Windows Articles

Replacement Windows Horror Story With Fairytale Ending

I cannot think of a home improvement project I hate more than buying replacement windows. If I can take care of a home repair project with my hammer and cordless drill, so much the better. But window installation is a difficult task that requires the intercession of professionals. The professionals, though, often make the work harder than it should be. Here is a replacement windows horror story, and how I turned it into a fairytale.

It began in 2000, when my wife and I were renovating a 100 year-old house near Washington D.C. The house was in bad disrepair and almost every of its 25-30 windows needed to be replaced. Because of the high costs that we faced, my wife and I called at least 5 windows companies to come over and give us an estimate. Remember, we were pretty much home improvement naifs at that point.

One salesman for a large, local window company visited, along with the protege he was training. It took several trips for him to move all of his sales aids into our house: a sample window, lightbulbs, light meters, literature, etc.

After one hour, he was still demonstrating how window coatings could help reduce our energy consumption. We did not need to be convinced of this. We knew the basics of replacement windows. All we wanted was an estimate on our windows. Despite our polite throat-clearings, the salesman plowed on ahead into the second hour.

By the third hour, he finally gave us an estimate. It was outrageous. We began to shoo him out. "Wait," he said, "let me check with my sales manager and see if I can give you a special deal." The window salesman got on the cell phone and called his manager, who graciously agreed to cut a special deal. Miraculously, the price dripped 30 percent. However, we would have to sign on the dotted line by 5pm today.

Hour three turned into hour four, and we were hungry and anxious to get back to the floor sander that we were renting by the hour. The salesman would not take the hint. Finally, we said, "Okay, we don't want your windows. Go away. Leave. Now." It took several statements like that for the guy to finally leave. We had just wasted four hours of our lives, $45 worth of floor sander rental time, and our patience on this window company guy.

What did we learn from this? Plenty. First, the customer is in control. Especially when you are hosting the sales call in your house. You can control the length, nature, and tone of every single aspect of the replacement window salescall--but gather up your strength and do it, and certainly don't ask the saleman for permission. Second, since you are gathering estimates from many window companies, you do not have time for these 4 hour salescalls. One hour is the max. Third, because much of this terrible salescall was devoted to cross-selling us on other products such as gutters and siding, make it clear from the start that you are interested only in windows. Not only will that reduce the salescall's time, you are asserting your rights to the saleman and taking the reins. It is important to show early on that you are in charge, not the salesman.

For more great advice on dealing with window companies, visit http://www.replacementwindows123.com

Reynold Washburn has 7 years of experience in DIY home renovation, much of it centered on the trials and tribulations of window installation. Read other articles by Reynold Washburn at http://www.replacementwindows123.com

Other Article Sites

findabook.com  moneycd.info  a-mortgage.info   about-lemon-laws.info  aboutstudentloans.info
all-about-publishing.info  auctions-articles.info  bestcollege-university.com  bestispconnection.com
biblefolder.com  blogger-website.com  books-used.info  brokers-guide.info  buywindows.info  cable-dsl.info
career-miner.com  carpel-tunnel.info  cashinaflash.info  cashloanreviews.info  casinobell.com  chat-house.info
clearmycredit.info  collegeloantips.info  crones.info  depression-articles.info   dirnic.net  dishguides.info
divers-below.com  expodog.info   financewizz.com  fire-insurance.info  getgood.info  handleit.net   it-idea.info
health-supplies.info  hosting-right.com  insidealert.com  insurance-facts.info  jobs-employment.info
justgood.info  lookgold.net   lowcost-travel.info  money-source.info  myhostzone.info  numisblog.com
peoplesearchfinder.info  pr-articles.info  realeas.com   refinancing-guides.info  spyware-remove.info
telelot.info  the-law.info   toppaid.info  travel-deals.info  travelcorrect.com  wedding-guide-site.com
your-blog.info  your-credit.info

MORE ARTICLES:

A Beginners Guide to the Windows Registry
The windows registry plays a major role in the every day operation of your computer. The registry is responsible for carrying out both simple and complex tasks alike. The registry can do something simple such as controlling which wallpaper you use for your computer or more complex functions such as keeping track of each an every users personalized settings and preferences.

Electric Pocket's Ringo Mobile Rings in New Features and Support for Windows Mobile 6.0
Electric Pocket's Ringo Mobile, the leading ringtone manager for Pocket PC Phones and Windows Mobile Smartphones, now supports Windows Mobile 6 and includes more options for identifying incoming callers.

Windows, Blinds And Other Ideas
Have you ever considered the use of interior shutters to enhance the look of your home or even one room in your home to make the room better and more appealing to both you and the your guests. These small items not only can add to your pleasure, but can add to the resale value of your home as well. Some other consideration may be windows blinds as well. These are things that you can do as updates or it can be something that you consider with your home design. Everyone wants to increase the value of their home. And this can easily be done with either of these window treatments. Between the two of them there are so many different options and things to consider that the common person may be completely overwhelmed if they do not receive h...

eMazzanti Technologies Presents Case Studies and Product Integrations for the Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Launch
At Microsoft's latest product launch, eMazzanti Technologies features customer case studies focused on solutions built on the Microsoft Windows Server 2008 platform. Included in these case studies are remote access solutions implemented for The Original SoupMan, Dewey Pegno & Kramarsky, Litzky Public Relations, and Server Core upgrades and Virtualization for Bergen County Camera.

Windows on the Natural World: A Glimpse into Nature as Art
Texas artist, Melanie Fain, brings her nature and wildlife etchings to San Antonio.

Clean Up Windows Registry without Downloading Anything
What's the fuzz about Windows registry cleaners? They are everywhere, claiming to clean up your PC and make Windows run faster. Are these claims sustained? In order to answer that question, a bit of theory is necessary to better understand what's going on when a registry cleaner application applies all sorts of optimizations.

Causerie Mobile Instant Messenger -- for Pocket PC and Windows Mobile Available Soon
Multiheaded Causerie Messenger, an enterprise carrier grade solution, will be soon available for Pocket PC and Windows Mobile Devices. It supports Yahoo, MSN, AOL, Google Talk, ICQ and Jabber.

Imagine LAN Releases UltraSync™ v2.0 for Windows® Vista and XP PCs
UltraSync™ software from imagine LAN provides comprehensive digital content synchronization (files, music, pictures, video, Outlook® email, and browser favorites) for Vista and XP PCs.

Boost Your Windows XP Performance
For immediate release

ServePath 'Leaps' to Announces Windows Server 2008 Hosting - Available Now
Microsoft Gold Certified Partner, ServePath, is the only San Francisco Hosting Provider offering Microsoft Server 2008 Web and Microsoft Server 2008 Standard Editions

Adware, Spyware, and The Windows Registry: Part 1
Adware, Spyware, and The Windows Registry: Part 1

Web Cams: Windows on the World
The webcam has brought a truly amazing variety of experience to the desktop user giving all of us true "window on the world" to webcams all over the planet. With a good webcam software to connect you to the vast array of webcams out there you can see live video as it occurs from such diverse places as.

IQMax Introduces Enterprise Podcasting on Windows Mobile Devices
IQMax, Inc., a leading enterprise mobile platform and software solutions provider, is pleased to announce that it is teaming up with Microsoft Corporation and Verizon Wireless to introduce Enterprise Podcasting through its IQChannels™ collaborative rich media application. IQChannels™, powered by IQMax's enterprise mobile platform, enables high quality rich media content (voice, video, images, text, etc.) to be distributed securely to targeted users in an interactive and contextual environment.

Buzz Technologies to Compete Directly with Microsoft Windows Live
Buzz Technologies' new instant messenger service allow users to watch videos and television, listen and share music, all from users' instant messenger box.