I want to echo something @richardsnorkeler just hinted at - this thread is better than any article I could find, seriously.
Also, I wanted to bring up an experience: one of the companies I got a quote from tried the classic "this financing deal is only good for today" pressure tactic. They offered me a decent price and a 0% for 12 months deal, but said I had to sign that day to get it. I felt uneasy and decided not to sign on the spot.
Lo and behold, two days later they called me and said the offer was still open. A week after that, they even improved it slightly (came down on price a bit) because I hadn't committed and they wanted my business.
So, don't be fooled by high-pressure sales tactics. A good company will give you time to think. Yes, some promotions do have deadlines (end of month, etc.), but you generally have a little time to decide. If someone is forcing you to sign immediately, that's a red flag in my book.
@patricia_peak, since you're dealing with companies that have good reputations, you likely won't encounter that. When I met with Karoly Windows for a quote, they were very no-nonsense and didn't play games like that. It's usually the more salesy companies that do.
Just thought I'd mention it because financing offers can sometimes be used to create a false sense of urgency.
I think we've pretty much covered every angle here. The beauty of this thread is seeing how many different ways people approach the same problem.
One last thing I'll add: whatever financing route you go, stick to your plan and budget. It's easy to, say, open a line of credit and then maybe feel flush with extra "money" and overspend on upgrades or something. Stay disciplined: use the funds for the windows, and if you got a good deal, resist any upsells you don't need. One of my friends ended up adding fancy decorative glass because he had financing available, and later wondered if it was worth the extra cost.
Not saying you shouldn't get what you want, but just keep track of the costs so you don't end up financing more than originally intended.
From everything you've said, @patricia_peak, you have a good head on your shoulders about it. I'm sure you'll do fine.
Can't wait to hear how it turns out for you. This thread will surely help others for a long time to come (maybe that's why it's sticky-worthy!).
I agree, this thread is like the holy grail of window financing info 😊.
@patricia_peak you've done an awesome job gathering info and everyone has been so generous sharing. It's threads like these that make communities great.
By now, you probably have a clear path in mind. It sounds like you're leaning toward impact windows with maybe a 0% financing and a plan to pay it off quickly (and possibly that grant help). That sounds solid.
The only thing left is to take the plunge! I'm sure once it's all done, you'll feel it's worth it whenever you feel that cool air staying in your house and hear the quiet from outside noise.
Best of luck, and definitely update us on how it goes. We love a good success story.
@patricia_peak It's been a few days and this thread has grown into such an informative one! I'm curious, have you come to a decision on how you'll finance the windows and which company you'll go with?
No pressure to rush, of course. Just know we're all interested in what route you take after all this brainstorming. Your experience will complete the picture here and help folks who read this later.
Hope all the input has helped you (it certainly has helped me!). Let us know when you can – excited to hear your game plan.
Update: We officially pulled the trigger on our window replacement! 🎉 Here's what we decided:
We signed a contract with Karoly Windows. Their quote was very competitive for the impact windows we wanted, and we just felt most comfortable with them (the rep was great and they have lots of good local feedback). We did negotiate a bit: we showed them a slightly lower quote we had, and they matched part of the difference. In the end, we got 12 impact windows for about $14.5k, which we're happy with.
For financing, we chose the 12-month no interest plan that Karoly offered through their financing partner. We figured this is the most cost-effective route since we can manage the payments over a year. We put 10% down (about $1,450) as a deposit when we signed the contract (put that on a credit card for points, which we'll pay off immediately). The remaining balance is set up on the 0% financing. Our plan is to pay roughly $1,200 a month to have it fully paid by month 12. I've already set up automatic payments to make sure we don't miss anything and fall into deferred interest.
I did apply for the My Safe Florida Home program for the grant. I won't know for a little while if we get approved (fingers crossed!). If we do, that could reimburse us up to $5k because we're doing impact windows. That would be amazing and would basically cover a big chunk of the cost. In any case, we weren't going to count on it, which is why we financed in a way that we can handle on our own. If the grant comes through, it'll just let us pay off the financing early.
Installation is scheduled for about 8 weeks from now (apparently that's the lead time for manufacturing the windows). Just in time for the heart of summer. I'm really excited to get them in and feel the difference in the house.
I cannot thank all of you enough. Seriously, this thread has been a lifesaver. We went from being unsure and nervous about the whole process to feeling confident and in control. I knew what questions to ask, I understood the financing options, and I honestly think we ended up with the best solution for our situation.
I'll definitely update again after the windows are in, if anyone's interested, but as of now, the financing part is settled and I'm relieved (and excited!). Thank you all for the amazing help and advice. This community is the best!
@patricia_peak That’s fantastic news! Congrats on making a decision and getting everything in place. It sounds like you made a wise choice with Karoly Windows and the 0% financing. And $14.5k for 12 impact windows is a solid deal indeed, especially since you negotiated it down a bit.
The 12-month plan should treat you well as long as you stick to the payoff schedule, which it sounds like you are on top of (automatic payments for the win!). And if that grant comes through, it’ll be icing on the cake – I really hope you get it.
I'm sure you're going to love the new windows. Come hurricane season and those sweltering August afternoons, you'll be thanking yourself for doing this. And it’s even better that you won’t be paying interest while enjoying those benefits.
Definitely keep us posted after installation – we’d love to hear how the project turns out (and live vicariously through your joy of new windows 😄).
This thread has been a pleasure to follow, and your outcome really makes it all worthwhile. Cheers to great windows and a well-financed project!
This thread has been one of the most informative discussions I've seen on window replacements. Big thanks to @patricia_peak for starting it and following through with an update, and to everyone who contributed.
As a fellow Tampa Bay homeowner, I’ve learned a ton here that I’ll use for my own project. It’s threads like these that really show the value of community knowledge-sharing.
Congrats @patricia_peak on your new windows and successful financing journey. Enjoy the benefits, and thanks for letting us all learn alongside you!
@patricia_peak I’m so glad to hear you went with Karoly Windows and that you got a deal you're happy with! It sounds like you really knocked it out of the park with the financing strategy too. No interest for a year and potentially a nice grant coming – you really took advantage of all the best options.
When those new windows are in, I think you’ll immediately feel the benefits (and probably wonder why you waited, I know I did in my case 😄).
This thread has been incredible, and your follow-up just capped it off perfectly. Thanks for sharing your journey with us. It's going to be so useful for anyone else in the same boat.
Enjoy the peace of mind during storm season this year, and the lower electric bills. You’ve earned it after doing all that homework!