Guide To Contractors & Companies For Home Windows

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Guide To Contractors & Companies

Finding great contractors and companies for home windows is one of the biggest struggles you face when replacing your windows. Here are five tips to follow in your hunt for a great installer.

Gather Up To 4 Initial Estimates

When searching for the right contractor, gathering approximately 4 initial estimates is a wise start - this allows you to get a good idea of the effort that may go into your window replacement project. It will also help you decide what is a fair price to pay for the project. When you compare the estimates later, you will be able to decide which ones to eliminate if they are significantly higher or lower than the initial prices.

Ask The Experts

The best way to get real opinions is to go to a forum. Google "replacement windows forum" and you will get an unfiltered guide to contractors and companies worth your time. You may have to register in order to post on some of these forums, but it's easy and quick. Open a new thread to ask your specific questions, share the details of your project, including the pricing and see what expert contractors have to say. They can tell you if the pricing for the specific window series or model is fair (or will suggest you continue to gather more bids in order to get a fair price).

Review The Company

Getting your bid accepted by an online contractor is only half of the process. You also have to make sure that you will get the level of quality that you deserve from the company or contractor. A quality window is very important, but not quite as important as how it is installed. Ask the company for references, talk to past customers who have worked with them before and see how the projects turned out. Look for recent and past references to get a good gauge of the work and how it has held up over the years. Also check for references that aren't given by the company (Yelp, Angies List, etc.) to get unbiased opinions of them.

Trust Your Instincts

After you follow the above steps, you should have narrowed down the companies to about two choices. Eliminate companies that use aggressive sale tactics, which are unappealing and usually means the company has a poor reputation for quality and work. The company you want to go with will make you feel comfortable, not push the choice on you. You should feel confident that they can give you the quality products and service that they promise.

Quality Over Price

Low prices do not always equal the best option. Sometimes you have to select the higher priced bid in order to get the deal that you're really looking for. Keep in mind what your family can afford when you make this decision, both in the present and for the future. This means that the window you purchase has to be high enough quality to be worth it in the long term. A well-made vinyl window purchased through a reputable manufacturer is acceptable for 90% of all U.S. homes. Also consider the quality of installation, which will affect how long your windows last as well as the energy efficiency. Good installation and energy efficiency can help save on heating and cooling costs over the years, which is what the guide to contractors and companies is all about -- saving money.