5 Questions to Ask any Contractor

For the past quarter century, Windows Plus has been helping homeowners make the best choices when improving the beauty, efficiency, and security of their homes. Their main focus is to provide the largest selection of windows, doors and siding to homeowners seeking just the right product for their home. Many of Windows Plus’ customers have commented that we were awarded their job because of one of the following factors:

• Guaranteed Energy Savings
• Superior Brand Name Products
• Full Line Of Samples At Our Showroom
• Free Glass Breakage Replacement Warranty
• Experienced Factory Trained Technicians
• 10 Year Labor Warranty On Most Installations
• FREE In-Home Estimates
• Custom Orders & Special Sizes Are No-Problem
• Exceptional, Long-term Product Warranties

• Latest Technical Advances in Energy-Efficiency & Glass Safety

Selecting a contractor can be one of the most important decisions you make. The right contractor can mean the difference between a great home improvement job that beautifies & increases the value of your home - and a disaster, causing you even more money and needless heartache.

But how do you protect yourself from the bad contractors out there? The answer is easy. By doing your homework, and asking the right questions. But what are the right questions? Unfortunately, most homeowners only ask two: “How much?” and “How soon?” And although these are valid questions, they are not the most important ones.

We believe every homeowner should ask the following five questions when selecting a contractor:

Question #1: Does the contractor have a permanent place of business?

No, this is not a no-brainer. There are plenty of fly by night contractors out there who may not be available when a warranty issue occurs.  Many unscrupulous contractors operate out of their trucks and cell phone. A contractor with a permanently established place of business is likely to be more stable and available when you need them.

Question #2 Does the contractor have adequate insurance?

Don’t just ask. Get a copy of their workman’s compensation and General Liability insurance. Windows Plus provides this information with every estimate

Question #3 How long has the contractor been in business?

If he doesn’t have a long established track record, how do you know he will be around to fix any warranty work you may need? Windows Plus Inc. has been in business since 1980, providing customers with quality service for over 27 years.

Question #4: What warranties are offered?

Remember, there are product warranties and workmanship warranties. The product warranties are provided by the manufacturer, and protect against defects in the materials. All major manufacturers offer them.  So make sure you ask about workmanship warranties. These protect you against faulty installation and workmanship, and are offered by the contractor only. And don’t forget - the manufacturer’s warranty is voided, if the contractor does not install the product properly!

Question #5 Is the contractor providing enough detailed information about your unique job?

Although this really isn’t a question to ask, it is something you need to think about. Every job is different. Is the contractor treating your job as a new, unique project - or as a cookie-cutter job - just like everyone else’s? Is he taking the time to provide you with enough detailed information to answer all of your questions and make you comfortable? Or does it feel like he is avoiding your questions, or trying to hide something?

Summary: If you take the time to ask these 5 questions you can rest assured that you have done what you can to assure a positive contracting experience.

Naturally, we hope you ask these questions of us, too. Our estimators will be glad to answer any additional questions that you may have.

Ed Lancaster

829 N. Providence Rd.
Media, PA 19063

Phone:  610-566-1111