The short answer
Before you list, walk every window and door. Replace cracked glass and foggy dual pane units, fix sliders that drag or will not lock, replace torn or missing screens, and make sure every bedroom window opens all the way. These are small jobs compared to a repair credit, and most of them can be handled in one visit.
Window problems are easy to spot and easy for a buyer to worry about. One foggy window on an inspection report can read as "the windows are failing," even when a single glass unit is the only thing that needs replacing. Here is what we see on inspection reports most often, and how to get ahead of it.
What home inspectors flag
- Cracked or broken glass, including small cracks in a corner.
- Foggy or hazy dual pane glass, which means the seal has failed. Here is why windows fog between the panes.
- Windows that will not open, will not stay open, or will not lock.
- Bedroom windows that would be hard to get out of in a fire.
- Missing, torn or bent screens.
- Sliding doors that drag, jump the track or will not latch.
- Glass that may need to be safety glass, like a pane next to a door or around a tub or shower.
Fix it now or give a credit?
When a buyer asks for a repair credit, they are pricing the unknown, so requests often come in higher than the actual fix. Replacing a foggy glass unit or a set of rollers is a small line item. Left on the report, it can turn into a request to replace the windows. Handling the small stuff before you list usually costs less and keeps the conversation on price instead of repairs.
Replacing one foggy glass unit is a small job. A buyer asking you to replace every window is not.
A quick list before you list
- Open, close and lock every window and slider.
- Look through every pane at an angle for haze or fog between the glass.
- Check corners and edges for cracks and chips.
- Make sure every window has a screen, and none are torn or bent.
- Vacuum slider tracks and clear the weep holes at the bottom of each frame.
- Write down everything you find so it can be priced in one visit.
Door glass, sliders and screens are some of the easiest things to refresh before listing photos.
Send us your list or your inspection report. We can usually price and fix the glass items in one trip, and the estimate is in writing.
What can wait
Replacing every window just to sell rarely pays off unless the frames are failing. Buyers expect an older home to have older windows. Focus on anything that is broken, foggy, unsafe or does not work. Small touches like new screens cost little and make the house look better in photos. If you are on the fence about the bigger stuff, here are the signs a house really needs new windows.
Already in escrow?
If the inspection is done and a repair request came back, send it our way. A written price for the glass items helps your agent decide whether to fix them or offer a credit. Sticky slider on the list? Here is why sliding doors get hard to open.
Quick answers
Will foggy windows hurt my sale?
They rarely stop a sale, but they show up on inspection reports and can lead to a repair request. Replacing the foggy glass unit is usually a simple fix.
Do I have to replace my windows to sell my house?
Not usually. Fixing glass and windows that are broken, foggy or not working is normally enough. Your agent can tell you about any local requirements.
How fast can you fix glass before a listing?
It depends on the glass. Single sheets can be quick, while dual pane and tempered units are made to order. Call as soon as you know your listing date.
Can you give me a written estimate for my agent?
Yes. Estimates are free and come in writing.