Mid-morning definitely works well, but I've had decent luck calling right at opening too. Few times I've done it, the reps seemed fresh and ready to tackle issues before things pile up. Weekends are hit-or-miss though—in my experience, fewer staff means longer waits if you do end up needing something specific. Might depend on the store or even just who's working that day...but overall, earlier in the day seems better for me.
"Weekends are hit-or-miss though—in my experience, fewer staff means longer waits if you do end up needing something specific."
Yeah, weekends can be rough. If you're planning a bigger window project, I'd suggest calling mid-week around opening time. Usually, the more experienced reps are available then, and you can get clear answers on financing options without feeling rushed. Have you checked if Lowe's offers any special financing deals specifically for windows? Could save you some hassle down the line...
I learned that lesson the hard way last spring when I was doing our bay windows. Thought I'd swing by Lowe's on a Saturday afternoon and sort out financing details real quick—big mistake. Ended up waiting nearly an hour just to talk to someone about the Lowe's card, and even then, the rep wasn't totally sure if windows qualified for their special financing offer. Had to come back Tuesday morning, and it was like night and day. Got helped right away by someone who clearly knew their stuff. Turns out windows did qualify, and I could've saved myself a ton of hassle if I'd just skipped the weekend rush altogether. Lesson learned... weekdays for any major project questions from now on.
"Lesson learned... weekdays for any major project questions from now on."
Haha, been there myself—weekends at Lowe's can be a zoo. Glad you got it sorted eventually, though. And good call on the financing! Spreading out window costs makes it easier to invest in quality, energy-efficient options. I did that last year and noticed a real difference in our heating bills. Totally worth the hassle in the end... hang in there, your home's gonna feel amazing once it's done.
Yeah, weekends at Lowe's are no joke... learned that the hard way myself. Good move on spreading out the window costs though. I tell clients all the time—quality windows are one of those investments you'll thank yourself for later. Had a homeowner last winter who upgraded to energy-efficient windows, and they couldn't believe how much warmer their house felt (and how much quieter it got too). Financing makes it easier to bite the bullet on better materials without feeling the pinch all at once. Hang in there, it'll be worth it once you're cozy and saving money on bills.
"Had a homeowner last winter who upgraded to energy-efficient windows, and they couldn't believe how much warmer their house felt (and how much quieter it got too)."
That's exactly what happened with my parents when they upgraded theirs. My dad was skeptical at first, thought it was just marketing hype, but after the first cold snap he was totally converted. He kept joking about how he could finally ditch his thick wool socks indoors. Curious though, did your client mention noticing a difference in their heating bills right away, or did it take a few months to really see the savings kick in?
My experience has been that most homeowners start noticing comfort improvements immediately, but the savings on heating bills usually take a bit longer to really show up. I've had clients tell me they saw a slight drop in their first month's bill, but the bigger savings typically become clear after two or three months—especially if you're comparing year-over-year usage. It depends a lot on how cold it gets and how efficient your heating system already was.
Funny you mentioned your dad ditching the wool socks... I had one homeowner jokingly complain that now he had to turn down his thermostat because the house felt "too warm." He was half-serious, too. It's always interesting how quickly skepticism fades once people actually experience the difference firsthand.
"Funny you mentioned your dad ditching the wool socks... I had one homeowner jokingly complain that now he had to turn down his thermostat because the house felt 'too warm.'"
Haha, that's pretty relatable. When we replaced our windows last year, I was definitely skeptical at first—seemed like a lot of hype for some glass panes. But honestly, after a couple months, I did notice the furnace wasn't kicking on nearly as often. Didn't exactly toss out my wool socks yet though... old habits die hard, ya know? Still, gotta admit it made more difference than I expected.
Haha, I totally get that skepticism about window replacements. We did ours about two years ago, and honestly, I thought it was mostly marketing fluff at first. But man, was I wrong... the drafts we used to get in the living room just disappeared. Didn't even realize how bad it was until it was gone. Our heating bill dropped noticeably too, which was a nice surprise.
I haven't quite ditched the wool socks either (they're just too comfy, right?), but I definitely don't have to bundle up as much indoors anymore. Plus, the house feels quieter now—didn't expect that bonus, but apparently good windows help block out street noise too. Who knew? Anyway, glad you're seeing some benefits from yours as well.
"Plus, the house feels quieter now—didn't expect that bonus, but apparently good windows help block out street noise too."
Totally agree about the noise thing. When we replaced ours last fall, I was mostly hoping to cut down on heating costs (which it did, thankfully), but the biggest surprise was how much quieter our bedroom got. We live near a busy intersection, and suddenly the traffic noise was way less noticeable. Didn't realize how much that background hum was bugging me until it was gone... definitely worth it.