Tampa Bay Home Resale Value & Window Replacement Discussion

Absolutely noticed a difference after I replaced mine. I sold my house in St. Petersburg last year, and one of the first things the buyers commented on was the new impact-rated windows I had installed. They loved that feature. While I can't say the exact dollar amount it added, our realtor told us that our home was more appealing than similar ones with old windows. We ended up getting multiple offers, and I'm pretty sure the window upgrade played a part in that. It made the house look updated and well-maintained, which in turn bumped up the perceived value.
To give some context, we spent about $15k on the window replacement (for 10 windows). When we sold, the appraisal came in higher than expected - not $15k higher, but maybe around $8-10k more than a comparable home with older windows.

So, I'd say we got a good chunk of that investment back, plus the house sold faster. And in the meantime, we enjoyed lower electric bills and a quieter home, so it was worth it. 😁

I recently had a conversation with my real estate agent about this. She mentioned that new windows can definitely make a home sell quicker in Tampa Bay, especially if the old ones are in bad shape. However, she also cautioned that you might not get a full dollar-for-dollar return.
In my case, I replaced all the windows in my 1980s Tampa home two years before selling. It cost me about $20k. When I sold the house, I don't think I got $20k extra in the sale price. Maybe I got around $12-15k of it back in the sale (just estimating based on the offers we got versus similar homes).

That said, the house did sell very fast, and the buyers said one reason they chose it was because of the new energy-efficient windows and doors (I did doors too). So even if I lost a bit of money on the investment, it was worth avoiding the house sitting on the market or getting lowballed due to old windows. Plus, my electric bill went down noticeably for those two years I lived there post-renovation. So I'd say: financially, expect to recoup maybe ~60-70% of the cost in the sale price, but the rest you kind of get back in energy savings, comfort, and a faster sale.

Great question. I'm a longtime Tampa realtor (and homeowner) chiming in.
From what I've seen:

Curb Appeal & First Impressions: New windows give an immediate impression that the home is well cared for. In Florida, buyers often do a drive-by before deciding to view, and seeing shiny new windows (often with that slight tint of Low-E glass) can pique their interest.

Energy Efficiency & Climate: Our Tampa Bay summers are brutal 🥵. Energy-efficient windows (double-pane, Low-E) can be a huge selling point because savvy buyers know they'll save on cooling costs. Many buyers will ask for past utility bill averages; if yours are lower thanks to new windows, that’s a plus.

Hurricane/Storm Protection: This is big. If your new windows are impact-rated (hurricane-resistant), that adds significant value here. Many local buyers (and transplants) specifically look for homes with hurricane-proof windows or at least shutters, especially after the active hurricane seasons we've had.

Comparable Sales (Comps): If most houses in your neighborhood have upgraded windows and yours doesn’t, expect buyers or their agents to point that out and potentially offer less. Conversely, if yours is one of few that boast new windows, it might appraise a bit higher or stand out in the comps.

In summary, new windows might not return every penny, but they do increase appeal and can boost your sale price somewhat. In Tampa Bay, I'd say they're one of the better upgrades to invest in, particularly if your windows are over 20 years old.

This thread is super helpful. I'm in Tampa as well and plan to sell my house next year. I'm on the fence about investing in new windows. My current windows are double-pane from around 2008, so about 15-17 years old. They are not the latest tech, but not the worst either. No obvious drafts or problems, just not hurricane-rated.
Do you think replacing windows that are ~15 years old would still give a good ROI for resale? Or would buyers be fine with those if they're in decent shape? Trying to decide if it's worth the expense now or if I should just leave them and maybe offer a credit to the buyer if it comes up.

Replying to @patj41, in my opinion it depends on their condition. If your 2008 windows are double-pane and not fogged up or leaking, they might still be okay in buyers' eyes. 15 years isn't super old for windows, especially if they were good quality. That said, 2008 likely means they aren't impact glass (unless the previous owner got impact for some reason) because building code for impact windows in our area got stricter after that. If your buyer is from out of state or really safety-conscious, they might see the lack of hurricane rating as a downside.
Maybe consider this: if you leave them as-is, some buyers might ask for a concession or lower price citing "old windows" or the need to upgrade for storm protection. It happens. If you replace them now, you can advertise "new 2025 double-pane Low-E windows" (and impact-rated, if you go that route) which could attract those who want a move-in ready home. Given you're selling next year, you won't enjoy them for long, so it's really about making the sale smoother and possibly higher. I'd say if you can afford it, it will likely help your home stand out (especially if similar homes in your area have upgraded windows). If money is tight, you could also just do the most visible or worst-performing ones, but full replacement is ideal for a consistent look and coverage.

One angle to consider: homeowners insurance. I'm in Clearwater, and when I upgraded to hurricane-impact windows, my insurance premium went down significantly. Florida insurers give nice credits for storm-proofing your home (impact windows, doors, reinforced garage doors, etc.).
When I sold my house, I actually showed the buyer my insurance paperwork to prove the discount. He was impressed that he'd save, like, $300 a year on insurance because of the impact windows. That's a selling point that isn't immediately obvious, but when you tell buyers, they appreciate it. Plus, it's a good talking point: "These windows can withstand a Cat 5 hurricane, so you'll be safe and save money on insurance."

I can vouch for the hurricane peace-of-mind factor. After experiencing Irma and then Ian scares over the past few years, I didn't want to mess around. We put in impact windows in our South Tampa home two years ago. Haven't sold yet, but I'm confident it added value.
Our neighborhood (near the bay) was built in the 70s, and many homes still have older windows. Whenever a storm was coming, I'd see neighbors putting up shutters or plywood, while we just watched calmly through our sturdy hurricane glass. I know that when we do go to sell, any buyer (especially someone moving to Florida) will see those impact windows and feel relieved that it's one less thing to worry about.

Also, even aside from storms, the new windows made a big difference in the day-to-day. The house feels cooler and the AC doesn't run as much because the heat isn't seeping in like before. So if a buyer is comparing two similar homes, and one has new efficient windows, they might lean toward that one knowing their electric bills will be lower and comfort higher.

Jumping in as well. For me, one unexpected benefit of replacing my windows was the noise reduction. I live near a busy road in Brandon, and after installing modern double-paned windows, the traffic noise dropped a lot. When it comes to resale, a quiet interior is a subtle but real selling point.
I remember one couple who came to our open house commented on how peaceful it was inside despite the road outside. They actually said, "Wow, you can’t even hear the traffic." That was thanks to the new windows.

I think it contributed to the sale because those buyers had seen another house in our area that week and told us later one reason they chose ours was because the other house had original windows and they could hear noise and feel the heat near the windows. Little things like that can sway a buyer's decision.

All great points above. I'll add some numbers to the discussion. I recall reading the Remodeling Magazine's Cost vs. Value Report for Tampa (or maybe the South Atlantic region) recently. It said something like window replacements recoup around 65-70% of their cost on average in resale value for our area. If they're higher-end impact windows, possibly a bit more, especially factoring Florida specifics. The National Association of Realtors also had a report where they found about 70-80% of the cost comes back in increased home value on average when selling, which is pretty solid.
Now, that's just the direct home value. Like others have mentioned, if you add in energy savings and insurance savings over a few years, the "real" ROI is higher. And importantly, new windows might help your house sell faster or prevent a buyer from asking for a $15k credit because "the windows are old." So even if on paper it's 70% ROI, in practice you could argue it's higher when you consider those factors. In Tampa Bay's market, where buyers do pay a premium for move-in ready features (especially anything that cuts down the outrageous summer electric bills), it's a good investment.