Your Home Your Way

Roland/Weir Appraisal Associates Suite 30A, 1015 26 th Street, Brandon, MB R7B 2B9 • Phone: 204-727-7100 Fax: 204-727-1563 • Email: admin@rolandweir.ca • Web: rolandweir.ca Farm, Residential and Commercial Property Appraisers Serving Western Manitoba Since 1977 3 SATURDAY, MAY 6, 2023 • YOUR HOME YOUR WAY • THE BRANDON SUN New windows add curb appeal, energy efficiency BY MICHELE MCDOUGALL One of life's simple plea- sures is opening the windows on a warm summer day and letting the fresh air in, but that is not easy if it requires a push and pull to get the windows to open, says Brandon resident Susan Brechmann. Brechmann and her hus- band Klaus are like many in Westman who are looking for- ward to a fresh look for their home by replacing the old with the new. "We're excited about getting new windows for lots of rea- sons," said Brechmann. "Our house is more than 40 years old, and we think they are all the original windows, so we're looking at becoming more en- ergy efficient, and the curb ap- peal won't hurt either." Curb appeal, a term used by realtors, refers to the attractive- ness of the property as viewed from the street by a prospective buyer. In a competitive housing market, the homes with the most curb appeal get the most views and most interest. Even if the windows are all working properly but they look like they haven't aged well, the buyer will mention it to the list- ing agent, said Kevin Gregory, a sales professional with Bran- don's Royal LePage Realty. "I won't tell people who are listing their home to change their windows, but I do give them a heads-up," Gregory said. "Every person who notic- es a home with older windows will say, 'Oh, the windows need to be replaced,' whether they actually do or not, but every person will notice it." Window design and tech- nology have come a long way since the single pane glass and aluminum sliders, according to Oral Gurr, owner and operator of Keystone Glass, which has been in business for more than 50 years. Before the purchase and installation of windows, Gurr said the most important step is talking with the client to get a sense of their needs, which includes determining the en- vironment inside the home, because of the constant fluctua- tion of the weather outside. Manitoba is dry in the win- ter and humid in the summer, and because most people tend to close their windows tight in the winter, even tasks like laun- dry and cooking can increase moisture levels that can affect the windows. » Continued on Page 4

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