We had like 4 window companies come in last week and give us quotes. It was the worst couple days of my life, window pitches take like 2 or 3 hours and are so boring. We ended up going with Thermo-twin. It is going to be $10K for all 12 windows in the house to be replaced. It costs a little more than the double hung windows (standard up and down windows) because we are getting 3 piece sliders (windows that are long and narrow).
We got quotes from Champion, Window World, Thermo-twin, and then a guy we know that did windows at our old house. The Window world and Champion sales pitches were enough to make me want to kill myself. Both sales pitches took like 2 or 3 hours and the entire time they were “educating” us about their company and a bunch of other stuff that we don’t care about. We just wanted to know how much the window costs and why it is better than the competition.
We actually ended up going with Thermo-twin because they are locally owned and manufactured and because the guy didn’t BS us. He knew we wanted the energy efficient (tax credit) window and that we had already sat through 2 sales pitches (and those guys didn’t get the order). He said he doesn’t do the whole sales pitch thing like the other companies. He got our measurements and gave us a book of before and after pictures (no marketing/sales BS from Thermo-twin) and discussed the benefits of their windows. He was not the lowest price, but he was the most honest and he knocked off $800 bucks when I told him I was willing to pay by check instead of financing.
The Champion guys came in and said they wanted over $18,000. Which they immediately knocked down to over $12,000. Then I told him they were still way over our other quotes and he got me down to like $10,500 if I put up signs in my yard and sent referral letters to all my friends and neighbors.
Never want to have to buy windows again!
This was about the experience my wife and I had. After 3 hours I had to nearly throw the guy off of our porch. I guess telling him to get the fuck out of my house wasn’t enough. Bunch of shady people. We figure we will just buy Andersen or Pella when we can then either put them in ourselves or hire a contractor. We did one in the basement last year and it really isn’t rocket science. This is a brick house and the basement window was of course, installed in the block. I personally think what they charge for vinyl windows is ridiculous and would rather pay similar for wood.