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Selecting the right style and ensuring product quality
Design is largely a matter of taste but quality should be standard.
Make sure that your windows come with a good guarantee, 10 years is
standard for window frames. Read the guarantee carefully to make sure
that it is fair and reasonable. It should cover the locking system
and handle, hinges, the sealed glass units, colourfastness of the
window frames and workmanship of the installation. Sealed unit failure
and hardware faults are the biggest problems post installation, you
should get a minimum 5-year guarantee on these.
Negotiating the best price
To negotiate the best price follow the tips
below and offer something of value to your supplier in exchange for
a discount.
Every
window is made to measure for a specific customer and the many variations
in styles. The peaks and troughs in demand can make it difficult
for a manufacturer to keep a factory running smoothly and efficiently.
It is immensely valuable for the manufacturer to have your business
in the order book as quickly as possible so that factory scheduling
can be planned ahead, so expect a discount if you sign a contract
“on the night”. Remember that by law you still have a 7-day cooling
off period if you have signed a sales contract/order at home.
Window
companies have teams of installers and life is a lot easier if the
installation date can be arranged to fit with their workload and
not your personal convenience. So ask what it is worth for you to
fit around their schedules and ask for another discount.
Your new windows will be custom made to fit your home and your design
choices, so expect the supplier to ask for a deposit to confirm
your commitment. The deposit should be reasonable and 10% is usual.
Ask for an extra discount if you give a bigger deposit, after all
they have your money in the bank.
The supplier’s costs for administration and business are the same
whether you have two or ten new windows so ask them to share the
benefits with you. Ask for a volume discount if you are having several
windows changed at the same time.
Fitting
information
Make sure that a FENSA registered
home
window contractor
fits your windows. FENSA is the Fenestration Self Assessment Scheme
set up by the Glass and Glazing Federation in response to new building
regulations introduced by the Government to improve thermal efficiency
standards. The Glass and Glazing Federation are the industry’s leading
Trade association and Fenestration is a posh word for windows and
doors!
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