I'm putting my money behind bossyvossy. PVC is not only structurally weaker, it has a shorter lifespan. If you plan on "flipping" your house to an ignorant buyer who doesn't know the shortcomings of PVC windows, go ahead and use them. But if you plan on keeping your home or passing it on to the next generation, what sense would it make to install windows that are going to need replaced in 20-25 years? Is it worth saving a few bucks on the front end just to spend 100% or more of what you are planning to spend on today's less expensive PVC windows? A QUALITY aluminum framed window with a high performance finish will easily last in excess of 50 years. Plus, PVC is the scourge of the planet in both its manufacture and disposal whereas aluminum is totally recyclable. Help yourself and help the planet and go aluminum. They may not be as good as old growth wood windows, but they are more affordable and require less maintenance.

Yes as havingfun said some do some don't. In my area for some reason September , October and November are the best CL months for furniture ( sometimes throughout the summer) . Once we are in full season the prices go way way up and it's harder to find nice things at good prices. November is pushing it but great finds are still there. If you are lucky you will find that expensive but hardly sat on sofa one has in the formal living room of their 2nd home and out of boredom they just want to redecorate. Normally things in that scenario are priced way to high for CL to start but eventually come down. If you really like something though go and see it to get your foot in the door. You can always make an offer. A low offer will most always be excepted from the person with a van or truck before a person with a car. I have a van so when inquiring on big stuff I mention that in the 1st sentence. If I'm the one selling I always get back with the people who say they have a vehicle that can haul first. When shopping on CL you have to usually just zero in on items individually. If you look at the rooms as a whole you might miss some good stuff.

Any suggestions for decorating would also be appreciated as I start on the project. My husband says “it’s just a beach pad always full of sand” but I still want it to look nice!

Lynn is right. Unless it has the name Pottery Barn, RH, etc the real good high quality names like you own don't mean much to the younger generation and these names get pennies on the dollar in the resale market and the older generation is buying new as they don't want what they had. And even the consignment shops are fussy as to what they accept as they know what will sell and what won't. If you don't want to mess with it, you may want to call a woman's shelter and see if they are interested in any of the pieces you may not take with you. I've done this before and when they are setting up women and their children in places of their own, they are interested as these women are starting over with nothing. I've even given them pots, pans, etc. And what is nice is that they came and hauled it all away so I didn't have to mess with it.