In 2010 we replaced the majority of our windows. The only ones we didn't do we had done individually in previous years. The project in 2010 completed the rest of the house.
Our house is from 1955 and we had the original windows, horrible single pane aluminum casements that were entirely inappropriate for Northeast Ohio where we have real winters and real summers. When we moved in in 1983 we knew we needed to replace the windows but raising a family/saving for college/saving for retirement and other life events took precedence.
We had a Pella sliding glass door that I loved, but replacing all the windows with Pella would have been much too expensive so we went with vinyl double hung double pane with argon between the panes. We used a small local installer who we had seen installing all over the neighborhood.
He had done 2 of our earlier replacements and his price had stayed the same and he was great in explaining the details of the estimate. On the day of the estimate DH suggested that we include the 2 large windows in the attached garage. I kept seeing dollar signs adding up and hesitated. The installer offered ideas to get these included but at a lower cost than the windows in the house. I had the idea of making these frosted glass so that we had privacy but still had the energy efficiency. It worked out great!
Since we did ours 3 neighbors have used this same company.
Every day I am glad we did these replacement windows, my only regret is that we didn't do it years earlier.
We had gotten 2 other estimates from other companies. One was an average sales guy who came and measured, showed us the brochure, etc and gave us a price. He could not give us info on the some specific installation issues we were concerned about.
Then we had Champion Windows come for an estimate. Typical setup where the guy needed both of us there for an appointed time. He had a large sales notebook and we had to go through every step and agree that of course, yes, his product was the best, had the best value, was exactly what we needed, etc. After the first hour I asked for a price, please, even a ballpark figure on this one window and then I'd know if we were in the same price range as another company. "Oh, no, I can't give you a price, yet. I'll get there after I explain more features, blah, blah..."
After the 2nd hour, which included the heat resistance demo, the sample window and many familiar sales techniques, I BEGGED for a price already. That's when he started measuring and calculating.
Almost an hour later he had a written estimate, but it was only for the entire job, not broken down by each window. There were no specifications for the installation details like we needed. And of course, if you sign here, today, right now, I can give you today's special discount only good while I'm here. His price was still at least 20% more than the company we had used before.
Yeah, thanks for stopping in, I'll help you pack up your window and your hulking sales binder, here's the door, have a safe drive home, BYE!
That's when we knew we were going with the local company with the solid estimate that we had used before.
