It’s wild how often “site conditions” just means “we don’t want to mess with it.” I’ve seen plenty of old frames with a little bow or twist—most of the time, you can work around it without tearing out half the wall. Curious, did either company actually show you photos or probe for hidden rot, or was it just a quick glance and a big number? Sometimes I wish more folks would actually pull off the trim and take a peek before making the call.
That’s exactly what happened with my window quotes. Both companies just kind of poked around, maybe shined a flashlight, and then immediately started talking about “possible hidden damage” and extra labor costs. Nobody actually pulled any trim or showed me pictures of what they were worried about. I kept wondering if it was really that bad or just an easy way to pad the estimate. Has anyone actually had a contractor go the extra mile and check things out before quoting?
Nobody actually pulled any trim or showed me pictures of what they were worried about.
That’s a pet peeve of mine too. If I’m checking for hidden damage, I’ll at least pop off a piece of interior trim or use a borescope to peek behind. It’s not hard and gives everyone a clearer idea. Sometimes it’s just easier for companies to leave things vague, but that doesn’t help you budget or plan. You’re not wrong to expect more detail before committing.
If I’m checking for hidden damage, I’ll at least pop off a piece of interior trim or use a borescope to peek behind.
That’s exactly it. You’d be amazed how many times I’ve found rot or old water damage just by gently pulling back a bit of casing. Doesn’t take long, and it saves so much confusion later when the quote suddenly “jumps” because of “unforeseen issues.” Honestly, if someone’s quoting you for replacement windows and they haven’t checked behind the trim, they’re just guessing.
I get that not every homeowner wants their trim yanked off willy-nilly, but even a quick peek with a flashlight or borescope can tell you a lot. Sometimes I’ll even snap a photo and show the owner right then—makes things way less mysterious.
On the flip side, I’ve had folks who don’t want anything touched until they’ve signed on the dotted line, which is fair, but then you gotta be ready for surprises. It’s a bit of a dance, but transparency up front goes a long way toward keeping budgets in check.
Yeah, that’s exactly why I get a little skeptical of those “fixed price” quotes when nobody’s actually looked behind the trim. I mean, how can they know what’s hiding back there? I’ve seen some wild stuff—old insulation, sketchy wiring, even nests—so I always want someone to at least check with a borescope or something before giving me numbers. Does it really add that much time to just take a peek? Seems like it’d save everyone hassle down the line.
I get where you’re coming from, but I’m not sure it’s always practical for them to start poking around before quoting. Most of the window guys I’ve talked to are juggling a ton of appointments in a day. If they stopped to pull trim or break out a borescope every time, they’d probably never get through their schedule. Plus, some folks don’t want holes drilled or trim popped off just for an estimate—especially if they’re getting multiple quotes.
I had my windows done last year in a 1950s ranch, and yeah, there was some weird stuff in the walls—one spot had what looked like shredded newspaper jammed in for insulation. But the installer just built in a contingency for “unforeseen issues” in the contract. The final price only jumped if they actually ran into something during install. Not ideal, but at least there were no surprises unless there was a legit problem.
Honestly, I’d rather have a ballpark number up front and deal with any extras if they come up, instead of paying more for everyone to do a deep dive before I even know who I’m hiring. If every estimate included that extra time, wouldn’t it just bump up the base price for everyone anyway? Sometimes it feels like you pay either way.
Curious if anyone’s had a company actually do the borescope thing as part of the quote? I haven’t seen that much around here…
That’s pretty much how it went for me, too. I replaced a couple of windows in my ‘60s split-level, and the installer just gave me a solid estimate with a clause for “hidden surprises.” I was nervous about the unknowns, but it turned out fine—only one spot had some ancient insulation that needed extra work. I’ve never had anyone use a borescope or anything fancy for a quote either. Honestly, I’d rather not have holes poked all over just to get a number. Sometimes you just have to trust the process and hope for the best…
Not sure I’d be comfortable just “hoping for the best” every time.
I get that, but when I did my kitchen windows, the guy actually used a tiny camera to check behind the trim. Didn’t leave any damage, and the quote was dead-on—no surprises after. If you’re worried about big jumps in price, a little extra checking up front can be worth it. Sometimes guessing costs more in the end.Honestly, I’d rather not have holes poked all over just to get a number.