If you’re considering having new windows, doors, a conservatory or roofline installed, you may have come across many businesses offering this service. Here’s our advice on how to carefully consider which one to pick.
Recommendations and Reviews
We advise asking your friends, family and neighbours if they can personally recommend an installation company to complete the work. If you can’t get any personal recommendations, you could search online and once you’ve found some suitable companies, have a read of their customer reviews and recommendations. You’ll usually find these on their website or Facebook business page, for example. If you’re unable to find any reviews or recommendations, ask them to provide references for their previous work.
Business Details
Most businesses will have an “about us” page on their website which is worth having a glance over as it’ll give you an idea of their business values. Their contact details should also be easily accessible on there, including a telephone number and/or email address and a postal address.
Check out how long the business has been established. The longer a business has been operating, the more experienced it will be and you’re less likely to come across any issues with them. It’s also worth asking questions about the business’s employees as the business could be relatively new but its employees may have extensive experience gained from their prior employments.
Quotes
Once you’ve found some reputable businesses, it’s best to get more than one quote and ask for those quotes to be in writing. Bear in mind that quotes will be for a fixed price but estimates can vary.
Remember that you should also verify whether the price quoted is inclusive or exclusive of VAT and check whether that quote covers all the work that you have asked to be completed and that there will be no additional expenses.
When considering which quote to go ahead with, it may be your instinct to go with the cheapest price however it is best to weigh up the price and your trust in whether that business can successfully deliver the service that you require and uphold their guarantee.
Installation Specifics
Scan over the business’s FAQ page and don’t hesitate to ask them questions if you have any further queries. Find out more about the products that they install. You’re best finding a business that cares about quality rather than scrimping and buying cheaper, lower quality products.
Guarantee
Find out whether the installation comes will come with a guarantee. Our guarantee lasts for 10 years. A company has to be sustainable to have a trustworthy guarantee. There are a lot of companies who may charge a very cheap price, offer the same guarantee as established companies but they may not be around in a year to fulfil it. Again, it is about checking their reviews and ensuring that every customer is happy. Also have a look to see whether they have filed their accounts on Companies House, to prove that they are established.
Business Insurance
Check that the business has adequate insurance in place, for example which will cover any damage that could be caused to your property during completion of the installation.
Written Agreement
Make sure that before the work starts, you’ve agreed terms and been given an agreement. A reputable company should provide a written agreement detailing specifics such as the work to be carried out (clearly stating what is and is not included), on what date(s) and at what price.
Payment
Avoid paying in advance in full for work to be completed. At We Fit, our customers pay a deposit in advance however the remainder is paid upon completion of the installation, once they’ve confirmed that they are delighted with our standard of work.
When you do pay the best method is via credit card, to gain the extra protection which comes as standard with doing so.
If you choose to take this advice, you’ll be lessening the risk of complications. Remember to look for a reliable, reputable business offering a consistent, high quality service for an agreeable price.