Doors and Windows - Size of windows matters

We just bought a 30+ year old house with tons of reno potential :D . The real downfall of this house is the basement. A previous owner decided to "attempt" to finish it but the windows in the entire basement are too small to be effective. In the case of a fire they're too high and too small to crawl out of. I'm thinking of making them larger and installing window wells. Is this kind of thing a DIY job or would it be easier and better to hire out? What kind of process is involved here? The windows are set in the foundation and the basement is sub-terranian.

Lorne

It is a DIY job of you have above average mechanical skills and tools. The foundation has to be cut to enlarge the opening for an egress window, and the outside needs a larger well with steps to the surface. Enlarging the opening may require new headers, etc.