Replace Windows Or Seal Them Shut?

[Faisal Farnas]

Hello,

I closed on a property that I intend to rehab and rent out. SFH in a class B neighborhood and rent is $1000. It has 10 windows, and most of them are in decent condition expect that they don't open properly, or when they open they don't close fully. They have these old 1950's style manual cranks.

Before I bought it, I got a bid from my contractor for $800 for fixing all the windows. Once we got going on the rehab, we realized that they don't make parts for the window mechanism anymore (company went out of business). So I got one quote from a window guy, through my contractor, for replacing the windows with used one at around $400 a piece. Now I have some options:

1) Replace all 10 windows for ~$4000 which causes me to go over budget by around 50%!

2) Replace some and caulk and seal the remaining ones shut. In that case, which ones should I seal shut, bedroom, kitchen, living room?

3) Keep looking for a savvy handyman that can rig something up and restore the windows.

What do you guys recommend? Keep in mind that this is in Florida, and the house has central AC and ceiling fans in every room .

Thanks a lot for your help.

Faisal