Hey everyone, I'm in the middle of getting quotes for replacing the windows in my home and I'm a bit confused about the pricing. I have 10 old windows (mostly double-hung, plus one picture window) that need replacing. So far I've gotten two quotes that are all over the place and they include different things. For example:
Renewal by Andersen (full service, fibrex windows): about $27,000 total, which supposedly includes everything (permit, exterior trim wrap, old window removal, etc.).
Local contractor (using Simonton vinyl windows): about $15,000 for the same 10 windows, but they mentioned permit fees would be extra (and handled by me), and if any wood trim needs replacing or exterior capping, that would cost more.
I'm planning to get a third quote as well, but already I'm trying to compare apples to apples and it's tough. The cheaper quote looks good, but I'm worried about hidden costs that might pop up later (like if they find rotten wood or end up charging for hauling away the old windows).
Has anyone else compared quotes and found big differences in what's included? What hidden or unexpected costs should I look out for in these quotes? 🤔 Also, how much room for negotiation is there typically? I don't want to overpay, but I also don't want to cheap out and get burned by a bunch of add-on fees. Any advice or experiences would be really appreciated!
Are both quotes for the same number of windows and the same type (like full frame replacements vs inserts)? Sometimes that can cause a price gap. Hidden costs can definitely be a thing. In my experience, permit fees and old window removal are common extras if not explicitly stated. One of my quotes had a separate charge for hauling away the old windows (like $50 per window). Another thing: does the local contractor include finishing the interior trim or painting? If not, you might have to do or pay for that separately.
As for negotiation, it’s pretty common in this industry. I’d say don’t ever assume the first price is firm. We were able to negotiate our window quote down and also get some extras included. But first, make sure you’re comparing the same scope of work between quotes. If one is including more (like wrapping the exterior trim in aluminum) and the other isn’t, you’ll want to factor those costs in before negotiating.
@fitness113 Good point, thanks. Both quotes are for insert replacements (not full frame), since my frames are in decent shape. Neither mentioned doing new interior trim or painting, so I think that’s on me. The local guy said they would reuse my existing wood trim if it doesn’t get damaged, otherwise replacing trim would add to the cost. The big Andersen quote presumably includes new interior trim pieces where needed (it’s kind of all-inclusive from what I gather). Exterior aluminum wrapping is included in the Andersen quote, and the local said they could do it for an extra charge per window if I want.
It’s tricky because the cheaper quote could end up closer to the expensive one after adding permit ($200 in my town) and any unforeseen stuff. I’ll definitely clarify about hauling away old windows and disposing of them – I assumed it was included but maybe not!
On negotiation: sounds like I should definitely try. I haven’t tried negotiating yet with either. Wanted to gather more info first. Appreciate the tips so far! 🙏
I went through this last year, so I feel your pain. We had 12 windows replaced and got quotes from 4 companies. The prices were all over as well. Some things we learned:
Always ask for an itemized breakdown. This helped us spot differences. For example, one quote didn’t include the city permit fee at all (would’ve been extra), and another built it into a higher base price.
Hidden costs to watch for: permit fees, disposal fees (old windows removal), any carpentry for rot repair, extreme exterior wrapping or capping, and painting or staining of interior trim. Some companies include these, others don’t.
We ended up negotiating with our top two choices. We told each one straight up that we have other quotes. They both actually came down a bit in price. The one we chose knocked off an extra 5% and included free foam insulation around the frames (one less thing to worry about).
In short, definitely compare line by line. If a quote isn’t detailed, ask them to clarify what’s included. It can prevent those “oh by the way, that’ll cost extra” surprises later. And yes, don’t be shy to negotiate – window companies expect it. One salesman even hinted that “if price is the only thing holding you back, we can talk,” which was my cue to haggle 😅.
Same here, we saw huge differences between quotes. We have a 1960s house and needed 15 windows replaced. Our quotes ranged from about $25k (from a well-known national company) down to $12k (from a smaller local outfit). It was crazy. The highest quote included literally everything and was for high-end wood windows, while the lowest was for basic vinyl windows with minimal extras.
We ended up going with a mid-range local company. Their initial quote was $14k for good vinyl windows (Soft-Lite brand) including install, and they mentioned any extensive wood rot repair would be extra if discovered. After I showed them a competitor’s lower quote, they agreed to drop the price to $13k and also threw in free exterior trim capping on all windows.
One unexpected cost we did encounter: once they removed a couple of old windows, they found some mild water damage in the surrounding wood. It cost us about $400 extra for them to fix that framing (which they had warned as a possibility). Honestly, I was okay with that since it was legit work they had to do and they showed me the damage. The final price was still way below the crazy $25k quote.
So yeah, watch for potential rot repair costs. If your house is older, there's always a chance. I’d say make sure the quote specifies what happens if they find damage (do they charge per hour, per material, etc?). And use those multiple quotes to your advantage in negotiating like you plan to – it saved us a decent chunk of money.
We replaced 8 windows last summer, and I got 3 quotes. The highest was from Renewal by Andersen (ridiculously high, like you’re seeing), and the lowest was from a small one-man contractor. We actually went with a middle one in our case too.
To give you an idea, RBA quoted me around $18k for 8 windows (averaging over
2kperwindow!).Alocalcontractorusinggoodqualityvinylwindows(Alsidebrand)quoted
2kperwindow!).Alocalcontractorusinggoodqualityvinylwindows(Alsidebrand)quoted
9k for the same number. Huge gap. We loved the RBA product but just could not justify double the cost. The local guy’s quote didn’t include painting the interior trim, but everything else was covered. We negotiated and got him down to $8.5k AND he agreed to cap the exterior wood with aluminum as part of the deal (originally he charged extra for that).
Also, in one quote the salesperson pulled the old “price good for today only” trick to try to pressure us. We didn’t bite. Honestly, negotiation was expected; none of them seemed shocked when I counter-offered. The worst they can say is no. In our case, we got a better price or some add-ons in every instance just by asking.
Glad I found this discussion. I’m about to start getting quotes for 10 windows and a patio door, and I’m bracing myself now 😂. Quick question for those who dealt with the “sign today for a discount” thing: Is that usually a real discount or just a pressure tactic? One friend told me a company offered him 20% off if he signed on the spot, which sounds huge. But it feels fishy.
Also, any tips on negotiating without feeling awkward? I’m not a great haggler by nature. Did you negotiate right after getting the quote, or did you call them later to talk them down? I’m trying to gather some strategies so I don’t freeze up when the time comes!
Oh boy, the ol’ "sign today and save" spiel 🙄. It’s almost always a pressure tactic. They start with an inflated price and then act like they’re giving you a deal if you commit immediately. In reality, that "discount" often just brings it down to the price it should have been to begin with. I had one company start at $15k, then say “but if you sign right now, we can do $12k.” I said no thanks, and sure enough a week later they called me back willing to do the $12k again, LOL.
My advice: never sign on the spot. Take the quote, say you need to think about it. That alone sometimes makes them come back with a better offer later. And you can always negotiate later over phone/email when you’re more comfortable, armed with other quotes.
As for feeling awkward, remember these sales reps do negotiations all the time. It’s part of their job. You can be polite but firm. One approach: ask “Is this the best you can do? I have other quotes that are lower.” That puts the ball in their court without you needing to name a number first. They may come down on price or throw in something extra. It can definitely feel weird at first to haggle on home projects, but trust me, window companies expect it. You got this!
I’ll second that advice. My spouse actually got swayed by a “sign now” deal and signed a pricey contract while I wasn’t home 😱. Thankfully, we invoked the 3-day cancellation law to back out of it. Now we're gathering multiple quotes instead. So yes, don't sign on the spot, even if they dangle a one-day-only carrot. Take your time!
Jumping in with a hidden cost that bit us: lead paint handling. Our house was built in 1970, and one of the companies added an extra charge per window for lead-safe practices (like ~$50 per window) because our frames had old lead paint on them. I hadn’t even thought about that! Another company didn’t mention lead at all in the quote, which was a red flag because legally they’re supposed to follow certain procedures if lead paint is present. So if your house is older (pre-1978 in the US), ask about how they handle lead paint and if there’s a fee for it.
Also, disposal fees – as others said, definitely confirm. One quote of mine buried a $300 “dumpster fee” for hauling away the old windows and debris. It was in the fine print. It’s not like a sneaky scam or anything (they do have to pay to dump stuff), but I prefer when it’s upfront. We negotiated that fee out in the end (the contractor agreed to waive it to win the job).
So yeah, hidden costs can be permits, disposal, lead handling, rotten wood repairs, etc. Make a checklist and ask each company about these specifically. It puts them on notice that you know what to look for.