The broken seals and fogged panes you may uncover during a home inspection are often the precursor to an even larger problem. Aluminum was the material of choice for homebuilders in recent decades. These aluminum windows were inexpensive to produce, easy to install, and came with an industry standard ten year warranty, if you can find the builder.
However, in today's ever changing regulatory environment, those standard aluminum windows installed in the homes of yesteryear, no longer meet EPA & Energy Star requirements. 
To circle the wagons, if you're buying a home full of aluminum windows, ask for a concession on price. You can expect to pay between $350 and $650 per window to upgrade to an EPA approved window. In a home with 10-20 windows, these costs add up. Also, it's important to upgrade your windows in order to reap the energy savings that accompany new windows. Here's a breakdown of the savings reported by Energy Star.
Another wallet whammy can be the costs associated with wood doors. Wood doors provide great efficiency when installed properly. However, they do have a few drawbacks. Texas summers are sweltering and our winters have been increasingly colder and longer the past few years. The entry door that whistles when the wind blows during the Christmas holidays and the french inswing doors that you avoide during summer because they're swollen and unoperable are byproducts of our great Texas climate. Wood doors will bow and bend with the seasons, so expect to call a handyman at some point.
If you'd rather not, look for homes with fiberglass doors, or simply remember to budget fiberglass doors into your total home acquisition figure. Fiberglass doors provide similar energy efficiency, longer warranties, less maintenance and are less expensive than their wood counterparts. Here are a few fiberglass doors we carry at Brennan Enterprises.
When budgeting for your new home, take into consideration the upgrades you'll want and need to undertake. This will hedge you from becoming house poor. Always leave room in your budget for the unexpected.
