How to Effectively Choose the Right Window Company
Replacement windows are a significant investment for many homeowners. The theory is that when it comes time to make a change to your home taking the right steps ensures that windows are a problem you don’t have to worry about for years, if not decades.
However, window replacements are only as dependable and long-lasting as:
- The company that manufactures the product.
- The company that installs the windows.
For the purpose of this article, we will examine how to effectively choose the right window company for installation.
Importance of Finding the Best Window Company
One of the biggest mistakes that homeowners fall for is investing in the actual product yet cutting corners on installation. It’s a reasonable error as replacement windows can get pricey. It’s kind of like buying a top-performing engine yet not having the rest of the car to attach it to.
Needless to say, the quality of work and reputation of a window company is really important. Poor workmanship can result in issues not getting resolved despite exchanging old windows out with brand new windows.
Therefore, try not to skip out on paying for a good, high-quality window installer. Some of the best tips for finding the right window company include:
Reputation
The reputation of a company speaks volumes in any industry. The good news is that the internet has made it more reliable in determining which window companies have a strong reputation.
Customers are able to rate their experience with everything, and window installers are no different. You can find a good consensus regarding the reputation of a window company by checking its ratings and reviews online.
Keep in mind that some scandalous things happen on the internet and some companies deliberately undermine competitors by posting fake, negative reviews to bring their online reputation down. So don’t take online reviews as the Bible, but definitely consider what is being said.
Experience
Perhaps even more important than the reputation of its company, or at least equally important, is its experience. There is nothing you can do to replicate work experience.
If a window company has been in operation for decades then it’s likely that a highly dependable, very skilled installation team is part of the company.
The bottom line is that most good companies survive and the bad ones don’t withstand the test of time. As a result, if you really want a good assessment of how well an installer performs consider how many years of experience they have done the task at hand.
Quality of Work
Every company can talk a big game, but at the end of the day, they are only as legitimate as what their work demonstrates. It’s a good idea to meet with several different installers in-person not only to get quotes but also to get a feel for the style and work ethic of the company.
The best window companies have portfolios that will proudly show off all completed work. Some of the same companies will also post testimonies from satisfied customers.
Quality of work also includes a guarantee from the company. What do they promise if you hire their services? Do they back their installation for a year? Two years? A lifetime?
Professionalism
Another reason you should meet with different window companies in-person is to assess their degree of professionalism. Any decent company will make professionalism an utmost priority.
For starters, the company should have open and active lines of communication. The installer is someone you should be able to reach out to with questions and receive answers within a reasonable amount of time.
Window companies should always make the customer priority number one. It is your home and it will get severely altered during the installation process. So how will their employees treat and respect your home while completing a job?
Word of Mouth
Asking for word of mouth referrals from friends, family, co-workers, and neighbors may seem dated yet it’s still a solid way of gauging the reputation, professionalism, and work ethic of a window company.
There is a good chance you have at least one acquaintance that replaced their windows within the last few years. Who did they hire as their installer? Were they satisfied with the final result?
If the experience was positive, you just got a referral to what should turn out to represent a high-quality window company. If the experience was negative then at least you have one company that you can cross off your list of consideration.
So don’t be afraid to ask around for opinions and suggestions!
Window Speciality
There’s a huge selection of types and styles of windows. For starters, homeowners have five or more types of material to choose from the actual window from wood, vinyl, aluminum, and fiberglass.
What you will find is that some window installers are universally skilled and can replace just about any type of window. Meanwhile, some companies may specialize in installing a specific brand or type – like vinyl windows.
When you reach out to various window companies and they stop by your home for a personal assessment they may even have recommendations you were unaware of as to what type or style may work best for your needs.
So do your best to keep an open mind and shop around. Always remember to ask a lot of questions. For example, ask the window installer ‘Is there a particular type of window or style that you have installed the most and specialized in? How many years of experience do they have installing windows?’
Local vs. National
There are both local window companies and large, national brands. National brands tend to get a lot of notice because they have larger budgets to dedicate toward things like advertising and marketing. However, try not to forget about the little guy.
Sometimes sticking with a local window company is the best solution. Local, small business window installers may not be quite as overworked and treat you like another number compared to the “big guys”. Therefore, they can dedicate more time and energy to your window installation ideally getting it completed sooner and with excellent efficiency.
Window Company Assessment and Factors
There are a lot of different factors to consider when finding the best window company. Some window companies offer both window products and installation. Meanwhile, other window companies specialize in just one element.
Don’t forget to shop around, get multiple quotes, and meet with your top selections in-person in order to gauge their professionalism, experience, work ethic, and overall reputation.
