With so many options on the market, it can be hard to know which door and window products will best meet your needs. Not only that, how can you tell if the contractor is qualified to mount your new windows and doors? For most of us, we can’t tell. That’s why it’s important to do your homework before hiring just any home contractor that claims expertise in installing replacement windows and doors in Gilbert, AZ. Here are a few things you can do as a consumer to find a skilled contractor to handle your home improvement projects:
Personal recommendations
Do you know anyone in your community who recently installed new windows and doors? If not recently, perhaps in the last two or three years? If so, ask them about it. Would they use the same contractor again? Why or why not? What went well? What would they do differently? The answer to these questions can help find a skilled contractor, and also help you gain valuable insights from others experiences.
You can talk to friends, colleagues, even strangers in a grocery store line are sometimes willing to share information. Perhaps a quicker way to gain insights is to present your question to your network on a social media site. Many people are very willing to share invaluable information that can help you in your search.
Online Search
If you don’t have any success with personal recommendations, the web is also a good place to search for a good home contractor that services your neighborhood. For example, searching on Google or Angie’s List for replacement windows and doors in Gilbert, AZ, will yield the names of several companies providing service in the area.
Read their company websites and try to get some preliminary understanding of their services and product offerings. Look for answers to the following questions:
- Are they a specialized window contractor? Or are they general contractors?
- What product lines of window and door product do they carry?
- Will any of these products meet your needs?
- How much experience does the company have installing doors and windows?
- Do they carry general liability and workers compensation insurance?
- Is their company licensed and bonded?
Online Reviews
After reading a few of the company websites, try to locate reviews and information about the window and door companies that have piqued your interest. These days, many people are willing to share their experiences online. Some good, some bad. Don’t necessarily be put off by negative reviews. What you’re looking for is an overall picture. If a company has a few reviews that are less than favorable, but overwhelmingly more reviews that are positive, you can safely assume they are a good contractor doing good work. No contractor can please everybody, and the reasons for negative consumer reviews are as varied as the people who write them.
Contractor Pre-Screening
Once you have a list of two or three contractors that service your area and meet the above screening questions, it’s time to contact them. You are conducting a pre-screen interview of sorts, trying to learn whether the contractor will be a good fit for your project. If any questions in your online research were unclear, now would be a good time to ask. You can do this by email or by phone, whichever is most comfortable for you. It’s also a good idea to ask for references complete with names, addresses, and phone numbers of prior customers.
Consultation in Your Home
If the contractor’s responses to your pre-screen questions go well, the next step is to schedule an in-home consultation with them. These are generally free of charge. The contractor will request to walk through your home with you to inspect your existing doors and windows. They will take measurements and ask further questions to understand better what you’re wanting to accomplish by updating your windows and doors. After gaining these insights, a good contractor will discuss your options with you and provide their expert recommendations. Finally, they will take all of this information back to their office and write up a firm quote for you to evaluate.
Hire and Move Forward with Installing Replacement Windows and Doors in Gilbert, AZ
After your walk through consultation is finished with the candidate contractors and had a chance to review their quotes, you will likely have a good idea of who you’d like to work with for the renovations. At this point, it’s time to make a hiring decision. Once you decide, let the contractor know right away before their quote expires.
Cougar Windows & Doors is among the most skilled service providers of replacement windows and doors in Gilbert, AZ. As a specialty window contractor, we know what products work best in this area. We are located at 3820 E Main St Ste 1, Mesa, AZ 85205. When you’re ready to pre-screen with us, just give us a call. Our contact number is (480) 699-9066. We’re here to help.
