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 North
Texas
In North Texas, BuyWindowsDirect can provide
installation of your windows. We have certified crews that are
master craftsmen, insured, and excellent customer service rating.
All installations provided by our certified craftsmen are backed by
a limited lifetime installation warranty. BuyWinodwsDirect
warrants that the installation of the product will be free of
defects in workmanship under normal use and services for as long as
you own your home in which the products were installed. This
warranty is transferable one time only by the original single-family
homeowner to a successor owner of the property. If this warranty is
transferred, it will remain in effect for 10 years after the date of
the transfer.
If you are outside our North Texas coverage zone then
see our suggestions below.
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It is best
to find a local contractor that has multiple crews that install
windows for a living. This way you are dealing with a company
that has a track record and previous customers that can be used
as references.
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To find a
local contractor you can search sources like BBB, Angie’s List,
internet search or the Yellow Pages.
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This is
like any other job interview. You are the boss and they are the
potential employee.
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Verify
insurance and license that are required in your state. Request
a copy of the insurance and other required documents be given to
you prior to the start of the project.
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Each
contractor should give you an estimate listing the price for
each of the following: materials, labor and overhead. They
should also give a time frame for the project’s completion.
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Ask them to
provide references from past customers. Three to five should be
enough. Try to have the references span from the recent past to
a few years ago to see what the contractor’s career has been
like.
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If the
contractor can’t pay for materials and other costs, ask for some
sort of financial reference (like banking information) that will
act as collateral so they will not run off on the job.
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Make sure
the contractor knows what permits (if any) to file with the
county. Do not allow the contractor to work without permits no
matter how much they insist it is easier without them and they
will not get caught. If they do get caught (and it happens more
often than not), the project will have to be halted and you may
have to pay a fine.
Call the References the Contractor Provided
A list of names and telephone numbers doesn’t really
tell you anything about the contractor’s abilities to complete your
project to your satisfaction. Call each reference and ask these
questions:
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How did
they find the contractor (phone book, friend, etc.)?
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What were
the details of the project the contractor did for this person?
Example: how long ago was the project, were the results
satisfactory….etc.
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Did the
contractor behave professionally? Did he stick to the schedule
and budget?
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Would the
person recommend the contractor to others?
Choosing a Bid Offer
Once the references check out, compare the estimates
of the contractors to one another. If a bid seems suspiciously low
there is probably a (not good) reason for it. Make sure a low bid
isn’t the result of the contractor trying to use substandard
materials. Remember to compare time frames as well as money. Decide
whether it is important to have the job done fast or to have it done
for less money. Keep every document and ask any questions that you
may have now. Before you sign a contract, make sure you know what
you are signing yourself up for.
This may seem like an obvious statement, but make
sure the contract is an actual, legally binding one. Do not draft
your agreement on a bar napkin. Make sure your expectations for the
contractor and what is expected from you are clearly spelled out in
the contract.
If you do your research and select a reputable
contractor, there should be no major problems with the installation
process. At the end of the project, your home will have its new
windows that will make life more attractive and energy-efficient for
you. And you barely had to lift a finger. |
