HOW TO CHOOSE THE PERFECT WINDOW COMPANY FOR YOUR NEW WINDOWS
1. How long has the company been in business? Since most new companies do not make it past the first couple of years, it is very important to hire a company that is establish. If your project requires service work or warranty work, will the company be around to service your needs?
There is a big difference between “I’ve been doing this for 20 years” and someone actually running a company for 20 years.
2. Does the company hold the required licenses that the state requires for your project? Both MA & RI require window companies to register with the state. Make sure that you see a copy of the contractors current license.
3. Does the company have a general liability policy? Insurance is expensive for contractors, working with a company without insurance is a very expensive gamble. Ask to see a current copy of their insurance policy.
4. Workers comp insurance is required if the contractor has employee’s working on your project. If someone gets hurt while working on your house and the company does not have a policy the worker can go after your homeowners insurance.
5. Most towns require PERMITS for replacing your windows. The permits are for the towns to make sure that your contractor is using widows that meet the state’s standards. If your project is completed without a permit, you are responsible for the outcome of the job, not the contractor. If the contractor uses windows that do not meet the standards, you are responsible for correcting the problem.
6. How long has the company that actually makes the windows been in business? There are not many companies that have been making windows for several years. You should look for a company that has been making windows for a long time and that will honor their warranties.
7. Window product warranties have small print. Is the lifetime warranty really a lifetime warranty? Do you have to pay for a portion of the replacement parts during the warranty period? Is the warranty transferable in case you sell your house?
8. Labor warranties are also very important! How long is the labor warranty that the company is offering? Do they charge a “service fee” to come look at your problem? Does the company have a partnership with the window manufacture or will they both point fingers at each other while you are stuck in the middle?
9. Does the company conduct criminal background checks on their installers? Are you willing to have people working in your house with a questionable background?
10. Does the company conduct drug testing? Do you want someone working in your house that might have an issue with drug dependency? Can you trust them around your assets and your kids?
11. Does the company have an established business location? Is the company run from the backseat of a car or from a commercial location that you can visit?
12. Can you communicate with the company, do they answer the phone and reply to e-mails in a prompt manner? Are they available for emergency service should you have an issue with your project?
13. Are the installers factory trained? Window manufactures will void a warranty if the project is not installed correctly. You can buy the most expensive widow on the market and if it is not installed properly, the window will fail and you will not have a warranty.
14. Does the window company have a clean record with the state? When you check the on-line complaint forums, does the company appear?
15. Does the company provide you with pictures of completed jobs?
16. Does the company provide you with references that you can call?
17. Does the company have a formal proposal and contract? Does the contract state the starting and completion time frames? Does the contract protect you and the contractor or just the contractor? MA law requires wording that protects the homeowner.
18. How much money is the company looking for up-front? Do they want you to pay in full and then wait months for your project?
19. Do they offer several way to pay for your project? Does the company take checks and credit cards? Do they take the credit cards that you like to use for points and cash back? Do they offer a finance program so you can pay for your project over a longer period of time? Do they offer a deferred payment program so you can start your payments in a few months?
20. Does the company offer a referral program? If you refer them to your friends, neighbors and relatives do they reward you?
1. How long have they been in business? (1) = not important to me (5) =very important to me.
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2. Do they have the required licenses?
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3. Do they have general liability?
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4. Do they have a workers comp policy?
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5. Will they pull a permit for the project?
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6. Length of time the company has been making windows?
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7. Window product warranty.
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8. Labor warranty.
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9. Does the company conduct criminal background checks?
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10. Does the company conduct drug testing?
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11. Does the company have an establish business location?
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12. Will the company answer you calls and be there for emergency service?
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13. Are the installers factory trained, do they receive annual training?
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14. Does the company have a clean record free of complaints?
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15. Does the company provide you with pictures of similar jobs?
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16. Does the company provide you with references?
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17. Does the company use a formal proposal and contract, is it legal?
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18. How much money do they want up front?
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19. Do they offer you several ways to pay for your project?
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20. Does the company offer a referral program?
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As you can see there is more to picking a company than just the price. The 20 things listed above will give you a rating so you can determine the actual value of the company that you choose. By comparing scores you can get a really good feel of what you are getting for your money. If you have any questions about this survey, please contact us at our website.
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