(1)  For window replacement contracts, do not make large down payments, as this may indicate that the window replacement company has credit issues and may be trying to use your money to finance the purchase of your windows from their manufacturer suppliers.

(2)  A small deposit is reasonable for ‘custom order materials’, such as custom sized windows as they will only work in each individual home and ensures a commitment to the contractor that you will complete the project and that the contractor will not be left with a warehouse full of custom materials.

(3)  It is a good idea to ask the window replacement company to give you a list of at least 3 or 4 recent jobs that they have done, so you can see first hand what the finished job looks like.

(4)  Be sure that quotes are ‘inclusive’ of the total project costs.  Some companies may provide quotes that do not include aspects that are required in order to complete the project.

(5)  Require that any company representative (regardless of service category) consulting with you on your job, service or project, completely understand every detail about their product and services, product features and benefits, installation specifications, warranty information and the like.

(6)  Contractors should carry general liability insurance.  Avoid doing business with any company that does not carry the appropriate insurances.  Otherwise, you may be held liable for any potential injuries and damages that might occur during the course of any project.

(7)  Comparison shopping should be based on reputation, reliability, experience and price ‘value’, not just the lowest price of all proposals presented.

(8)  Always hire companies that you can communicate with and have a permanent office address.  You want an established company with an office you can go to if you ever need personal contact.  Check out the address and how long they have been in the area.

(9)  Pay contractors by check or credit card.  Avoid on the spot cash payments.  In fact, avoid all cash payments, as there is no paper trail of payment to protect you.  If a representative of a company or even a manager of a company requests any form of cash payment, this should be a major ‘red flag’ of caution to you as a consumer.