Choosing a contractor to do any home improvement project to your home can be a confusing and scary ordeal. Picking a replacement windows contractor is no different. The problem with choosing a window contractor in Chicago is there are literally thousands of companies that can do the work for you. Which one do you choose and what do you look for when making this decision?
Making the right choice is enormously important. The wrong contractor can cost you thousands of dollars, weeks and weeks of waste time, and years of frustration and regret.
These Folks Wish They Would Have Read This 3 Years Ago
For example, we recently visited a couple in Chicago who were looking to have their windows replaced. When our consultant showed up at their house he thought he had the wrong address because the windows in the house looked like they were only a few years old. At the kitchen table our consultant asked they why they were looking to replace. An embarassed look appeared on both the husband and the wifes face. “You tell them”, the wife said to the husband.
It ends up they had just had their windows replaced 3 years prior by a company from a close suburb of Chicago. They had gotten 4 estimates and decided to go with the lowest bid, which according to the husband was a “deal” they couldn’t pass up but wished they would have.
From the beginning they started to feel a little strange about the deal. The contractor wanted a 75% deposit, told them it was going to take 3 months to get the windows in, and couldn’t tell them who was going to install the product.
After putting down the deposit and signing a contract they didn’t hear from the contractor for 2 months. Being a little more than worried they called the number on the contract but it was disconnected. Luckily they had gotten the contractor/salesman cell phone and he actually answered… the first time. He made up some excuse why the office number wasn’t working and told them their windows should be ready soon.
They heard nothing for another whole month..then out of the blue they got a phone call from someone they didn’t know telling them, “We got a call that we are supposed to put your windows in tomorrow.”
Two scruffy dudes show up the next morning at 9:30 (they were supposed to be there at 8), neither of which spoke English. According to the homeowner, they ripped through the installation and were gone about as fast as they had showed up. And as soon as the job was done and before the homeowners could take a good look at their new windows, the salesman was there to collect the final balance and then he was gone.
Glad the windows were in and that they didn’t get ripped off, they hadn’t taken a close look at everything. Later they realized the clean up was terrible, the caulking was sloppy, and there were no labels or markings on the windows to show them what kind they had even gotten.
Within a week one of the windows wouldn’t open. So they called the salesman… no answer. For weeks, no answer. In the mean time one of the other windows wouldn’t open and one other one would only open with extreme force. Then winter came…
According to the homeowners the reason they had replaced their windows the first time was because in the winter they could feel drafts and their house was freezing all the time. With these new windows, there house was even colder. A dozne calls and still no answer from their salesman.
Needless to say, the salesman never called back and now these folks were out the original money they spent and now needed to spend more money to fix the problems that they had before and a whole bunch of new ones.
Our consultant could tell right away that the windows that were installed were very cheap plastic windows. When our installer took them out to put our new quality composite replacement windows in, he noticed several pretty severe issues with the installation. Namely, the insulation around the frames was not put in all the way around the windows and the windows weren’t installed square so the cheap vinyl frames weren’t straight so the sashes could operate correctly.
So how do you protect yourself so you aren’t victim to a bad replacement windows Chicago Contractor?
Follow these 5 simple steps and you can be 99% reassured that a dirty Chicago replacement window contractor won’t take advantage of you.
#1. Never Automatically Go with the Lowest Price
What seems too good to be true to be true, usually is. A low ball bid most often means something is being left out. In many cases the thing being left out is quality. If you get a price quote that is significantly lower than your other quotes, be leary and ask questions, make sure you are comparing apples to apples, and always do your research (#2 below).
#2. Do Your Research
With the ease and access of the internet you would think this would be a no brainer but it surprises us everyday the
number of people that don’t even do a simple web search to check out companies. First thing, google the company and see what comes up. Look for reviews, complaints, and information on the company and what past customers have said. Then check the Better Busienss Bureau. Are they listed, what is their rating, how many complaints do they have and more importantly, how did they handle them. Then check out the company’s website. Is it professional and informative? Does it have customer testimonials and relevant information about the company?
Here is a huge hint, do the research before the company even comes out. That way you can ask intelligent questions. And when you are informed, sometimes you can ferret out a dirty salespersons B.S. by catching them in a lie.
Also make sure the contractor has a legitimate brick and morter location. About 75% of all home improvement scams are hatched by traveling workers without a real location in the area they are working. Make sure they have a real office, showroom, or shop. It is also a good idea to call their office a few times during the day to see if they answer. If they answer their phone, great. If they don’t or don’t call you back, don’t use them.
#3. Only Give a Reasonable Deposit
A third to half is pretty standard for home improvement projects that require special order material. Replacement windows are custom measured and custom made to fit your current openings. If you are feeling nervous about a company (and you are actually going ahead with them) you should negotiate a lower down payment to protect yourself.
#4. Make Sure You Know Who is Installing the Product
If your salesperson doesn’t know who is installing your windows or can’t find out it probably means they haven’t found the installers yet. And if they don’t know them and haven’t worked with them in the past, who knows what kind of job you are going to get.
Another situation is that the company uses so many installers they don’t know who is doing your job until the day it gets done. There is a large replacement windows company in Chicago that every morning they have a cattle call. Litterally 25-30 installer show up and get there jobs for the day. Out of the 25, 5 are probably pretty good, 10 are ok, 10 will get the job done, and 5 are horrible. Will you win the lottery that day and draw the good crew… who knows, why risk it.
#5. Inspect the Work Before you Pay the Balance
It is pretty standard in Chicago to pay the balance when the work is completed but make sure you do a walk around with the installer before he leaves. Have the installer show you what he’s done and how to operate your new windows. Inspect the clean up job that they did and actually test each and every window to make sure they work properly. If you see any thing that you don’t like or that needs to be adjusted, the installer can do it right there, right then. When you are satisfied, then pay the balance.
So if you are looking for a replacement windows Chicago contractor that meets the 5 important criteria listed above and exceeds their customers expectations, give us a call. Get a no obligaton price quote and consulation on your window replacement project Today!
