Please note this 2022 article is the latest update to our original article, which analyzed the value added by egress windows in a different group of cities. We recommend reading the previous article - How Much Value Do Egress Windows Add to Your Home? - if your location is not listed below.
Housing prices have been especially volatile over the last year, and some real estate markets are cooling. But an egress window project remains a strong bet in 2022 to boost the livability and value of your home. We see a strong appetite for this project from DIY homeowners as well as basement remodelers and other installation specialists who have been subcontracted to assist with this project.
During this time of increased working from home and remote learning, additional space in your home is still at a premium. A retrofit egress window converts your basement space into more livable space for an additional bedroom, a home office, a family room are an income-producing rental. Not only does an egress window create more comfortable space to live, it can also significantly elevate the resale value of your home.
Are Egress Windows Worth It?
Worried that your basement bedroom does not legally qualify as a bedroom? There's a fix for that, but is it really worth it? We analyze the value an egress window adds to your home resale value across different markets in an attempt to answer that question.
An egress window can add substantial value to your home and allows you to legally market a basement space as a bedroom. How much value does an escape window add? It depends on your house and your location. Egress windows are, however, one of the few projects in which you can fully recover your cost, and then some, in resale value.
Even if you’re spending up to $6000 or more for professional installation, you can market your new space as an additional bedroom (assuming you meet qualifications such as a closet and minimum 10’ by 10’ area) when it comes time to sell your house.
Calculating the Value of Egress Windows?
Research the current average value for livable space in your community to calculate the potential added value for the new living space in your home. It’s a given that an additional bedroom contributes to the marketability of your home. Our formula multiplies the square footage of the additional livable space with the average home price per square foot in your market, and then divide that total in half to recognize that finished basement bedrooms usually appraise for between 50-70% of the above-ground value. This given value is determined by a range of factors such as the quality of the finishes, if there is a walk-out or not, and how the space stacks up to other homes in the area.
The formula is expressed as:
(Average Home Price per square foot) X (New Basement Square Footage) X (O.5)
Using this formula, we analyzed the value egress windows add to home resale values across different markets.
| City | Average Home Sales Price / Sq. Ft. | Average Value Added from 12x12 Basement Bedroom |
| Twin Falls, ID | $208 | $14,976 |
| St Louis, MO | $140 | $10,080 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | $255 | $18,360 |
| Louisville, KY | $142 | $10,224 |
| Eugene, OR | $305 | $21,960 |
| Sacramento, CA | $323 | $23,256 |
| Fort Collins, CO | $254 | $18,288 |
| Albany, NY | $166 | $11,952 |
| Richmond, VA | $202 | $14,544 |
| Overland Park, KS | $169 | $12,168 |
| St Paul, MN | $186 | $13, 392 |
Additional Benefits of Egress Windows
- Safety
- Legally rent basement space as a bedroom
- Increased natural lighting
- Better ventilation
- Replacing existing basement window with more secure window
- More comfortable space for work from home & remote schooling
- Can be installed almost anywhere in your basement
Consider installing an egress window to your home if you would like to add livable space and value to your home, make your home safer and brighten the ambiance of your basement. Our DIY egress window kits cost only a fraction of the value you will see in the return on your investment.
Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions.
Also in Egress Window News
Egress Window Installation - A Lucrative Add-On To Your Home Improvement Services
Exo Frame - An Engineered Solution For DIY Egress Window Installation
Galvanized Window Wells - The Best Choice For Your Egress Window
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Theo Stephens
Author
Entrepreneur and inventor Theo Stephens engineered a better way to install egress windows, by developing a patented process over the course of his Brighter Basements team installing thousands of escape windows. The proven innovation of his steel ExoFrame™ design saves installation time and money while providing greater structural integrity and security. He founded Bright Idea Egress to make his complete egress window kit and efficient installation process available to homeowners and installers nationwide.