There are too many junk articles about windows out there! Some are clearly baloney— pure content filler. Some are less transparent in their nonsense. Even Angie’s List, a reputable, multi-million dollar home services website, contains inaccurate and out-of-date information. As with so much content on the Internet, one must trawl through a ridiculous amount of questionable material in order to fish out a few nuggets of truth, fact, guidance, direction.
If you’re looking to find accurate information about window replacement, installation steps, installation types, types of windows used for different applications, and so on, our best advice is this: go to the source, make calls, and do your research. We do not want to be the company that says, “We’re the ones who’ll do it the cheapest; we’re the ones who’ll do it the fastest.” —Don’t come to Clear Choice for the best price. But do come to us for the right information. That is how we want to distinguish ourselves: by giving proper information.
Here are the most useful tips we have to help you cut through the junk when researching window replacements:
First of all: we don’t believe one brand fits every customer. We carry several, and we work with you to find the right fit. We’re not pushing our brand on you. If someone is, they’ve got inventory to move, and they want you to be the person who buys it. Steer clear.
Second: stay away from anyone who tries to pressure you to make a decision today—the hard sell. You don’t have to make a decision today! Those windows are not going anywhere. There are other deals and other discounts. Don’t let anyone rope you in. You and your home are worth the time it takes to do it right.
Third: Be cautious of businesses that advertise all the time, of the names you hear at every commercial break and see everywhere you look, because when you pay for your windows, you’re paying for that as well.
Forth: Websites will use percentages and statistics to convince you of whatever they need to convince you of. Some of them are sound. Some of them are made up. Ask yourself, where is this number coming from? Is it coming from Energy Trust of Oregon, or is coming from Uncle Bob the on-line plumber? How did they reach their conclusions, and what language did they use to couch their numbers in? Be smart, be thorough, and look for the reputable sources.
Fifth: Contractors will boast that they’re the low price leader. If you want to see what they’re about, go ahead, but the lowest bidding (and the most expensive, for that matter), are contractors to stay away from. They’ve made money (or luxury) the bottom line of their business. That isn’t to negate the fact that you are on a budget, or that window replacements are a huge expense—you are; they are! But the bottom line of the business should be providing you with the highest quality service, and the best material and outcome, while keeping costs competitive as possible. There’s nothing hidden in that mission statement, and it tells you a whole lot more about what you’ll be getting all around.
Ultimately, what we want to tell people who are interested in window replacement is: make sure you’re hiring people that care about your project. Your home is the biggest investment you’ll likely ever make in your life. Cutting into your siding is like a doctor cutting into your skin. If you have to have an operation on your own body, of course you want the most qualified professional, you seek out the most credible advice, you get four different opinions. Yet so often, when it comes to making home upgrades, people look for the cheapest bid and go with it. Well that doesn’t make any sense! Yes, a company that subcontracts is going to be cheaper, but they’re also going to be removed from caring about the project, and uninvested in the results. They’re not even using their own employees, yet you’re expecting good results? —Might as well get your son’s tonsils taken out by the farmer!
Ultimately, there are a lot of mediocre companies out there, and they’re getting a lot of work. If what they’re offering sound too good to be true, it really is. Do your research, don’t cut corners, and invest in your home as you would in yourself. Find a company that cares about your project. They are out there. (Ahem).
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