If you’re organized (or stubborn), you can DIY it… just keep a closer eye on the trash than I did.
That’s honestly the route I took—just kept a folder for every receipt, label, and random scrap of paper that looked remotely official. The forms for the rebates weren’t rocket science, but man, they do want a lot of documentation. I get why folks pay the consultants, but if you don’t mind some paperwork and chasing down your contractor for missing info, it’s doable. Just double-check what your local utility or state actually requires before you start tearing out windows. Some of those programs are weirdly specific.
I’ve got a folder that’s basically bursting at the seams with window labels and faded receipts, so I feel this. The paperwork’s not hard, but wow, it piles up fast. My contractor handed me a stack of stickers and was like, “Don’t lose these, you’ll need them for rebates,” and I immediately lost one. Took me days to figure out which window it belonged to.
One thing I’m still scratching my head about: did anyone else run into weird requirements about which brands or models qualify? My state’s rebate form wanted the NFRC sticker, but then the utility company had a different list of “approved” windows. There was some overlap, but not 100%. At one point I was literally emailing photos of my windows to a customer service rep asking if they’d count. Not my finest hour.
Also, what’s the deal with the tax credits? I keep seeing stuff about federal incentives too, but it’s hard to tell what actually stacks together and what’s just marketing fluff. Did anyone figure out how to combine the state/utility/federal rebates without accidentally disqualifying themselves? Just trying to avoid a paperwork nightmare… or at least keep it to a mild headache.
Curious if folks found it easier just biting the bullet and hiring someone to handle all this, or if DIYing is actually worth the hassle in the end.