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.

        

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.

        

Reference Lists?

Of course, consumers should check references.  But remember that people don't list the job that they were fired from on their resume!  Yes, it's a good idea to drive around and look at windows before deciding which company to trust your project to but lets be honest about reference lists - they are populated by that the happiest customers!

Advice:
Ask Adams Home Windows for a list of projects that will be starting / completed at a convenient time for you can visit.  Show up and watch.  Are the window installers clean and considerate of the situation?  Is the site well kept?  Would you trust them inside your home?  Is the homeowner happy?  Are things going as the homeowner was promised?  Pay specific attention to the caulking!  Is the bottom of the window warped or bent like a frown?  Is there order to the project?

Adams Home Windows has a reference list that is the size of a phone book.  But honestly, as a consumer, I wouldn't trust reference lists.  A Reference list is only proof that a company is capable of competence, not that they make a habit of it.

        

Services

Adams Home Windows offers the best deal to meet the needs of each specific customer.  We value education above high-pressure sales and we are free to offer almost any product that is available to this market.  Our goal is to educate our customers until they can make an informed decision about the product that would work best for them... then offer that product at an affordable price.

Most of our competition is in the business of arguing that their window is better than all others.  But, because we do not have an obligation to sell any window exclusively, we do not have to make this argument.  It's a false argument anyway!  Some window manufacturers produce high quality LARGE windows... some produce better small windows.  The best window manufacturer in the world might not produce the best ROUND windows.  One window manufacturer might provide more color options while another provides different grades of Energy Efficiency. We haven't even started talking about the differences in affordability!!!  There is no "one size fits all" window.  It's our job to listen to our customers and give them the options and information that they need at an affordable price so that they will choose us for their project.

Adams Home Windows has been leading this industry in the DFW area for a very long time.  After thousands of projects, our BBB report is clean and our reputation is second-to-none!  The fact that Adams Home Windows generates 67% of our work from referrals speaks to our honesty, reliability and quality.  We are still family owned and locally operated and we've never out-grown our responsibilities to each individual customer.  Even if we don't win every job - we appreciate every opportunity.

        

Soundproof Windows

As cities grow larger and more dense, soundproof windows are becoming more attractive.  I suppose before we can talk about them, we should talk about what qualifies a window to be "soundproof".  Adams Home Windows considers any window with the same sound measurements of a brick wall to be "soundproof".  If we can agree that it wouldn't make any sense to install a window that is more sound-efficient than the wall that surrounds it, we should be able to agree that you're likely to always hear SOME sounds from outside.

Sound efficient construction material is measured by STC rating. A brick wall has (aprox) a STC rating of .37 - .39

There are a few companies who provide "interior mount" windows that greatly reduce the amount of sound that travels from outside to inside.  You may have to install them yourself or find a local installation crew to do the work but these windows achieve the .39 STC rating that you're looking for.  These windows do NOT replace your existing windows.  Since they are installed INSIDE your house, there are two major problems with these windows.  First, your blinds or interior shutters will need to be moved because the new Soundproof Window will be in the way.  Second, cleaning the glass is very difficult because they require that you uninstall them completely.  Think of them like an interior storm window (but much higher quality).  And they are expensive!

Another option is Soundproof Replacement Windows.  Using thick laminated glass, these also achieve the .39 STC rating, making them qualify as "Soundproof".  These windows actually REPLACE your existing windows and should not get in the way of your existing blinds or plantation shutters.  However, they almost always have Vinyl frames and might not look anything like your other windows.  The price of replacing ALL of your windows with Soundproof windows might be a little staggering, but Energy Efficient Windows will match them perfectly.  Don't think that EVERY window must be soundproof.

We have seen some of our customers use Theatrical Curtains to block sound.  Using thick, heavy material they are pretty effective but of course they also block light (which in a bedroom, might not be a bad idea).