How to Buy Windows
If you are looking to replace the windows in your house, there are many choices out there in the market.
From wood windows to vinyl windows, double pane to triple pane...
how do you know which kind of windows to buy let alone which window brand is best? All come with energy-saving features, but the price difference can be significant.
Then you must decide if you are going to buy them directly from a manufacturer and have them installed by someone else, or buy from a company that sells and installs the windows.
With all these decisions to be made, here is a simple two-step process to making the most informed decision.
Research Replacement Windows Online The beauty of the internet is the vast amount of information you can find without leaving your home.
There are many websites with good information about replacing windows.
You should search out two kinds of websites.
First, look for websites that are not selling windows but have third-party information about the benefits, features, etc.
of replacement windows.
Two sites that I would recommend would be Consumer Reports -and- ImproveYourHomeandGarden.
com Consumer Reports offers comparisons of the various brands of windows and how they stack up for various features.
They do not cover all the brands that are out there on the market but they do cover the major ones.
ImproveYourHomeandGarden.
com on the other hand has articles that cover everything from when to replace your windows, to how to select them.
Both of these sites are independent and do not sell windows.
Buy Replacement Windows at a Home Show Armed with the information from the internet, make a list of the top window brands you are interested in or at least a list of what features you want in your windows.
But do not contact the manufacturers directly and buy because you are missing some key components to a good window purchase.
The window features are important but no less than the quality of the installation and price.
Many people buy expensive windows from door-to-door salesmen only to find out that they were installed incorrectly and any of the energy savings they expected to see leaked out of the house around the window.
You must find an installer you can trust and one you can work with.
You can go around town meeting with contractors, but why waste the gas.
Any window contractor who is serious about their business will be exhibiting in the home and garden show in your area.
And these shows will have ten to sixty companies to choose from.
At the home show you will have an opportunity to talk with each of them and get a feeling for whether or not you want to work with them.
You have a chance to ask questions and then go ask the questions of their competitors.
If you are getting conflicting answers, go back and nail them down until you are comfortable.
All of this without driving all over town.
In addition, and this is the beauty of home shows, many of the window companies will be running show specials.
The saving you can realize by shopping at a home show can be significant.
Most home and garden shows occur from January to March and the contractors are looking to jump-start their spring season.
Offering show specials generates early sales for installers and gets their season off to a good start.
Take advantage of this.
If you do not know where the nearest home show is, you can go to Premier Home Shows and type in your zip code.
This will bring up the nearest home show to you.
One downside of this site is that is does not contain an exhaustive list of shows, but they only list quality shows.
Buyer beware...
like window companies, there are good home shows and bad home shows.
The better home shows will have a good selection of companies to shop from as well as other educational and entertainment features.
Premier Home Shows has done the quality check for you.
Most shows though charge a small admission, but it will cost you less than driving all over town.
So the two steps to getting the most of your replacement window experience are to inform yourself and shop around.
The pursuit of information can be done without leaving your home by using the internet and the shopping can be done most efficiently by attending a home show.
With this being one of your biggest home investments, a little forethought will give you the greatest return.
From wood windows to vinyl windows, double pane to triple pane...
how do you know which kind of windows to buy let alone which window brand is best? All come with energy-saving features, but the price difference can be significant.
Then you must decide if you are going to buy them directly from a manufacturer and have them installed by someone else, or buy from a company that sells and installs the windows.
With all these decisions to be made, here is a simple two-step process to making the most informed decision.
Research Replacement Windows Online The beauty of the internet is the vast amount of information you can find without leaving your home.
There are many websites with good information about replacing windows.
You should search out two kinds of websites.
First, look for websites that are not selling windows but have third-party information about the benefits, features, etc.
of replacement windows.
Two sites that I would recommend would be Consumer Reports -and- ImproveYourHomeandGarden.
com Consumer Reports offers comparisons of the various brands of windows and how they stack up for various features.
They do not cover all the brands that are out there on the market but they do cover the major ones.
ImproveYourHomeandGarden.
com on the other hand has articles that cover everything from when to replace your windows, to how to select them.
Both of these sites are independent and do not sell windows.
Buy Replacement Windows at a Home Show Armed with the information from the internet, make a list of the top window brands you are interested in or at least a list of what features you want in your windows.
But do not contact the manufacturers directly and buy because you are missing some key components to a good window purchase.
The window features are important but no less than the quality of the installation and price.
Many people buy expensive windows from door-to-door salesmen only to find out that they were installed incorrectly and any of the energy savings they expected to see leaked out of the house around the window.
You must find an installer you can trust and one you can work with.
You can go around town meeting with contractors, but why waste the gas.
Any window contractor who is serious about their business will be exhibiting in the home and garden show in your area.
And these shows will have ten to sixty companies to choose from.
At the home show you will have an opportunity to talk with each of them and get a feeling for whether or not you want to work with them.
You have a chance to ask questions and then go ask the questions of their competitors.
If you are getting conflicting answers, go back and nail them down until you are comfortable.
All of this without driving all over town.
In addition, and this is the beauty of home shows, many of the window companies will be running show specials.
The saving you can realize by shopping at a home show can be significant.
Most home and garden shows occur from January to March and the contractors are looking to jump-start their spring season.
Offering show specials generates early sales for installers and gets their season off to a good start.
Take advantage of this.
If you do not know where the nearest home show is, you can go to Premier Home Shows and type in your zip code.
This will bring up the nearest home show to you.
One downside of this site is that is does not contain an exhaustive list of shows, but they only list quality shows.
Buyer beware...
like window companies, there are good home shows and bad home shows.
The better home shows will have a good selection of companies to shop from as well as other educational and entertainment features.
Premier Home Shows has done the quality check for you.
Most shows though charge a small admission, but it will cost you less than driving all over town.
So the two steps to getting the most of your replacement window experience are to inform yourself and shop around.
The pursuit of information can be done without leaving your home by using the internet and the shopping can be done most efficiently by attending a home show.
With this being one of your biggest home investments, a little forethought will give you the greatest return.
