Ask These Questions Before & During Your Appointment To Ensure You Don’t Overpay Or Hire A Second-Rate Company
Let’s face it: replacement window salesmen in St. Paul are never going to tell you the negatives about their company. That’s why it is important to educate yourself before going into any sales appointment.
As the old saying goes, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” By asking a window salesman the questions below, you’ll save time and money, and ensure that you are making the right hiring decision.
“How Long Will Your Sales Presentation Be?”
Make sure you ask this question BEFORE they show up to your home. The average window appointment, according to industry sources, last 2 hours and 37 minutes! That’s enough time to watch an entire Timberwolves game!
Why so long? Mostly because they are selling overpriced windows and they need a lot of time to get you to agree that you should pay $15,000 to $25,000 for new windows.
“What Is The Markup On Your Windows?”
There are a couple reasons to ask this question. First, do you really know how much replacement windows in the St. Paul cost? Probably not—you’ve never bought them before, so you have next to no idea of what a good window should cost. But the truth is that many companies have high overhead. So they markup the price of their windows three to four times to cover the cost. In other words, they charge triple or quadruple the cost of the windows. In other other words,you pay too much.
You should also ask this question to gauge the response of the salesman. If he doesn’t give a clear answer or falls back on the vague “our prices are the best” spiel, there’s a solid chance the company is inflating its prices.
Note: If the salesperson in your home seems like a genuinely decent and honest person—but isn’t giving you a clear answer—he’s probably just surprised by the question. Tell him you’ve done some research and have discovered that some companies mark up their prices three to four times. Inform him that you understand mark-up is how companies turn profit, but that you want to make sure you’re paying a fair and reasonable amount.
For clear-cut answers on the best prices for replacement windows in the St. Paul area, visit our Pricing page.
“How Energy Efficient Are Your Windows?”
Different regions of the country have different Energy Star requirements for window efficiency. In St. Paul and throughout Minnesota, the recommended U-Factor is 0.30 or less (the lower the number, the better the efficiency). U-Factor measures heat loss in a window, which determines how well a window keeps heat energy in your home. Windows with good U-Factor will help keep your home warmer and your energy bills lower during the cold months.
For more information about energy efficient replacement windows in the St. Paul area, visit our Window Energy Efficiency page.
“How Much Do You Charge Up Front?”
It’s normal for replacement window companies to charge 30% to 50% up front. So this in itself is not a sign of an untrustworthy company.
If, however, they demand any more than 50% before they start, you should be concerned. In these instances, the company either needs you to front the money to pay for the materials or is engaging in some dubious practices.
About 1% of replacement window companies require ZERO money until the job is done to the homeowner’s satisfaction. Zen Windows Twin Cities is that 1 out of 100 exception. Visit our Better Process page for more details on our No-Money Down policy.
“Can I See Your Proof Of Insurance & Client Referrals?”
Every reputable replacement window company in the St. Paul area should be able to provide you with the following:
- Customer references
- Pictures of completed work
- Detailed proposal of the work and specific costs of the work to be done
- Written warranties for both products and workmanship
- Proper liability insurance
- Financing options
- Standards for installation and installation crews
Do NOT be afraid to ask a replacement window contractor for these items! Your window project is a big investment; you NEED to be sure you’re hiring a competent, quality contractor to do the job.
Want A Quote… Without The Sales Appointment?
If you want superior window replacement in the Minneapolis and St. Paul areas—without the high prices, pushy salespeople, and poor quality—click here to start your 5-Minute Quote process. Our quotes are done via phone and email, and we forego any and all sales pressure. We guarantee you a stress-free experience… from start to finish.
Steve Copsey
Owner
