Source: http://www.kiplinger.com

By Pat Mertz Esswein, Associate Editor

If your windows on the world no longer enhance the facade of your house, shield it from the elements or filter out noise, there is no better time to update them. Retailers whose business withered as homeowners stopped spending on big home-improvement projects are ready to deal — and anxious to keep their installation crews working.

Many dealers have cut markups to the quick, says Susan Selman, with Schmidt Windows, in suburban Chicago. Plus, the tax credit for installing energy-efficient windows in your home, which will help defray some of the cost, expires at year-end. The credit is worth 10% of the cost, up to $500. Just remember that replacing windows is an expensive proposition that includes not just the price of the windows but the cost of expert installation to ensure that the windows perform as promised.