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Frequently Asked Questions
"I'm very very
pleased with the workmanship! I will highly recommend Window
Universe to friends, family, coworkers, etc. Dave's team is
the best!!!"
- Pat, Washington, DC
NW
All of the questions in this section were
submitted either by visitors to the Window Universe and Siding Universe
websites or by our past customers.
We've done our best to provide clear straightforward answers for everyone to
see.
If you have a question that has not been addressed
please use the form on the bottom of this page. Your question may be
posted to help everyone. When we all work together things get much
easier!
Do my husband and I both need to be home for your
estimate?
This question was submitted by Caroline in
Falls Church, VA
No. Many traditional
contractors will insist that both parties be home during a presentation so
they can try to pressure you into signing a contract on the spot.
We don't do the old fashioned high
pressure sales pitch and we don't need you both to be there.
We do recommend that all of the
interested parties be present if possible so we can answer all of your
questions. We understand that schedules are busy, and if this isn't
possible that's just fine with us!
How come you don't need to measure the windows in
order to give me prices?
This question was submitted by Patrick in
Gaithersburg, MD
We love this question!
Many contractors still use some of the old school tricks to justify their
prices. Charging more for a big window than a small one is a classic
example of this. The actual cost of the window varies very little, so
we charge the same price regardless of the size.
Our pricing only depends on the
style of the window (i.e. double hung, picture window, etc). This
makes things much simpler and eliminates some of the old fashioned song and
dance during the presentation.
How can you give me a demonstration and an exact
quote in 45 minutes when the last company I met with took 3+ hours?
This question was submitted by Alexis in
Baltimore, MD
So far this is our favorite
question of the bunch! The short answer is because we choose to.
We value your time and we understand that you probably have other things on
your schedule.
During your demonstration we'll
tell you about our company and the windows that we offer. We'll
explain our lifetime window and labor warranties. We'll tell you about
the options that are available and we'll go through all of the prices with
you. We'll answer all of your questions and do our best to help you
feel comfortable with the process.
All of that can be done in about
45 minutes. Other companies need to take much more of your time
because they spend their first two hours trying to justify their high prices
and the next hour telling you about the "great" deal you're getting.
Luckily our prices and our windows
actually are great, so our story doesn't need to be long.
Someone knocked on my door recently and said they
could offer me a discount because they were working in my neighborhood. Is
this a good deal?
This question was submitted by Alison in
Cockeysville, MD
Beware! There are
many contracting companies who go from neighborhood to neighborhood knocking
on doors to solicit business. You might even run into them at a gas
station or warehouse store. These are typically not good deals at all.
The cost of paying someone to go from door to door is pretty high and the
company will need to recoup that cost from you!
These companies typically pull the
old "buy today or the price goes up" tricks. Remember this
means they know that if you have time to look into it, you will not decide
to work with them.
In a recent survey nearly 40%
of homeowners who hired a door-to-door contractor said the contractor did
shoddy work. It's best to do a little research to find a company
with a good reputation and a track record of satisfied customers.
Do I need to make a decision on the spot? I
want to think it over to make sure I'm getting a fair deal.
This question was submitted by Emily in
Silver Spring, MD
You certainly do not need to sign
up on the spot and we will not try to pressure you with "sign today or the
price goes up" tactics. While many of our customers do sign up right
away you absolutely do not need to.
All of our prices are guaranteed
for 30 days so you'll have time to make sure you are comfortable with the
decision to work with us.
How do I know that things are on schedule after
I've ordered the windows?
This question was submitted by Anna in
Fairfax, VA
This is a great question!
We will keep you informed through weekly email status updates until
everything is complete. Every Thursday you will receive an email
letting you know the status of the project and confirming that everything is
on track. Of course you can always call to check anytime you like.
Some companies will take your
money and leave you with no idea what is going on until they show up two
months later with a pickup truck full of windows. We thought there was
probably a better way to keep you informed!
What's the difference between an R-Value and a
U-Factor?
This question was submitted by Colleen in
Alexandria, VA
This is a common question.
Some companies will try to confuse the issue of efficiency by talking about
R-Values. Typically R-Values are used to measure the efficiency of the
glass in a window rather than the efficiency of the entire
window. This is a little misleading and it's done that way on purpose.
U-Factors provide a better measure
of efficiency because they take into account the efficiency of the entire
window. This is why the new tax credit is based on U-Factors not
R-Values.
How long will it take to get new my new windows?
This question was submitted by Mike and Susan
in Woodbridge, VA
ALL of our windows are custom made
and ordered to 1/8" specifications. This is done to make sure they fit
exactly right in your home. This is the best way to get maximum
efficiency, because it virtually eliminates the potential of drafts coming
around the windows.
The actual installation will
only take 1 or 2 days depending on how many windows you have. We
work hard to get things done quickly and to minimize the disruption to your
schedule.
The total time to measure,
manufacture and install your new windows can vary, but a timeline of 3-5
weeks from start to finish is typical.
Your quote is much lower than another estimate I
received. What am I sacrificing by going with you as opposed to the higher
priced company?
This question was submitted by Justin in
Washington, DC
We employ a number of strategies
to keep our prices low. For instance, some companies in the area will
spend $100,000 per year on ads in the Yellow Pages. Some will spend
even more on ads in the newspaper and on TV. Do you think they need to
recoup these costs by charging higher prices? They certainly do.
You're not sacrificing
anything! We offer great products at great
prices with great service and great warranties to back them up. Please
read the quotes and watch the videos on our website. Our customers
know a great deal when they see one!
Paying too much is so 2007!
What do I get for such great prices?
This question was submitted by Jake in
Washington, DC
You get nationally recognized
name brand double hung windows professionally installed complete with
custom exterior trim. You can see in the "Our Windows" section
that our windows have many features that other companies either do not offer
or charge a premium for.
This is at the core of our
philosophy of offering great products and great prices.
Will these windows qualify for the tax credit?
This question was submitted by Daniel in
Arlington, VA
Yes. Almost all of
the windows and doors we offer will qualify for the tax credit when you
select a qualifying glass option. We offer several choices so you can
select the windows and the efficient glass option that works best for you.
We'll be happy to go through all
of the options with you. We love talking efficiency!
I want new windows, but I'd rather not dip into my
savings. Do you have any payment options?
This question was submitted by Victor in
Woodbridge, VA
We sure do.
We offer several great financing options with approved credit.
It can really make sense to spread out your payments to avoid dipping into savings.
We're currently several options
and the specifics can vary based on which store you're working with.
Please contact us for details about the options available in your area.
Some customers are surprised to
learn how convenient financing can be especially when you consider the
monthly savings in your utility bills after the new windows are installed.
I see you do a lot for the environment, do you use
recycled vinyl in the windows?
This question was submitted by Ann Marie in
Ellicott City, MD
Thanks for noticing, we do try to do
our part for the environment. The quick answer to this one is
no. All of the vinyl in our windows is 100% virgin vinyl.
That means it has never been anything other than a window. This is
necessary to maintain the strength and durability that we require.
Recycled or "regrind" vinyl has
serious shortcomings and cannot be used to make a quality window.
Luckily, vinyl can be easily recycled and the scrap material in the plants
is recycled into other products.
How can I know that you really provide good
service?
This question was submitted by Sam in Towson,
MD
This is a question every homeowner
asks. We can make a nice looking website and we can post videos of
customers, but how can you be sure you're really looking at a company with a
strong track record? Here are a few ways you can tell that satisfied
customers are our business.
1. You can look us up with the
Better Business Bureau by clicking the button at the bottom of every
page. You'll see that we have an "A+" rating (the
highest rating possible!) and we have never had
a single complaint. Some companies in this industry have several
complaints and often times the complaints are still unresolved.
This is important to check.
2. If you have a subscription
you can look us up on Angie's List by clicking the button at the bottom
of every page. It's against Angie's rules for us to tell you what
our rating is, but you can probably assume we wouldn't put a link on
every single page if we didn't have many many great reports!
3. We'll be happy to provide
you with a list of our past customers so you can call them and talk
about their experience with us.
Are you licensed, bonded and insured in Maryland,
Washington, DC and Virginia?
This question was submitted by Maggie in
Sterling, VA
Yes. Many area
companies will only work in one of the three local jurisdictions because
they cannot meet the licensing and insurance requirements in all three.
We can and we do.
Didn't find the answer to your question? Ask
us here.
Your question could be posted to help everyone!
This section will always be a work
in progress and it would not exist without your help. If you have a
question, please don't hesitate to contribute.
"The project went well.
Installation person showed on time and did very clean, nice job. No
mess inside or outside! It was originally supposed to finish in one
day, but materials were short for capping. They came back next day
and finished up."
- Chang, Chantilly,
VA
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