Whenever your home needs an exterior facelift, new windows or other
remodeling, your first step has to be finding a reliable contractor who
does superior, quality work and uses high-grade materials. It can be
difficult to weed through various renovation companies to find the one
that can do the job properly without breaking your budget, particularly
since the least expensive bid you get will probably reflect the
company’s inferior materials and less than professional work ethic. On
the other hand, you can pay too much, even for quality work, if you
automatically choose the highest priced estimate for your new siding or
window replacement estimate. While getting at least three estimates is a
step in the right direction, it is only the first step.

Read Online Reviews With A Grain Of Salt

Online
reviews can give you more information, but keep in mind that most
consumers are more likely to write a review if they are unhappy while
satisfied customers may never think to post their opinion on a website.
It’s a simple fact that these online reviews tend to have a higher
percentage of complaints. If there are some complaints, don’t forget to
see whether the company followed up with a satisfactory resolution. Not
all websites offer this kind of information, but some do, including the
Better Business Bureau.

Ask For References

A
reputable contractor will always have a list of references available.
Ask for references who had work similar to what you’re interested in
done. If you want to have new windows installed, ask about recent
customers with window replacement projects, then be sure to call
everyone on the list provided and ask questions. Don’t be afraid to ask
what they liked most about the contractor, whether they stuck to their
timeline, how they handled unexpected hurdles and whether they had a
professional attitude.

See For Yourself: Check Out Their Recent Window Replacement Jobs

Quality
contractors will gladly give you a list of addresses where they did
window replacement work in your area. Drive by those houses to get an
idea of how your windows might look. Be sure to examine the trim around
the windows, the condition of the siding near the windows and any other
details that would be an indication of the professionalism of their
work.

Educate Yourself

The quality of
the work is only as good as the quality of the materials, so be sure to
ask contractors what brands they offer for window replacement. They
should offer at least two major brands and different types of windows,
such as vinyl, wood clad and fiberglass, so that you have an array of
options available. Also ask about the warranties on each brand and
whether they stand behind their work with any kind of guarantee. If you
aren’t sure what kind of windows you want, do some research on your own
and then ask each contractor to explain the differences in order to test
their knowledge and get a professional opinion of the various window
replacement options. Watch out for outlandish claims that can’t be
backed up by the warranty. Also compare the price of specific windows
from one contractor to the other. While every contractor has a mark-up
on products they offer, watch out for higher mark-ups that are out of
line with the industry standard.

The most important step you can
take before shopping for a home improvement company is to arm yourself
with the right information and questions. From there, you can quickly
narrow down your choices to a few top quality contractors and choose the
one that will do truly superior work on your home.