How to Buy Replacement Windows
The replacement window industry is highly competitive, which can breed bad operators--all the way from the salesperson up to the company itself. Here are basics of buying replacement windows:- +5 Estimates. Nobody likes getting estimates. But this is not the time to become lazy with getting estimates. Get five or more estimates: a wider range of price quotes puts you in the driver's seat. The good news is that replacement window estimates are easy to get. Few companies charge for estimates, and salespeople will typically bend over backwards to accomodate your schedule.
- Know Your Target. Do not let the salesperson tell you which windows need to be replaced. Even an honest salesperson may be tempted to push a few more windows onto the estimate.
- Find Off-Brand Windows. Encourage the salesperson to help you explore the entire range of window manufacturers--not just the expensive name-brands.
- Sit on the Estimate. Do not immediately act on the estimate. If you wait long enough, you will almost always be able to negotiate a lower price. This is an industry with built-in room for negotiations.
- Consider Inexpensive Windows. With the fierce competition between replacement window manufacturers, it is possible to find cheap replacement windows that still satisfy your needs.
- Vinyl is Final? An old saying goes: "Vinyl is final." This means that, even though wood will rot away, vinyl windows will remain in good condition for decades to come. Vinyl replacement windows also happen to be cheapest type of window you can buy.
