| Replacement Window Shopping Tips |
| Written by Charles Faust | |
| Monday, 28 April 2008 | |
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Shopping for replacement windows can be a boring task and at times even a hair pulling task. When you think about it windows are just a boring part of our homes that we don't really focus on. They let air in during the summer months, keep most of the cold air out during the winter and cause us hours of painting every year. Most people do not think of replacing their windows until they are rotten or they are feed up with the high heating bills. In this article I hope to make your window shopping experience as pleasant as possible! Shopping for replacement windows can be a boring task and at times even a hair pulling task. When you think about it windows are just a boring part of our homes that we don't really focus on. They let air in during the summer months, keep most of the cold air out during the winter and cause us hours of painting every year. Most people do not think of replacing their windows until they are rotten or they are feed up with the high heating bills. In this article I hope to make your window shopping experience as pleasant as possible! The first step is to figure out how long you plan to live in your home. You really need to come up with an honest answer, while everyone wants to upgrade to a larger home, how long do you really plan to live in your home? With this information you can decide if you just want some cheap replacement windows so you can sell your home in a hurry or some investment grade windows that will pay you back every year. If you are considering cheap replacement windows you might want to pray that the home inspector does not find out when you go to sell your home. Most home inspectors will inform potential buyers about cheap replacement windows and cheap home improvements. The days of "house flipping" with poor quality products are over. In most cases cheap home improvements will cost you more money in the long run. The second step is decide if you want to shop for replacement windows or trust someone else with your shopping. Some people like to do research on the Internet and find their "dream windows" and then find a window installation company. Other people like to find a window company that offers replacement windows and an installation service. When you hire a professional window company they will offer you a package price on several different types of windows. If you decide to do your own on-line research, keep in mind that Consumers Reports and other ranking services only rank products that you can buy over the counter. Most top of the line replacement windows are only sold through qualified window dealers. The third step is to decide if you want to hire a professional window company or some guy with a pick-up truck and some tools. Hopefully this one will be a no-brainer! Professional window companies use top grade replacement windows while the guy with the pick-up truck has to use supply center or home center grade windows. Professional window companies will generally meet the following requirements: 1. Licensed for the states that they work in. 2. Insured in the states that they work in. 3. Carry workers comp insurance if they have employees. 4. Have an on-going training program in place for their installers. 5. Receive factory training on an on-going basis in order to insure that their installations meet or exceed factory standards. 6. Generally professional window companies will be around to honor your labor and materials warranties. Most "pick-up truck guys" will go out of business long before you require their warranty services. According to the BBB, over 80% of new business' fail within the first five years and less than 5% make it to the 10 year mark. The fourth step is to set up a few estimates. If you live in the MA or RI area you can feel free to contact my company for a free window estimate. If you live outside of our service area we can forward your information to a few local professional window companies in your area. Either way, you can click here for a free window estimate from a professional window company.                 |
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