Choosing the Right Window and Door Installer f
Posted on Monday, June 26, 2017
Categories:
Hiring Home Improvement
|
Windows & Doors
Having windows and doors installed in your home is a good
investment. Not only do they provide a new appearance, less maintenance, and
greater energy efficiency, they can also increase the value of your home. Complete window and door replacement is a
large investment, requiring you to do your research in advance for not only the
items that you will have installed, but who will be installing them.
Who is the best choice for you and your home to make sure
you get quality workmanship, warranty of work, peace of mind, and someone to talk
to down the road if you need repairs or parts?
Here’s a breakdown of the ins and outs, ups and downs, do's and don’ts
that you need to consider when choosing an installer in order to protect your
investment and minimize your aggravation.
Independent Contractor
If you are hiring a local independent contractor, always make sure that you
check there references and make sure that they are registered with the state as
a Home Improvement Contractor. In Pennsylvania, you can visit website of http://attorneygeneral.gov and find if a
contractor is registered as required by the Home Improvement Consumer
Protection Act (“HICPA”). If they are not, move on to someone who is. Also
check their rating with the Better Business Bureau, and make sure that they
have current insurance coverage.
It’s wisest to get quotes from three or four different
contractors and choose the middle price, never the lowest. Always have a
contract before allowing work to start and do your research to know what window
they are selling. Choose a quality
window from a reputable national manufacturer with a top American Architectural
Manufacturers Association (AAMA) rating and Energy Star certification.
Independent Building Materials Dealer
If you are not comfortable hiring an independent contractor, choose a
reputable local independent building materials dealer that also provides
installation services. Although you may pay a little more, you will have the
peace of mind in knowing that they will still be there whenever you need
replacement parts or repairs. They also provide a higher-quality product with
all of the required government certifications and manufacturer warranties.
They will have a greater variety of manufacturers and
options from which to choose, and their employees are generally full-time, well
trained and educated local career people who will provide you with the greatest
professional assistance. Additionally, the order process is much easier, often
requiring only one stop at the store to choose your windows and set up an installation
schedule that’s convenient for you. Most often, the person that comes to your
home to measure is the professional installer, not a salesperson. The installer
will be able to answer more questions, make suggestions, and explain the
installation process in great detail.
Additionally, they are experienced to know what they are
looking at, be familiar with the housing construction in the area, and will
make far fewer mistakes in measuring properly and ordering the correct
materials.
Big box Home
Improvement Chain
It is often stated by wise shoppers that if you know the exact widget that
you need and exactly where to find it, then you are probably okay going to a
big box home improvement chain. Beyond that, pack your lunch and your patience.
Generally the employee assistance that you receive on any given Sunday is very
unlikely to provide you with the professional facts, figures, and options that
you should have when making a major investment into your home.
Additionally, the installation that they provide is usually
subcontracted out to another large organization from out of the region.
Scheduling can often be difficult and if everything doesn’t go right (which it
seldom does), plan on spending hours or days on hold being bounced from
department to department.
Big Fancy Manufacturer
Direct Advertiser
Hold onto your wallet and prepare for the ride. The big fancy TV ads and
promises of huge rebates have to be paid for somehow. By huge profits at your expense. The ads are
designed to get their salesman into your home… for hours. The high-pressure sales pitch and negotiating
process is more painful than buying a car, and far less rewarding. Expect to
pay 2-3 times more for the same product and installation. That’s far more money
than is justified by the $50 gift card for dinner that they will leave with you
as a thank you gift for overpaying.
Tagged:installer, contractor, windows, doors, replacement