PRE-QUALIFY YOUR CONTRACTORS BEFORE YOUR WINDOW & DOOR PROJECT
As you interview prospective contractors, refer to this list of questions.
Be satisfied with all given answers BEFORE you sign any contract:
General Questions about the Contracting Company
How long have you been in business?
Are you an authorized dealer for all of the products that will be installed?
Do you service the products that you install?
Are you a member of any business networks such as the Better Business Bureau (BBB) or any other organizations?
Will you provide me with a copy of your Better Business Bureau report?
License and Insurance
What kind of license do you have (General Contractor or Glazing Contractor)?
Is your license valid and does it have a good history?
Who holds the license and does she or he legally qualify your company?
Will you provide me with a copy of your license?
Will you provide me with a copy of your Workers' Compensation and Liability Insurances?
Experience and References
Do you have at least six (6) years of experience, especially in the field of window and door replacement?
BEWARE: Numerous companies have many years of new construction experience
and little or no experience in remodeling.
Have you performed any window and door replacement work in my municipality?
Are you able to provide me with at least three (3) remodeling references that I can contact?
Installation
Who does your installation? Is it done by your own technicians or by sub-contractors hired by you?
If you do use subcontractors, are they fully licensed and insured?
Are the installers trained with the products offered to me?
Does installation includes drywall, stucco and window sill repairs?
Do you replace damaged buck (window and door framing)?
Will you add an additional charge for bucks and sills?
Permitting and Inspections
Do you supply permitting and engineering?
What is the charge for the permit required for my project?
Who is responsible for scheduling final inspection with the city?
Are you going to have a company representative attending at all of the necessary city inspections on my project?
Product Approvals and Warranties
Will you provide me with a copy of the product approval for the product offered to me?
Will you provide me with a copy of the product and the installation warranties?
How many years of installation (labor) warranty is the company offering?
Written Contract
Will you provide me with a written contract that details all of the work that will be performed, including related costs and final completion date?
Will the contract exclude any work that you expect after the job is complete? (Such as: clean-up, stucco, drywall, tile, etc.)
Does the contract have a detailed payment plan and what are my options?
