Insider Tips: Choosing Your Replacement Window Company

Renewal by Andersen of Central PA understands what a difficult decision it can be to pick your window replacement company. Many times, homeowners know what they are looking for in style and price, but may not know other things to watch out for that can differ greatly between companies. Here are a few insider tips to look out for: what the sales person does when they are at your house, contract, installers’ information, and warranty information and full disclosure.

Sales Person

This person is the first one invited into your home and must be honest with you. Make sure this person not only measures your window to give you an accurate estimate, but also inspects your windows. This is equally as important, because as a trained professional, they will be able to tell you if you even need to replace your windows and should tell you if you shouldn’t.

Contract

 Always look over the contract before you sign it. Have the sales person go over every clause and what is expected of you as the homeowner when you order and windows are installed. Also, know how long you have to change your mind after the order. Renewal by Andersen of Central PA feels communication is a very important key to selling you our product and does not want any surprises for the homeowner.

 When reading over the contract, make sure the contractor’s license number, as well as insurance coverage is listed. The Pennsylvania minimum insurance is $50,000. This covers the homeowner in case an installer would happen to fall off your roof. If the company did not carry insurance it would go under homeowner’s insurance which is usually only $20,000. The installer could then sue you for the rest of the money, which you would have to pay out of pocket.

Installers

Installers are another group of people that you trust to work in your home. As a homeowner, you want the best of the best to be installing your new replacement windows. Make sure the installers are certified in the company and windows they are installing. RBA only employs factory trained certified installers for Andersen windows, not just sub-contractors or general contractors. These men and women are experts in our windows and meticulous about their work, including clean up after the project.

Warranty

Be very cautious of lifetime or 50 year warranties, they usually are accompanied with a lot of major limitations and fine print. This should always be explained to you before you purchase the windows. 

Improper installation is not covered in some warranties and if it is a subcontractor and not a trained specialist, mistakes can happen and not be covered. If the warranty says pro-rated, it can mean more money out of pocket as the windows get older. Labor is also not included in some warranties and is another out of pocket expense.

The warranty should always stay with the window and not the homeowner. One window company’s warranty can only be transferred one time from homeowner to homeowner and if it is not sent it, the warranty is null and void. This adds extra paper work for the homeowner and can potentially cause a lot of problems when you are buying a house with these windows.

Always read the warranty during the buying process, not just when you need your window to be covered. Protect yourself and your home and do not be afraid to shop around for the best warranty out there.

Renewal by Andersen of Central PA wants to protect its customers and potential future customers. We believe the more knowledge and insider tips that you have before purchasing the better decision you will make for yourself. Be careful of companies who do not feel the same!

To learn more about these insider tips, RBA’s warranty and other information on our windows, call 1-866-323-0500 to set up an appointment.