Top 10 Questions To Ask Your Window & Door Salesperson 

Red flag if they ask you this question, means high pressure appointment: "Will both decision makers be present?" Questions: 1. Detailed pricing, itemized showing brand & model & glass type & specs including U-factor & labor? 2. Who are your installers, subcontractors or your employees? (hard to verify) 3. What will the installer do? Will he remove trash? 4. How long will this take? (dependent on number of installers) 5. What materials are they using, type of caulking, foam or insulation type? 6. Who will measure the windows, what are the credentials, will it be the installer person or someone else? (downsizing by even 1/4" to make it easier to install could make it a worse install); What tolerance of measurement, to what fraction? 7. Insurance for install, for leaks? 8. What do I need to do for preparation? What will you do? Move furniture, take down blinds, etc. 9. What is the warranty on window and on labor? What happens if my window breaks, how long does response take? 10. What are your references with phone / email contact information? Addresses to drive by? 11. Do you have a showroom?

Was I the only one nodding and smiling as if you were directly in front of me? LOL Sitting at your desk was a great idea to connect with your viewers. Great questions to ask. Thank you for your help.

I like your videos and believe it or not. I had a job with renewal by Andersen and I quit the first week of training because of archaic sales tactics. I thought were completely wrong and this is coming from somebody who has been working in sales for 20 years.

Hard to believe but this guy knows n shares his experience with the customer. Not just a slam dunker.

Someone else posted a version of this; I fleshed it out and used it in my buying process. To the extent it might help someone, see below: Questions: 10. Detailed and itemized pricing showing: brand, model, glass type (Low-E or argon), specs including U-factor, solar heat gain? 9. Who are your installers (subcontractors or your employees)? What will the installer do? Will they remove alarms? Remove trash? 8. How long will installation take (In terms of days and hours)? This is dependent on the number of installers that will be working. 7. What materials are installers using? Type of caulking (OSI Quad Max=good stuff) or cheap stuff? Will the windows be insulated with injection foam (Provides good insulation between the window and the house)? 6. Who will measure the windows? What are the credentials of the person who is measuring? Downsizing by even 1/4" to make it easier to install, makes for a sloppy install. To what fraction is the measurement half/quarter/sixteenth inch? 5. Does the company have insurance for ALL the work they’re performing? (Ex: Worker’s Compensation) Ask the company for a Certificate of Insurance and call to verify the coverage that’s listed. 4. What does the customer need to do in preparation for installation? What will the installation company do you do? Ex: Moving furniture, taking down blinds, covering furniture, cleaning up after installation, etc. 3. What is the warranty on windows? What’s the warranty on your labor? What happens if the window breaks, how long does it take for someone to show up to perform a repair? 2. Company to provide references with phone numbers and email addresses. Company to provide addresses that potential clients can drive by. 1. Does the company have a showroom?

I'm meeting with a window sales person today. So glad I watched this video! Now I know what to ask.

As an Account Manager for ProVia I just wanted to say thank you for great content! I take the information and “reverse engineer” it to help be a better advocate for the homeowners when working with dealers and giving the “why” on buying our product.

Asking about the installers is EXCELLENT advice! I've seen tons of home owners sold on a great product but ended up with faulty installation!

Luckily I worked for a local window company for ten years., so when I bought my home in 2001 me and my cousin ripped out all thirteen windows and an eight foot patio door replacing them all ourselves. I'm looking to upgrade now to some casement wood, wood aluminum clad or something on that line. Of course I'll be putting them in myself. Your video is still very helpful since I've been out of the industry for a few decades.

I love your passion to educate normal person like me. Thanks a million. I didn't know any of these detail and first time in life shopping for windows. This video is very helpful.

Im about to go into my interview with Renewal by Anderson's, and this helps me SO MUCH with figuring out how a potential customer things. Im taking NOTES!!

My wife and I are building and I stumbles across your videos, thank you so much for the information. You are so correct when you say knowledge is power. I believe knowledge is money in the bank! We are up in Ontario Canada and wish your company was here! Thanks again and I will enjoy the rest of your videos.

Dear Houston Windows, I LOVE your channel and videos. God bless you my friend. I am about to refurb my first home which I purchased, and need new windows which significant adds to my costs and refurbishment affordability. I ALMOST got suckered into letting the builder do the window purchasing and fitting as I was naive as a first time buyer. I now know better and this video will help me enormously.

Jeff, you are the man. What you described happened exactly to my wife. Deposit check needed, husband needs to be there etc. Thank you for your videos and education. We will do our due diligence and with my newfound knowledge I will be 100% prepared!

👍 2 minutes in, you've already described our meeting with Renewal by Anderson. The guy was anchored to his chair for over 4 hours.

This is great information. Of the 3 Window quotes received here in Sacramento, CA, only one vendor actually provided this detailed level of information. They even said it included the permits and so forth.

Very well done and lots of good advice. I think it will help us walk through the land mind of window sales people and find the right company. I always appreciate your videos

Great content. I've watched many of your videos now and all have been honest, well structured and insightful.

So happy I found this.. thanks so much Jeff for doing this, I wish you were in New Jersey!

Best window and door walkthrough I've found, well done.

Very helpful video, as I'm doing a full renovation of my house. Most of the items that I'm using in the renovation are easy to pick out, but windows are not one of those. There are so many choices, and figuring out what I want to install is nerve racking! This surely helps to make sure I get a product that I will be happy with.

What a great insightful & helpful video. Great explanations of all the questions. Think all of this list could/should be valid for any sort of contracted work a homeowner wishes to hire to get done (like contractor to remodel a room or what not.) Thank you for sharing this thorough list Jeff!! 🙏

Knowing is key Ty have. 2 companies looking this week will keep u up to date

Started looking and came across your video!! Great questions Thanks!!!

I have window guys coming the end of this month and wow this video is awesome! Thank you so much!

Buying my first home . Such great advice and info !! Thanks for making these videos . I'm in Idaho

Just found you, been watching a few different shows here! VERY GREAT INFO!!!!!

An excellent informative video. I am glad that I did not sign the contract for the windows a few weeks ago. Thanks for posting the video.

Thank you so much for this video. Very good information. Wish you were in San Antonio 😊

You are awesome. Thank you for all your advice.Teresa from north carolina.

I am from Canada, planning to replace my windows. Your channel and the tips are so useful. If you are in Toronto, I would have just called you for my project. Thanks for all your videos !

I've got 5 companies coming next week for estimates. The questions and 5 biggest mistakes videos were helpful. Phew...now I've gotta prepare myself!

Thank you...thoroughly enjoy listening to your presentation. I've been at this for a month and now turning to You Tube for even more of an education from people like yourself. And here I thought I had two wonderful sales people....but what would have made them over the top would have been a detailed estimate...heck I got one w/o prices.....then when I asked was told that the prices were retail w/o the discounts...well then just tell me that instead of submitting a blank estimate.....and yes I'd like to know what I am paying for the window and now have it all lumped into one price. The insurance was VERY interesting especially when you have them say the install has a 10 year warranty...but if they are out of business....we are still covered because he was insured at the time of the install....that for me was epic!!! Thank you again....saving your video. Do you know of any one in the Orlando area?

Phenomenal video. Thank you

Another great lesson from Jeff.

Okay, okay, okay. I know this comment is late, but this and a couple other of your videos were very helpful and right on time. As a matter of fact I've got someone scheduled to come and give us a quote tomorrow. If this guy is not as knowledgeable or entertaining as you then trust me his sales pitch will be cut extremely short. Knowledge is power. Real power is when you have the money to spend, and quality is expected as the end result. Thanks for the videos.

Great video and suggested top 10 questions to ask. I recently met with the high pressure company. My experience was exactly how some of your viewers have described. I ended up using the company even though I thought the quote was ridiculously high. It was $10k for two windows. The company has excellence review. I was willing to pay if it is as good as it advertised. Now, I have watched a number of your videos I started to feel that I should have talked to more companies. I only talked to this high pressure company due to its perceived reputation by me. It is too late for me, I hope the windows turn out to be good. I do have more windows in my house.

love this guy! such integrity!

Thank You took notes I have over thirty windows in my house and you made me realize that this is a major major job so I'm saving money for it I am in North Carolina.

Great job thank you very much I wish you guys were in FL

We are in the UK so I guess you can't visit / install etc, it's a shame because from what I've seen in this short video you are the sort of company that oozes quality & one that I would like to do business with. Thank you for a very enlightening video; all of the points you raised are pretty much universal and given me a better understanding of what to expect / ask etc. I will be trying these Q's out on our window appointment later today, it will be intersesting to hear their responses - thank you once again ...

Excellent video! Thank you.

Thank you!

I want to get into this industry. I admire your work and efforts. Have lunch with you. I work for the airline part time as a side job. I love the flying to Houston sit down with you.

Written quote including specs and warranty details is more important than salesperson talk.

Awesome info Jeff. Thank-you!

Great info and if i ever build in Texas, I'm calling you for my windows.. Great quality of questions 👏...I can apply some of the questions to my business . Thank you

I received a referral from you. The company is MWT. I am in the Atlanta area. I looked up thier window brands. The only I recognized was Windsor. The other brands were Masters, Interstate. I am not doing research on the other companies. I am originally from Houston. I appreciate all the information and am enjoying all your videos. I plan to do the project in one year. 13 windows. Priority to noise reduction and energy efficient. I am an odd duck and like a dark house. Thank you again for your informational videos. I have an appt. with MWT on Monday.

Insightful and extremely useful information, thank you! We recently moved to GA and are in the process of replacing 33 windows. It has been a pain stacking process and we’re still unsure of who to move forward with. If you a have recommendations in GA, I’d greatly appreciate it. By the way, the tip about “will your spouse be present - this one hit close to home, I actually had one sales guy say “well sure you can do the presentation alone, are you good at taking notes?” My blood was boiling, I was speechless and couldn’t believe he asked me that question. Thank you again for such an informational video.

Thanks for the information! I loved the questions: Do you have a showroom? and Who will be doing the install? Quick story - we had a sliding glass door replaced by Lowes. The quality of the door is great, but the install was a total "comedy" of errors. Let's just say - I won't make that mistake again! Just like you say: A great door or window with a bad install is a bad door or window.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Great information , thanks

Window shopping is not a regular thing a homeowner does. Thank you for sharing 10 key questions to ask window sales persons. I learned the hard way by going with a big box company (Home Depot), I will never go there again. Ended up with terrible customer service and poor guidance. Ended up losing some money for returning windows. Not what I expected. Wish you could recommend window companies in Sonoma county area, CA. Thanks again!

Great information Thank you

You're "The Window Whisperer." Great video!!

Jeff, thank you very much for the information. I'm currently getting quotes for vendors here in Orlando, FL and I'm gong crazy.

Thank you! We are embarking on replacing 26 windows/doors in the Florida Keys and your videos are helping me with this process. Have you ever heard of ES Windows and should I be concerned with a company that states that the windows are guaranteed for life?

Thank you.

your vids are great... appreciate your knowledge and transparency. if you were in norcal, I'd definitely be a customer.

Thank you for all your videos on windows. They're very informative. Can you recommend someone in the Hudson Valley area of New York? Thank you.

Tank you sir !!!!!!

Hi Jeff, Your straight talk approach to selling windows is refreshing. I just had three quotes for replacing 14 windows in our home in Connecticut. I just watched this video so I missed asking a number of the questions you suggested. One quote was scribbled on a brochure. The salesman suggested I take a photo of it with my phone. They were the most expensive national ‘Renewal’ window manufacturer. I received one slightly more detailed quote that specified the window size but did not break down the labor and materials. The third quote included window sizes and ‘miscellaneous labor’. That salesman told me the labor cost they pay their subcontractors ($550 per window) during our meeting. In all three cases our conversations were friendly, low pressure, and confusing. This was my first experience pricing windows. I have work experience working with salesmen and contractors. I let them give me their pitch. The information provided in their quotes and the out the door price is just the beginning of the process to confirm I’m getting the windows I want for a fair price. What I quickly learned is that all three companies are charging what the traffic will bear and point out the $30% price increase since the beginning of Covid. We all know labor and material costs have increased and are continuing to do so. However, average cost of $1600 per mid-grade double hung window from my two lowest quotes seems excessive. Our home was built in 1974 with Andersen windows. Any information you can provide about how to calculate realistic energy savings and property resale benefits would be appreciated! Thanks!

Thank you for your videos and for bringing such great energy, great information and clarity! I wish you were in upstate NY, do you know any good installers here by any chance? Thank you!

Gosh, I!! I wish you were close to Gulf Shores, AL. We are having so much trouble finding replacement windows!

I appreciate your videos so much. I wish you were in Tennessee!

Hi Jeff, Thank you so much for this information....Also, if you ask do you have insurance, do you ask how much? What is a good amount?

Thanks so much for this info. I am meeting window salesmen in 2 weeks and I was asked if I was sole owner or someone else who will be in decision process.

Thanks so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Very educational. I wish you were in Atlanta. I wonder if you have hear about Apex windows? What do you think about those windows and the company?

Had 8 companies come out to the house for estimates. The only one that asked if all homeowners would be present...was Renewal by Anderson. And surprise...they were the most expensive & the only one that pulled the high pressure bs. They gave a 1st (fake) ridiculously high number...then they gave no less than 4 (we're willing to work with you) discounts...and then finally pulled out the "Today only" offer.

Great info., can you recommend in Baltimore/Annapolis area? Thanks

great info ,you can recommend anyone chicago please !

So most of the questions absolutely make sense and any reputable company should should provide the entire information but, the fact that all of the decision makers be present is crucial to deliver an accurate, precise presentation to educate the customers and be able to respond any questions they have, one person can’t explain with detail to the other decision maker how the process will work or ask the questions that the other decision maker may have. Making sure you lookup and call a reputable company should be replace instead of that, any reputable company will send a profesional without high pressure sales, the deal has to be fair for everyone and having a company come over multiple times is not fair, it’s called business opportunity cost, I’m sure you are familiar with that.

This video is going to help me protect myself and my money!

Thanks again. Lots of quality advice. It really helps. % u pay extra for a great window brand. Rec'd quote impact glass windows but it is not an insulated Impact window. They say UN-insulated better in South FL because it will not trap in the hot moist air and is subject to being broken by golf balls (real problem) & replacing it will cost almost as much as a new window?

Thank you for this great video!!! I have a project where I am going to hire a company to install five sliding glass doors. Would the questions to ask be the same or are their other additional questions to ask in regards to sliding glass doors.

Great video! what do you think of the International Window product line. We got a quote between them and Anderson and wanted to see if they have comparable products. Thanks again!

Great info@

Awesome job!

Very educational. My question is however, what if during installation they find rotted wood. How is that handled?

Thanks Jeff! Any recommendations for window installer in Memphis, TN area?

Jeff I had a salesperson came to my home today wasn't able to give me a quote he mentioned he has to get measurements first I didn't complete the meeting because I had to leave and I'm so glad because I love your videos very informative I've learned so much he roughly estimated a price a bit crazy that why I'm researching I've scheduled another visit by that time I'll be a smarter consumer if you know any companies in the northeast region NJ would like to know considering Andersen windows because of fibrex alternative technology. Thanks

Hi Jeff how are you doing? My name is Eduardo, I am a manufacturer of aluminum doors and windows in Brazil. I have really enjoyed his videos. Happy birthday

I am having the Pella rep come out in a couple of days to give me a quote on replacing 9 twenty plus year old Jeld Wen windows. I am interested in the Pella fiberglass product. I copied down your 10 questions to ask and find your advice very helpful. Just wish you were in Akron, Ohio.

who do you recommend in north west tennessee?

here in cancun mexico, the market provides garbage leaking aluminum windows with no technology ,made in little and medium shops (artesanal way). once i lived in the border texas-mexico, so i appreciate the quality of us factory windows. you are selling goooodddd products man.

I haven’t seen a video on sliding patio doors, I’m wanting to purchase some this coming spring, I’ve heard the ones with blinds between the glass you shouldn’t buy because of the heat in the summer. Do you have any opinion about Pella 250 vinyl with blinds between the glass sliding patio doors?

Hi Jeff, great information. However I have one question about one of the 10 questions. I usually don’t ask question to the contractor if I don’t think there is any benefits to me and if I don’t understand what I am asking for. One of the questions to ask is for them to list out the detailed itemized in the contract. What are the use of and benefits of the detailed itemized contract and the reasons why contractors would not want to do it. I might have missed what you explained in the video so if you could spend some of your time to explain to me, I would appreciate it very much. Thanks again!

You are fantastic. Who ever thought I would be binge-watching window videos. Wish you guys were able to come out to the communist state of Connecticut!

Wish you were in VA! What is better Renewal by Anderson or Okna 500? The Okna looks cheap but reviews are great. Renewal fibrex looks and feels beefier- bit cheap. Worried that we will lose a lot of glass by replacing old wood windows with insert- esp if we put grids in with the bigger frames. But I like the looks of grid on colonial home. Which do you recommend? Thanks!

Love your chair!!! Anyone know what kind of office chair that is?

You're always wearing sweaters. I don't imagine Houston being a chilly place 😂 ps...looking for windows in Durham NC.

I know someone that sells a high quality window and has a high end installer and sells a house full of windows at a great price and cuts through all the bull trying to get a higher price and does not have a store front and by not having to pay such a high rent passes that savings onto the customer! A good window, good installer that uses high quality caulking! Showroom means you need to charge a higher price for that same exact window!

Hello Jeff! Thank you for this educational info. It's a real shame that so many companies in the US are just out to take your money and could care less about the quality of their work. It's present in every industry and if consumers don't do their homework, they get scammed or disappointed. That being said, do you know if any great installers exist in the Phoenix, AZ area? Thanks again!

Very informative I had a sales rep in my home last night, I should have watched this first. Pressure Pressure Pressure with a beautiful Solisd window but when we said let us think about it, we have more company's coming for an estimate the price dropped 12000.00 then again another window introduced for 90000 less, only tonight ! 3 1/2 hours later my husband asked if you can give me this price tonight you should be able to do it in a week as well.

very educational. can you recommend anyone in the Miami Fl area

Hi Jeff, Thanks. Have watched 3 of your videos so far. Do you have one on frame quality? I just commented more in depth on another video.

I already thought of a showroom because the one person we talked to said it will be 6-10 weeks out for service. Is that common or because they have to order?

I understand most sales guys are high pressure. I am not that guy. But I do want both husband and wife to be present when I explain in great detail the process and the cost, once. Of course there will be a few follow up questions later and that’s fine. OSI quad max is the best. OSI quad sucks.

Great video! what is your take on Renewal by Andersen? We are having 11 windows replaced by them.