Who is Adams

Adams Home Windows remains a family owned and locally operated replacement window company with a long history of providing and installing energy efficient replacement windows throughout the DFW area. We are built with the idea that the only truly affordable product is a quality product. Example: If we sold a "bottom of the barrel" window, our BBB report would explode. To overcome our suffering reputation our marketing budget would increase and our prices would increase to pay for it. However, by selling quality products and employing the best installers we generate 67% of our new work from referrals, allowing us to keep our prices low and competitive.

Each representative, including the owner, has at least 5 years of hands-on installation experience. This is critical to our ability to provide "one stop, no pressure, no surprises" estimates. We believe that it's not good enough for our representatives to recite a sales-pitch or outline the perks of a specific window. They should also be able to recognize possible installation problems such as difficult wood / brick, history of leakage, shifting, brittle Sheetrock, lead paint (etc) and anticipate the solutions to each issue. There should be no disagreement between what the representative sells and what the installer can do.

  Adams Home Windows owes our team of window installers much more than a paycheck.  If it's important to have representatives who think like installers (and we think it is), it's also important to have window installers who communicate like representatives.  They are responsible for the safety of the job, the professional installation of the replacement windows and our relationship with our customers.   Of course, it goes without saying that their quality of workmanship should be stellar but also their communication skills are key.  Replacing windows can unfortunately be a dangerous job.  Removing windows is a form of demolition, after all.  If a customer is standing in harms way or if they simply have a question, it is important that our installers be capable of handling themselves in a professional manner. Our installers are simply second-to-none when it comes to workmanship and communication.

        

Window Competition

Who should be hired to install which window?  It's always a good idea to get multiple estimates but lets face it, the replacement window industry is filled with sketchy characters and high-pressure salesmen.  It's not unusual to be cornered into a "sign now" deal or confused by conflicting information.  When every company claims that 'theirs and only theirs' is best... who is telling the truth?

Let us compete.  Adams Home Windows can help in a number of ways.

1. We provide "NO PRESSURE" replacement window estimates that are valid for one year.  If our competition offers a "sign today" deal, let us match it and we'll give you a year to consider it.  (no matter what, never sign a "sign now" contract ~ EVER)

2. Our Replacement Window Showroom offers one place to view every choice.  Wouldn't it help to see each window side-by-side - ours AND our competitors?  Wouldn't it help to operate each window, tilt them in, lock them / unlock them... read the warranties and take brochures.  Education should not scare anyone.

3.  "Too good to be true" deals are usually just that - but sometimes they're valid.  Adams Home Window representatives have seen every sketchy bait-and-switch / sales grift there is.  We can help our potential customer avoid making a very expensive mistake or validate a very good deal.  At worst, we might offer to match the deal - the customer wins either way.

        

Pushy Window Salesman

Nobody benefits from sketchy / pushy salesmen.  The homeowner gets taken advantage of and the replacement window industry gets a bad name.  Just ask Vinyl Siding about the damage that an army of "bait and switch" sales theives can do to an industry.  Our advice to our potential customers is this... be picky, judge harshly and tell your salesperson that you will not be making a decision until you've thought about it.  Remember, the salesman works for you (at least he wants to).  Its not too much to ask for good prices from reputable companies who employ honest sales professionals.

Every single sketchy sales-pitch reveals itself with the simple question "WHY?".
Example:

Joe Salesman:  This deal is only good until the end of the day!
Customer:  WHY?
Nothing expires today.  If Joe Salesman is having a sale, it's a sale that he controls.  If he values your business, he will extend his sale until the next day (or next week).  If the purpose of the sale is to get orders in before the end of the quarter, next quarter will be just as important.  Or maybe the purpose of the "one day sale" is to force you to sign a bad deal without allowing time for research.  WHY would you fall for that?  Call Adams Home Windows (before his "deal" expires) and we'll match his offer and give you a year to think about it... how about that?

Joe Salesman:  I will give you $1000.00 off if you sign now!
Customer: WHY?
Any offer that can have $1000.00 subtracted from it, isn't a very good one.  Is tomorrows signature less valuable than today's?  Call Adams Home Windows and we'll give you the same deal but we require NO commitment today (or tomorrow).  Our estimates are valid for one year.
Beware of "Bait and Switch" tactics and demand "best price" up front.  Bait & Switch sales tactics are dishonest and should be unforgivable.  Even if a fair price is eventually agreed upon, consider the dishonest way they've introduced themselves.

        

BBB Report

There is no more valuable tool for judging the reputation and the reliability of a replacement window company than the Better Business Bureau.  Since 1920, the Better Business Bureau has been setting a standard for trust in the marketplace.  Unlike the blogs and reviews that are throughout the internet these days, the BBB validates each claim.  The BBB provides a place where a customer can lodge a valid complaint and a company can respond.  Disputes are settled by a legal panel and a record of the problem is visible for all.  USE THIS TOOL.

WARNING!!!  Businesses with bad BBB reports will often use this excuse... "Well, we do so much work that the law of averages says that we will have more claims on our report".  This is NOT A VALID excuse.  A window company should not out-grow it's responsibility to provide a quality product and maintain a positive relationship with each customer.

Our advice is to read each negative BBB report individually and judge the problem.  Are most of the complaints related to the product, the salesman, the office or the installation?  Assume that there is a good chance that you'll have the same problem and ask plenty of quesitons.  Accountability is something that you might need in the future if you have problems with your purchase... it's not too much to ask for regarding their BBB report.

        

When to Buy Windows

Unfortunately for Adams Home Windows, not everyone should buy energy efficient replacement windows.  We are in the business of selling windows and we'd obviously like to sell windows to every homeowner.  However, taking advantage of an uninformed customer doesn't help us in the long-term.  Our reputation as an honest and ethical alternative to the shady "used car salesman" types is more important than short-term paydays.  Energy Efficient Replacement Windows are usually a smart purchase for any homeowner but here are some cases when they're not.

Advice:  Inspect your windows yourself.  Unfortunately, when homeowners hire a "professional" to inspect their windows, they're usually hiring a "professional salesman".  Do your best to tackle this inspection yourself.

1. Are they single pane or double pane?
If you can't tell, go outside and put a sticker on the glass... then come inside and put a sticker in the same place.  It will be obvious if the two stickers are on either sides of the same piece of glass.

2. Does the glass rattle? 
Stand inside the smallest bedroom and open / close the door.  It should be obvious.

3. Is air coming in around the frame? 
Buy a stick of incense.  Light it and hold it about 5 inches away from the glass as you pass it all the way around the perimeter of the window.  Does the smoke blow around?

4.  Will the window slam shut without something holding it up? 

5.  Is there moisture / dirt between the two panes?
If your windows are single pane or if the answer to any of the other questions is "yes", you probably do need new replacement windows.  But to answer the question "Should you replace your windows", ask yourself the following question:

Do you plan to move within 5 years?
If the answer is yes, our advice is to replace your windows only if it's necessary to sell your home.  Otherwise, the potential buyer might ask for an allowance to repair the windows but repairing windows isn't nearly as expensive as replacing them.  There are plenty of benefits of Energy Efficient Replacement Windows but if you're not going to be the person enjoying those benefits, why bother?  (Remember to give your buyer our business card!  We appreciate it!)

On the other hand, if you KNOW that you're going to be in your house for 6 or 7 more years, you should have already replaced your windows.  By lowering your utility bills, Quality Energy Efficient Replacement Windows do pay for themselves over time.  They add value to the home and they make the home more attractive / comfortable.

        

Window Manufacturers

As you're collecting estimates for your replacement window project, remember to take a close look at the window manufacturer.  It's relitively unusual for a window installation company to produce a window (Example: Home Depot will install your windows but they don't produce a window.  When considering Home Depot for your work, it would be wise to also do some research on "Simonton Windows").  Ask your sales rep specifically, "who makes this window?".

Here is the danger: 
Some installation companies buy extremely low-grade windows and rename them (Example:  Joe Window Company sells "Joes Windows".  What you don't know is that Joe Window Company bought that window from a company that's going out of business).  This prevent the consumer from discovering the poor reputation of the window itself and allows the installation company an opportunity for huge profits.  Remember though, if the true manufacturer of the window goes out of business, your warranty goes out of business with them.

Our Advice:Until the economy turns around, be careful with smaller window manufacturers.  For the sake of your warranty, it's important to stick with well established (usually national) manufacturers.  However, there are (of course) exceptions.  Check the BBB and look at previous projects.