, we might just leave the windows as is.
Consider Your Utilities
The next aspect to consider is who is paying the utilities. For a multi-family house in which we might be paying the utilities, we don’t want drafty windows because it will mean that you are literally letting the heat escape and the money goes out the window.
So in the case of drafty windows, what we will do is see if we can caulk around the frames and fix them. We may also consider making any type of improvements to minimize the heat leaving the property, especially if we are paying the utilities.
Be Prepared for City Inspection
If tenants do call a city inspection and they find your windows drafty, you will have to do something about it. There are always temporary improvements such as putting a plastic sheet on it. But when you do that, there is no ventilation, and that’s really not a long-term solution.
Sometimes, what we do is check window by window and change them as necessary. It can cost between $300 to $500 per window. It can get pricey quickly, but it is something we do as an investor, always looking out for your best interest regarding the costs as well as trying to balance it with the happiness of the tenants.
Improve Your Home With the Pros
If you or anyone else you know is looking for a handyman service for your investment property to solve issues such as having to replace or repair a window, please think of Pro Services Boston.
