Top Window Shopping Mistakes Archives - TheWindowDog

Why Window Installers Make Bad Window Suggestions

When homeowners start shopping for replacement windows, they often assume that the installer who works with windows every day must know which products are best. It sounds reasonable — after all, who could know more about windows than the person installing them?

But that assumption can lead to one of the most common and expensive mistakes people make when replacing their windows: taking product advice directly from the installer.

I hear from thousands of homeowners every year about their experiences buying windows — and it’s remarkable how often people are surprised by poor long-term performance from a product that “came highly recommended” by their installer. Unfortunately, this happens because an installer’s priorities are completely different from yours.

Installers Care About Different Things Than Homeowners Do

It’s important to understand that installers and homeowners don’t measure “a great window” the same way.

What matters most to a window installer:

The windows arrive on time and undamaged.
The frames are easy to square and set in place.
The order process is simple and the supplier is responsive.
The product is inexpensive enough to keep profit margins healthy.

What matters most to you, the homeowner:

Energy efficiency and insulation performance.
Durability and long-term reliability.
Smooth operation over time.
An attractive appearance that complements your home.
A solid warranty that protects your investment.

These are not the same priorities — and that’s why the installer’s “favorite” window brand may not be the best one for your home.

Why You Shouldn’t Automatically Trust Installer Recommendations

A good installer is worth their weight in gold, but their expertise is focused on installation techniques, not product research or engineering. They typically don’t study NFRC ratings, air infiltration data, or condensation resistance scores — because those factors don’t affect their job directly.

If a window is easy to install and doesn’t lead to callbacks, it’s a “good window” to them. But you’re the one who has to live with those windows for the next 20 years, not them.

For example:

An installer might recommend a window with a 0.26 air infiltration rate instead of a 0.04 because it’s cheaper and easier to install — even though that difference could mean noticeable drafts in your home.
They might not care about the condensation resistance (CR) rating, which determines how likely the glass is to fog up in winter.
They probably haven’t compared sound transmission class (STC) ratings, which affect how much outside noise gets into your home.

Those details matter to you — not to them.

Installers Aren’t Bad People — They Just Have Different Priorities

It’s not that installers are dishonest or trying to mislead you. It’s just that their experience doesn’t line up with your needs. Their “best window” might be the one that’s easiest to install, not the one that performs best in the long run.

The installer’s job is to finish the project efficiently and correctly. Once that’s done, they move on to the next job. You’re the one who’ll be opening and closing those windows every day, paying the heating bills, and checking for drafts on cold mornings.

So when your installer recommends a product, it’s okay to listen — but don’t stop there. Verify everything independently.

What You Should Do Instead

When it’s time to choose a window brand or model, here’s how to make a smart, well-informed choice:

Look at independent performance data.
Check the NFRC label for U-factor, SHGC, condensation resistance, and air infiltration ratings. Learn what they mean in our Window Ratings and Reviews section.
Read customer reviews and warranty details.
See what real homeowners say about long-term performance. Make sure the warranty covers parts, labor, and glass seal failure — not just the frame.
Ask about installation experience.
If your installer has worked with your preferred brand before, great! If not, make sure they understand the manufacturer’s specifications.
Find a trustworthy window company.
You can browse our list of the best replacement window companies to find reliable pros in your area.

What Can Happen If You Follow Bad Advice

Many homeowners end up regretting decisions that seemed fine at the time. Maybe their installer recommended a “great” mid-tier brand that was easy to install but started leaking air after five years. Maybe the seals failed early, or the company’s warranty didn’t cover what they expected.

In some cases, the installer moves out of the area or stops working altogether — leaving the homeowner stuck dealing with warranty claims themselves.

That’s why it’s critical to choose the right product from the start, not just the right person to install it.

Why a Great Installer Still Matters

Even though you shouldn’t let the installer choose your windows, you still want to work with someone who knows what they’re doing. The best product in the world won’t perform properly if it’s installed incorrectly.

A quality installer:

Measures precisely to ensure a tight fit.
Uses correct shimming and sealing techniques.
Understands water management and flashing details.
Checks operation and alignment before leaving.

So, while you should do your own research on window products, it’s equally important to hire the right installer — someone with experience, professionalism, and attention to detail.

Final Thoughts

Your installer’s recommendation can be a helpful starting point, but it shouldn’t be your only source of information. Do your research, ask questions, and verify everything.

Putting in windows for a living is not the same as living with them for decades.

If you’d like to dive deeper into the details that really matter when buying new construction or replacement windows, check out:

Frequently Asked Questions About Window Installers and Window Recommendations

1. Should I take my window installer’s advice on which brand to buy?

It’s fine to listen to your installer’s opinion, but don’t rely on it as your only source of information. Installers often recommend brands that are easiest for them to install or get quickly — not necessarily the ones that perform best or last the longest.

Installers favor brands that they’ve used for years and trust for consistent deliveries. They may also get better pricing or find certain models easier to install — but those factors don’t necessarily mean the window performs better in your home.

3. What should I look for when choosing replacement windows?

Look at performance data such as U-factor, SHGC, condensation resistance, and air infiltration rates. Also evaluate the warranty, hardware, and manufacturer reputation. Learn more in our Window Ratings and Reviews.

4. Can a good installer make a bad window perform better?

A skilled installer can ensure your windows operate correctly, but they can’t fix poor product design. If a window has low performance ratings or poor materials, installation alone won’t solve those problems.

5. How do I find the right installer?

Look for installers who are licensed, insured, and have strong reviews. They should explain their process clearly and have experience with your window brand. Our Best Replacement Window Companies page is a great place to start.

6. What’s the biggest mistake homeowners make when buying windows?

Many assume all windows are the same or rely too heavily on one person’s opinion. Taking time to compare models and understand the ratings helps avoid expensive regrets later.

7. Are installer-recommended windows always bad?

Not at all. Some installer favorites are genuinely great products — just make sure you verify the recommendation with independent research and reviews.

8. What if my installer refuses to install the windows I choose?

That’s often a red flag. A professional installer should be confident handling any reputable product. If they refuse or pressure you into a specific brand, it’s wise to get another quote.

How to Cancel a Window Order. Hint: Don’t Delay.

Every once in a while we hear from someone who has placed an order for custom made and windows and now they want to cancel their window order. Can you do that, how do you do it, are there costs to cancel a window order? Let’s find out.

Can you cancel a window order?

The short answer is yes, if you’re fast enough. If you met a smooth talking door to door window salesman yesterday you can still cancel your order. You typically have 3 business days to change your mind about anything sold by a door to door salesman.

The government knows those guys can be tricky so they give you the option to get out of any deal. Beware that in some states Saturday can be a business day so time is of the essence.

To cancel your order send them something in writing, an email to the main company email account works fine. If you don’t have that address you can send one to the salesperson. If he didn’t leave an email address (that was probably on purpose) you can send them a text or call their office to ask for the email address.

Beware, they’re prepared for you to try to cancel your order.

The slickest of companies are very used to people trying to cancel their window order shortly after signing up. They know their salespeople are pushy and often have customers feeling buyers remorse.

They’re prepared for your cancellation call and they’ll have a response ready to go. They’ll connect you with a “manager” who will likely offer you a super special deal to get you to change your mind.

Don’t fall for it. Your intuition was right. If you wanted to cancel a window order there was likely a good reason. Just stick to your guns and don’t deal with them. Just tell them you’re expecting any deposit returned promptly per state law. No matter how offended or helpful or mad or sad or glad they may seem it’s all just an act. Once you stick to your guns they’ll just give you your deposit back and move on to the next person.

They may even try to schedule another appointment to review your project, or see if they can find additional savings or (insert excuse here). Don’t participate in their games. It could be an excuse to get you to wait until after the three business days. If they overcharged you once you should find someone else to work with. There are plenty of fish in the sea.

If you’re contacting them within 3 business days there is nothing they can do. They must cancel your order and return your deposit. Don’t accept anything else.

You won’t be the first person or the last person to cancel an order with them.

What if it has been longer than 3 business days?

Unfortunately you might be out of luck, but there’s still a chance. Before an order has actually gone to manufacturing the sales company can cancel it if they want. They don’t want to cancel it at that point so they’ll try to resist and tell you it’s impossible but it’s not. They’re lying.

You can be sure an order has not gone to manufacturing if they have not yet taken the final measurements. The salesman might have acted like he took measurements but almost all the time that’s just for show. They don’t actually use his measuremetns for anything so that step doesn’t matter.

He does that just to look like he’s being thorough. We have an upcoming post on that so keep an eye out.

If someone has come by after the salesperson to take the final measurements then the order could be in manufacturing and at that point you really can’t cancel it. The windows are all yours.

Now before you window salesmen out there get all excited, it is possible that the salesman did take the final measurements. We had a rep in our of our locations who had prior experience measuring windows so we’d have him measure to skip a step for the customers. That is unusual, but it could happen.

Basically anytime another measuring appointment is scheduled then you know the order is not in manufacturing and could be canceled.

Once years ago when I worked for a window manufacturer I had a really sleezy customer who asked me to fake an order document for him so he could tell his customer that the windows were on order and could not be canceled. He told his customer that the plant started on the order based on the salesperson’s measurements and they only needed the final measurement appointment to work out the final details. That was a lie.

My company lets people cancel an order for any reason anytime before the manufacturing begins because I think it’s good karma. Most window companies don’t feel the same way. This is defininltey a funny business.

Can I return custom made windows or change my mind later?

Unfortunately that gets expensive quickly. We’ll be publishing another post on that very topic later this week so stay tuned. Sometimes people think you can try before you buy and that’s just not how it works.

If you have cancel an order from a pushy company wand want to find a better solution check this section find our company or other recommended companies in your area. You can also find window reviews here and information about the tricky window sales tactics that many companies uses here. We hope you enjoy the site!

Window Shopping Mistake #137 – Making Assumptions

Most of our posts on the site are about the window industry as a whole or claims made by salespeople all over the place. This one is more about a specific customer interaction we seem to have from time to time at our company. It’s about a common window shopping mistake, making assumptions.

A perfect example of this window shopping mistake is an email that someone in our office recieved from a prospective customer just last week. The customer wrote in to thank our rep for her time and to tell us that she was buying from someone else.

That happens from time to time. We can’t be the right fit for everyone. Our standard response is to write back asking what made the difference for them. We leave it open ended and just see what they say.

Over the years we’ve received a lot of great feedback from folks who didn’t buy their new windows from us. As a result we’ve changed our processes or the way we explain things. That feedback has helped our company grow. I’m always interested to see what people write.

In this case the customer said she was buying a window that was not the nicest from a company with a questionable track record. She said she was going to go with them because they had products designed for her climate, Dallas in this case, and because she could see a sample window from them and not from us.

What was the window shopping mistake?

As a larger company we work with thousands of customers all over the place. Everyone we deal with is going through the exact same process. The process of buying new windows is new for you, but it’s pretty standard for us. We help people through it every day.

There’s no need to figure everything out on your own, just ask.

We tend to have an answer for everything. Our rep wrote back to let her know that the option we had suggested is one of the best options for the climate in Dallas. We also let her know that the showroom is available for her to pop in to see a window sample. We can also send out pictures of a display window to save a trip. They’re sometimes easier to see than glossy brochure type pictures.

Finally we provided a few examples of differences in the products. Ultimately, the customer was able to get to the showroom. She saw a sample window. We showed her the differences in the windows and just yesterday she decided to order her new windows from us.

All ended up well, but the customer almost ended up paying more for windows that were less nice because she had made assumptions.

What assumptions did she make?

First, this customer assumed that because the other company had told her a long story about efficiency that they were somehow offering something better. That was just not the case. Our company tends to offer far more efficiency options than the typical door to door salesperson. By skipping the in-home sales show we tell a much shorter story and sometimes customers then assume that the guy with the longer story must have the nicer product. That’s just not how it works.

Next she assumed that because we didn’t send over a salesperson to sit in her living room that she wouldn’t be able to see a sample window. This was also not the case. All she had to do was ask.

What is the lesson here?

Windows are expensive and they’re something you don’t buy very often. The new windows will be in the house for decades. It’s important to get a great result so it makes sense to ask questions.

When we have one customer who almost bought elsewhere I have to think there are others who we could have helped but we didn’t know their concern.

It’s important to ask questions and make sure you understand the options. The door to door window salespeople are typically paid 100% commission. They’re often more interested in getting a contract signed than they are in providing the best solution. It’s a hard job and they have bills to pay. They’re often looking out for themselves, not for you.

If you get a quote by email for new windows from our company it’s definitely wise to ask any questions. Don’t assume we can’t help with something or that because some salesperson told you something it’s necessary true. Just send us over a message and we’ll be happy to help out.

It’s always our goal to make this process just as easy as we can.

To find our company or other recommended companies in your area check this section. You can also find window reviews here and information about the tricky window sales tactics that many companies uses here. We hope you enjoy the site!

Should You Finance New Windows? Find Out Here.

If you’re considering buying new windows you know it can be a considerable expense. In my company our average replacement window order is over $10,000 and sometimes up to $30,000 or $40,000. That’s a pretty big amount to be laying out so you might be wondering if you should finance new windows rather than paying in cash.

You’ll see most larger window companies will offer some sort of financing. This usually comes with promotional plans like 0% for some amount of time, or fixed rates or deferred payments. Are those options a good deal? Usually they are, but sometimes they’re not.

Should you finance new windows? Find out here.

Sometimes customers tell me that they don’t want to finance new windows and they only pay cash. That’s completely fine, nobody is unhappy with that. We do also know that some folks have several projects going on, a lot of money going out the door. Financing new windows, especially at 0% can be an attractive offer.

With a fair financing program you can spread out the costs over time to make the windows more affordable and get the new windows sooner. It can be a win-win scenario.

So is it a smart move to finance new windows?

The answer there depends on the financing offer. For example, right now my company is offering 0% for 12 months with $0 down to finance new windows. This will change over time but that’s the option available as of today and that’s a pretty good deal. (send us a message to get the current promotions)

There’s no interest or finance charge or anything. The 12 months doesn’t start until the windows are installed. If you like the idea of spreading out your payments this is a great offer.

There are companies out there offering subprime type financing for home improvement projects and that’s generally not a great option. If you’re seeing interest rates of 10%, 15% 20% you might want to look for another option.

Some companies even have in-house financing departments. They’ll often times use a different name so you don’t know that the same person owns the home improvement company and the financing company, but they’re out there and usually not the best deal around. If it’s a bank you’ve never heard of then I’d be cautious. They’re not all bad, but some aren’t great.

Some companies offer longer term financing, how does that work?

That’s where things can get a little tricky. For example, we could offer 0% for 48 or 60 months like you’ll see advertised from some window companies on TV. The important thing to keep in mind is that nothing is free in life. Those long term plans will come with higher costs to the comampny which leads to higher prices.

If we were to offer 0% for 60 months that could easily cost us 20% of the total contract amount. That would be pretty substantial and maybe not such a great deal for you because we’d need to raise our prices in order to offer that.

In a scenario like that a $10,000 order would have a $2,000 financing cost to the company. They won’t be able to absorb that cost so the order that would have been $10,000 will now be $12,000 and the salesman will focus much more on payments than on interest rates or total cost. Paying $2000 additional to get “0%” financing is not the best deal to put it lightly.

Typically a plan that was longer than 18 months or so will come with some interest rate and as long as that’s a reasonable rate then it’s a perfectly fine deal. It’s actually more transparent that way because the rate is not hidden in the cost of the windows.

Should I get a cash discount?

We’re going to be writing a whole post on cash discounts soon so stay tuned, but the short answer is no. If you’re offered one price for cash and another price for 0% financing then you’re not really getting 0% financing, the finance charge is the difference in the two prices and advertising that as 0% is a little deceptive. Spoiler alert: Window companies can be deceptive so watch out.

That’s why we don’t advertise or price our products like that but that doesn’t stop many companies from pricing their products that way . It’s tricky and it happens all the time and you should watch out for it.

What does it cost a window company to offer financing?

Not that much for most plans. For example, my company also accepts all credit cards and the financing programs cost about the same as accepting a credit card. It’s just a cost of being in business and basically every larger company will offer financing. It leads to more business over the course of a year. Ultimately it would cost us more money to not offer financing when you factor in the lost orders.

Sometimes people think the price should be lower if they pay by check vs credit card because the company does need to pay a fee to accept a card or to use financing. That’s true but only for the smallest of companies. As our business got larger and larger we found that dealing with checks was a real hassle.

Someone needs to make sure the checks are the right amount, that they get to the bank on time, someone needs to deal with it when they bounce and then we need to do it all over again when the project is completed and the final payment is due. That can be a bit of work, someone needs to get paid to do that so it’s not free. Accepting checks comes with a cost too so I wouldn’t expect a price difference between cash and credit card from a larger company.

Some companies will intentionally price their products high and plan to offer a discount. During the sales process the salesperson will be looking for what motivates you. If you’re a school teacher or a veteran or a first responder he’ll likely have a “school teacher discount” or “first responder discount”. It’s not real, just designed to make you feel special.

If you’re making a big deal about how you’re going to be paying cash it’ll be a cash discount. The idea is to make you feel special with the name of the discount. You would have received that discount no matter what as it’s part of his closing process and the goal is to make you feel like you’re getting the deal of the century even though you’re getting the same deal, or a worse deal, than everyone else. Those door to door sales guys can be pretty good so watch out.

Why don’t all companies offer financing for new windows?

All larger companies do, but often times small outfits don’t. The banks will have requirements that the companies need to meet in order to offer financing options.

Small companies won’t qualify (even if they don’t look small). Also owners with bad credit won’t be able to offer financing.

For example, if they declared bankruptcy last year and just reopened with a new name they might look and sound great, but the banks won’t want to deal with them. They won’t be able to offer financing. Spoiler alert: this happens more than you might expect.

I’d say whether or not you end up using the financing, just the fact that it’s available tells you the company is at least a little more substantial than some others.

How should I decide whether or not to finance new windows?

I’d make sure you understand the financing offer that is available to you. Make sure you understand what the payments will be and be confident that they’ll fit into the budget. Companies may offer multiple options so it’s worthwhile to ask questions if the option presented doesn’t seem like the right fit.

If the options they offer to finance new windows come with a high interest rate, say over 12% or if they’re playing games with cash discounts and the numbers keep changing then you’ll want to try to nail down what the final offer is.

Usually any reputable company will make the pricing and the payment options very clear. If you feel like a company is being slippery with the info or the options it’s probably best to look elsewhere.

If the offer seems like a fair deal, fits into the budget and the pricing and financing info are clear and easy to understand then financing new windows can be a great deal.

So, what’s the bottom line?

Don’t get distracted by the super special discounts or silly claims by salespeople. Understand the choices and if you’re not sure if they’re making you a decent offer, compare with someone else or get a quote from our company and ask our rep any questions that you’d like.

2021 Replacement Window Prices – Real Info

If you’ve been considering buying new windows for a while now you may have noticed that window prices have changed over the last year or two. 2021 replacement window prices are a little higher than prices of years past and that’s just the way it is.

It’s not just windows that have seen increasing prices. All building products are up and luckily windows have been much less volatile than roofing or siding or lumber. At least that’s good news.

window repair, glass replacement and screen repair

Since my company offers windows all over the country we deal with a whole lot of customers. Many people order windows right away but some folks get a quote and then come back 2 or 3 years later to place an order.

One challenge we run into in those cases is that prices just aren’t the same now as they were in 2018. Prices for most things tend to go up over time (remember when an iPhone cost less than $1000?). So, it’s not completely unusual but something to be aware of.

What should replacement windows cost these days?

As you’d find with any custom made product there are a pretty wide range of prices out there. We find that 2021 replacement window prices tend to lead you to pretty good quality windows with a great professional installation in the $600-$800 range. There are both less expensive and more expensive options and that tends to be a common range.

Now before you get out the calculator and start multiplying keep in mind that there are many factors that contribute to the prices. If you get fancy windows with different colors and triple pane glass and challenging installations the costs can easily be higher.

Just a few minutes ago I helped a customer with an order for windows that averaged to over $1200 per window. That’s what he picked and it’s a great value for what he’s getting. Different strokes for different folks.

Are more expensive windows better?

Well, better is a little vague. You’ll often times see the door to door sales type of companies selling windows that aren’t great at all for higher prices. There’s a company near my house that sends out groups of kids knocking on doors trying to sell windows that aren’t very nice at all for over $1,400 per window.

My company would offer something similar for closer to $600 so that company is offering a pretty bad deal. They can get away with it sometimes by telling a great story. That’s the type of company you want to watch out for.

As a rule of thumb, the door to door sales companies are just about always a bad deal. See more info on that here.

They tell people that they have the greatest windows in the world, but they’re really not very nice at all. Some people must buy them, but more expensive doesn’t necessarily mean better.

Are less expensive windows less good?

Generally yes. Every company is basically playing with the same deck of cards. Windows cost what they cost, installers cost what they cost, in-home salespeople are expensive, sales managers and advertisements are expensive too.

So, if a company is selling things on the cheap they’re cutting costs somewhere. It’s important for you to understand where. Until you have that info it’s pretty much impossible to make a smart decision on what to buy.

A less expensive product might be just fine for your project. We work with landlords and house flippers too and those folks are generally more price focused than most. There’s nothing wrong with that, you just need to understand what you’re not getting in return for the lower price.

As an example, our company is able to cut skip the in-home sales process in most cases and that leads to lower costs. We can charge less than someone else offering the same quality because we’re not paying that higher commission. So the thing you’re not getting is the pushy salesperson and most folks tend to be just fine with that.

But I’ve seen people writing about lower prices, what’s the deal?

Astute readers of this site will see that over the years we’ve never been afraid to talk about replacement window prices and costs. Sometimes people I’m working with will email me back to say they saw me write on the site about lower costs. Keep in mind that was probably 4 or 5 or 6 years ago. Things change.

Our company always strives to be as competitive as we can. Business has been absolutely booming so I’m confident we are very competitive. We’ll even email you the current pricing without sending a salesperson into your living room. If that doesn’t demonstrate confidence in what we offer I don’t know what does.