Choosing the Right Windows for Your Home
After getting several estimates you may be more confused about which replacement window to buy than you were before you started! At this point it’s probably best to try and keep it simple. There are several important questions to ask yourself first before you decide on which window to purchase. We’ve listed a few of the more important items to consider below.
- What do I want my new windows to accomplish once I purchase them?
- Maybe your answer is to lower your overall utility bill, help soundproof your home from a busy street, or increase security for you and your family. It’s extremely important to know which of these things is most important to you because high performance windows are custom made with a variety of options, each of which is designed to serve a particular need. Not every window has the options you might need so it’s important that you make it clear to the salesperson exactly what you expect their particular replacement window to accomplish. If the salesperson says their base window does it all and is the greatest thing since sliced bread then politely show them to the door.
- What am I looking for in a window company?
- Due to the weak economy there seems to be window sales companies sprouting up from every crack in the sidewalk. It’s hard to know who to trust. Compounding the problem are companies who advertise windows for $189.00 each and others for $1,299.00 each. The real answer on which window is right for you is probably somewhere in the middle. It doesn’t take a lot of brainpower to figure out that a window that costs $189.00 is probably the lowest quality window option out there. The salesperson, for obvious reasons, won’t point out the low quality features of his window but you can bet that corners were cut all over the place when his windows were being made. Once the salesperson adds on installation costs, options, tax, etc. you’ll wind up paying around $400.00 per window instead of the $189.00 advertised price. Low quality windows and shady advertising tactics don’t make for a good combination.
- The $1,299.00 “name brand” window may be worth every penny but slightly out of your budget or sometimes the company may be selling a low to mid grade “name brand” replacement window but has such high overhead that they have to sell their windows for a premium. Again it’s important to grill the salesman about what you expect the window to accomplish. If the salesperson is reluctant to stand behind his product then you have your answer. One thing to remember though-It’s better to overpay for a high quality product that works than to pay a low price for a low quality product that doesn’t work.
Q. How much can a true high performance window save me on utility bills?
- Most of our replacement window products will range in price from $500.00 to $800.00 installed depending on the options you choose and the size of the window. With high performance windows from THC, Inc. our customers average a monthly savings of 30% to 60% off their energy bills! Many of our customers have shared stories about their neighbors buying windows from the big box stores or the $189.00 window companies. They tell us that their neighbors are averaging 2% to 4% monthly energy savings. That’s a really small return on investment. Those windows will probably never pay for themselves. We’ve actually had a large number of customers who had bought $189.00 windows then had them removed after a few months and installed our windows instead. There simply isn’t a shortcut when it comes to quality windows. You pay a little more upfront for quality but the overall energy savings results in tens of thousands of dollars back in your pocket over a 5 to 10 year period!
Remember-Dear Abby said it best-“If it sounds too good to be true then it probably is”. Can a $400 window actually save you a ton of money on utility bills? No. Do I have to spend $1,200 a window to get quality? No. Avoid the confusion and call us today for a free estimate. We’re here to help! 512-454-1193