@tigger_river Oh my gosh, yes! We had a salesperson from one company try to tell us that the windows we currently had (original 90s single-pane) were "illegal" and not up to code, which duh, we knew they weren’t up to current code (that’s why we wanted new ones) but the way he phrased it was like our house was in some kind of violation. He was clearly just trying to scare us into thinking we had to buy his product. He also threw in some dubious stats like "these old windows will blow out in a storm for sure" with no real assessment. It was so over-the-top we almost laughed.
Thankfully by that point, I had already spoken to a couple of honest contractors who calmly explained what the code requirements actually are (e.g., if you pull a permit to replace windows, the new ones must meet current code for hurricane impact or have storm protection, etc.). No one else tried to use fear like that guy. We definitely did NOT go with his company.
It pays to be informed, as you said. I started out knowing zilch about windows, but after doing some reading and hearing multiple quotes, I could tell who was shooting straight. The ones who treat you respectfully and don’t spew nonsense really stand out after you’ve heard a BS line or two!
I might be an outlier here, but I actually ended up only getting one quote... and I went with it. 😬 Before anyone scolds me for not shopping around, here's why: my next door neighbor had his windows done in 2021 by Karoly Windows & Doors and raved about the whole process. He even showed me the work they did and shared his quote details with me. So I already had a baseline of what to expect in terms of price and quality.
When it came time to do mine (in 2023), I decided to call Karoly first, fully intending to get a couple more quotes afterward just to be thorough. Well, the experience with Karoly was so good and the quote came in right about where I expected (and within my budget) that I just decided to go for it and not bother with more estimates. The salesperson (who was actually the same person who did my neighbor's quote, small world) was extremely thorough and didn't mind that I basically said upfront "I already have a good feeling about you guys; if your price is in line, I'm likely to choose you." He still went through everything meticulously, and even double-checked a couple of tricky window measurements "to make sure we get it right so there are no surprises later," which I appreciated.
They gave me a fair price (almost identical to what my neighbor paid per window, adjusted for a couple years difference), and spelled out the scope clearly. Because I had seen them in action next door, I had a high comfort level. The contract was straightforward, and I knew their quality was great.
Now, I'm not necessarily recommending that everyone skip getting multiple quotes – we usually would have gotten at least three – but in this case, having a strong referral and seeing their transparency and work first-hand was enough for me. And it worked out perfectly: my windows are in, the house looks great, and there were no hiccups. Sometimes you just know when a company is the right fit.
So, if you have a trustworthy recommendation from someone you know well, and the company proves to be as advertised, it might save you some time. Just make sure that one quote you do get covers all the bases (and in my case, it did, thanks to threads like this I knew what to look for!).
I'll chime in with a note on how changes are handled. We initially signed a contract to replace 12 windows in our home, but a couple weeks after signing (and before the windows were ordered), my wife and I decided we also wanted to include the kitchen window that we had originally planned to leave alone. I was a bit nervous to bring this up, worried that adding something after the fact might complicate things or incur some huge change fee.
I called our contractor (a local family-run company) and told them we were considering adding that one window to the project. They were super accommodating. The rep actually said it happens often – homeowners add or tweak something – and it's usually not a big deal early in the process. He came back out to measure that kitchen window (since it wasn't in the original quote) and gave us an updated quote for doing all 13 windows. What I really appreciated was that he kept the pricing consistent with the rest of the job. By that I mean, the per-window cost for that extra one was in line with the per-window cost of the others we already agreed on. No "gotcha" pricing or fees for changing the contract.
They simply wrote up a change order, added the one window with its cost, and we all signed it. The timeline didn't even shift much – he said it might add one more day to the install at most, and since we caught it before the order was placed with the manufacturer, it was easy to include it.
I've heard of some contractors charging an arm and a leg if you deviate from the original plan, but a good, transparent one will handle it fairly. In our case, it was as painless as could be, and we were thankful we ended up getting that kitchen window done after all (it would have looked odd to have one old window left!).
So if you do think of changes or additions after you sign, just ask. The honest companies will be upfront about any cost difference and won't try to gouge you just because you're locked in. Our contractor's flexibility here reinforced that we chose the right folks.
Slightly off-topic, but something that surprised me (as a first-time homeowner in Florida) during this process was the paperwork like the Notice of Commencement. Once we signed the contract, our contractor sent us a Notice of Commencement form to get notarized and filed with the county as part of pulling the permit. I had never heard of that before. Thankfully, they walked us through it and even provided a pre-filled form; all we had to do was get it notarized (we did it at our bank for free) and then they handled filing it.
I'm mentioning this because a friend of mine had a less organized contractor who didn't explain the process, and it delayed his permit since the NOC form wasn't done. So, a transparent contractor will let you know about these little bureaucratic steps ahead of time. It was a small thing, but I was impressed that our company made sure we knew what to expect with the permit paperwork. It just reflected their overall professionalism in my eyes.
One more factor I considered was choosing a local company versus a national or out-of-town operation. I had one outfit knock on my door (they were canvassing the neighborhood) offering free quotes for windows. Turns out they were a team from out-of-state that had come down to Florida, possibly after storm season, to drum up business. That made me a bit uneasy because I wondered if they'd be around later for warranty or service issues.
I ended up sticking with a local Tampa Bay company that has an actual office and showroom here for my quote and eventual installation. My thinking was that a company with deep local roots would be more accountable (they can't just disappear, and they care about their reputation in the community). During the quote, I even asked how long they've been in the area and if they do their own service work. The rep was proud to say they've been here over 20 years and they have a service department for any issues that come up down the road.
This isn't to say all out-of-town contractors are bad, but in terms of transparency and trust, I felt better with someone who "knows the soil" here, so to speak. They were familiar with our specific local building codes, the typical inspection process with our county inspectors, and even mentioned familiarity with my neighborhood's style of homes. That all gave me confidence.
So, if you get solicited by a company that seems to pop up out of nowhere, just do a bit of extra due diligence. The well-established local pros often have the edge in being straightforward and accountable, at least in my experience. I wanted to share that since it played into how safe I felt choosing the contractor I did.
Oh, here's something to watch out for: a salesperson who won't leave a written quote. We had one guy come out (from a larger regional company) who gave us his whole presentation, wrote some numbers on a form, and when we told him we wanted to think about it and have him email us the quote, he was very reluctant. He kept saying the price was a "one-day offer" and if he left without a sale, that particular quote would expire. We said fine, just send us whatever the regular price would be then. He still didn't want to leave anything in writing! He just verbally tossed out a much higher number as the "normal price" and more or less indicated that if we didn't sign right then, we wouldn't see that special quote again. We basically had to usher him out of the house at that point.
In contrast, every other company we dealt with had no problem giving us a written quote (either on the spot or via email soon after). One even told us "feel free to take your time, our quote is valid for 30 days in writing." That’s how it should be.
So, if a contractor won't give you something in writing to review at your leisure, that's a huge red flag. It usually goes hand-in-hand with those heavy pressure tactics we've been talking about. The trustworthy folks will want you to have their quote in hand so you can make an informed decision – not try to hide it or make it evaporate when they walk out the door.
We definitely did not go with that pushy company. And I'm glad we encountered it early on, because it made us appreciate the transparency of the others all the more.
I want to mention the timing between getting a quote and actually signing, because I had a situation where we got some quotes, then life happened and we postponed the project for about 6 months. When we were ready to pull the trigger, we went back to the two companies we were considering to update the quotes.
One of them had originally given us a quote and said it was valid for 30 days. By the time we came back (which was actually like 6 months later), the rep politely explained that material costs had gone up a bit and he needed to revise the pricing. I expected that, honestly. He updated the quote and it was about 5% higher than before. He actually showed me the new price list from the window manufacturer to justify the increase, which I appreciated. It showed me he wasn't just randomly bumping the price, but that their costs had changed too. He even apologized that he couldn't honor the original price after so long, but at least I understood why.
The other company did something a bit shadier. Initially, they had given a quote that was lower than the first company's. When I contacted them again after 6 months, they acted like they'd have to start over and then came back with a quote that was 15% higher than their first one! And they didn't give a clear reason why – just something vague about "market conditions." It felt like they thought, since I came back, maybe I'd be willing to pay more now. I mentioned that their original quote was lower and asked what changed so drastically; the salesperson just kind of danced around it and didn't give specifics. That rubbed me the wrong way.
So, lesson learned: quotes do have a shelf life, but a transparent company will explain any changes if time has passed. The one we ended up choosing (the first company) was upfront about the minor increase and even showed evidence of why. The second company lost our trust by handling it the way they did. If you do take a break between getting quotes and deciding, just remember to confirm pricing and see if they're straightforward about any adjustments. It’s another good test of honesty, in my opinion.
@fashion378 I feel your pain on the timeline promises. My neighbor went through something similar – a company told him 4 weeks, and it turned into 4 months. It seems like some salespeople say whatever sounds good to close the deal. Definitely better to have someone tell you a realistic timeframe upfront, even if it's longer. Thanks for highlighting that.
My situation was a little different because my house was relatively new (built in 2018), but the windows the builder used were pretty low-end and we had issues with leaks and drafts just a few years in. It felt crazy to replace almost-new windows, but Florida weather will quickly reveal cheap construction, I guess.
When I started getting quotes, I was half expecting the contractors to trash-talk the builder (and some did subtly imply the builder-grade windows were junk). However, the company I chose took a more professional approach. The rep explained why those original windows likely failed – things like the frame quality, poor installation, lack of proper sealing – but he did it without just slamming the builder. Instead he focused on how the new windows (higher quality vinyl impact windows from a reputable manufacturer) would be different. He even showed me cross-sections of the old vs. new frame to compare thickness and internal reinforcement, which was enlightening.
It helped me come to terms with the big expense of replacing windows in a fairly new house. He was transparent about the upgrade I was getting and why it cost what it did, rather than just saying "yep, your current windows are garbage, pay up." That transparency and education built trust for me.
Now, a few of the other quotes I got did feature some eye-rolling from salespeople at how "typical" it was that a builder skimped on windows. One guy was like "yeah, they probably cost $100 a pop, no wonder they're failing," which might be true, but it came off as unprofessional to harp on it. Meanwhile, the company I went with was more solution-oriented.
For anyone in newer homes around Tampa Bay noticing early window problems, just know you're not alone and it's not necessarily your fault – sometimes builder-grade just can't handle our climate long-term. And find a contractor who will walk you through the differences without simply badmouthing the old stuff. I found that to be a sign of professionalism and it made me feel a lot better about shelling out the money to do the job right this time.
I'll throw in another thumbs up for ProTech Windows & Doors. They replaced all the windows in my mom's house in Dunedin last year. I was the one who dealt with them on her behalf (since she's older), and they were just fantastic to work with. Everything you guys have been saying – no-pressure sales, honest quote, responsive communication – we experienced that too.
They were super patient explaining things to me and my mom, and they stuck exactly to the quoted price. Actually, funny enough, the final invoice ended up $200 less than the quote because one window didn't need some extra work they thought it might. How often does it go down instead of up? 😁 We were pleasantly surprised by that level of honesty.
Anyway, just happy to see ProTech getting some love here. They deserve it for being a transparent and professional company.