Finding Your Window Contractor for Your Window Remodel

Jan 25
08:41

2012

Aloysius Aucoin

Aloysius Aucoin

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How do you find a window contractor that you can trust and what are some warning signs to watch for so that you don't hire the wrong one?

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About every 10 years the energy efficiency standards change,Finding Your Window Contractor for Your Window Remodel Articles so if your home is at least 10 years old, both your home and pocketbook can benefit from newer energy efficient windows. Whether you are looking to lower heating and cooling costs or just like the aesthetics of new windows, hiring a window contractor is a great idea. Maybe you just want to change the look of your home by adding a bowed or bay window, or maybe a sliding door for your new deck. This is when you will need to contact a window contractor in your area so that you can get estimates and tours of all your window and sliding door options. 

Sometimes finding the right window contractor can be difficult, but there are some things to look for so that you know that you are hiring a contractor who is trustworthy and will do the job right? First you need to make sure that he has a separate list for all the materials, labor, and the time it will take to get the job done so that you know exactly what you are paying for. When you get your initial estimate done, it should include the size and type of all the windows you want replaced. Without this information it will be hard to compare estimates you would get from other contractors. Then, when you have the window contractor in front of you, there are some things that you need to know such as how long they have been in the business, what licenses and memberships they have, how many windows they replace in an average year, any refund and warranty issues, how long the project will take, and get any references they may have. 

When you are checking into the backgrounds of any potential contractors, you will want to make sure that their previous customers were satisfied with the work that was done and if it fell within the projected budget. You will also want to ask if they felt as though they were able to communicate with the contractor to make sure that things were done properly and share concerns, and most importantly, if they would recommend this contractor to others. 

There are some signs that you need to watch for as well. If the contractor refuses to give you a list of references, offers a discount if you refer them to others, or goes door to door trying to sell their products and services you may want to consider another contractor. A couple of other things to be concerned about when hiring your contractor is if they expect you to make a decision immediately or if they expect to get your own permits. This may mean that they are not be licensed to work in your state. If they ask for cash upfront, that is bad news. Don't' hire that contractor as that is an obvious warning sign of a potential problem. 

Going through all this work can be disheartening and stressful, but if you do your research properly, you will be able to save money and get a great contractor for your new window replacement.