Your 7 Step Guide To Choosing The Right Windows, Doors And Home Extension Company
The home improvement is riddled with many horror stories, caused primarily by the people involved in it, rather than the material quality or any questionable performance of the product. Getting the outcome you want, comes down to more than just choosing between, aluminium patio doors, uPVC patio doors, or a tile or slate roof for your sunroom, conservatory or orangery, it often starts with the company you end up going with.
With that said, we are finding that lately in Northern Ireland, new windows, doors conservatories, sunrooms, and bathrooms are exploding in popularity again.
We’ve heard that most purchasers report dissatisfaction in the overall service lay with the human element rather than the physical performance of the product provided. For example, the benefits of installing an energy efficient, modern double glazed composite door, with a high-security multipoint locking system, will mean nothing if it has been designed and fitted incorrectly. Not to mention……
- Poor customer service
- Lack of expertise
- Little or no experience in general business and service environment.
- Woeful training
- Lack of proper business/accounting procedure
All these elements have
resulted in a lacklustre performance, shabby installation practices, severe corner cutting and overall dissatisfaction.
We offer peace of mind
“So worry no more friends, here’s a guide from us, with just a few steps to take to minimise or eliminate the risk of real pain. Simply follow these seven steps to help protect your interests, your property, your money, and your sanity”.
1) Word of mouth
Ask friends and family. Search online for references to the company or individuals. Ask your social media friends or even your Pinterest followers. And you don’t have to stop there, why not get an opinion from an experienced tradesman or construction surveyor if the project capital risk size allows.
A professional building expert will charge around £200 for a thorough inspection of a job and give you an accurate impartial opinion as to some one’s standards of work and material. Money well spent.
2) Get quotes
Obtain a moderate number (say three to five) from Established recognised businesses. Every single window, conservatory, sunroom provider who does any work at all will truthfully exceed the VAT threshold, so be wary of those evading the VAT issue as this is very often an indicator of less than wholesome practice, and very often fools people into thinking that they will receive top dollar treatment.
3) Research. Research. Research
Research your nominated or favoured contractor before you formally appoint them by way of investigation through credit and trade reference agencies, Federation Of Master Builders, Companies House, and Citizens Advice for any adverse reports.
4) Deposits
Do not pay large deposits (i.e. in excess of 10%), and pay such using a credit (not debit card) as this action embroils your card company into warranting the goods and services from £100 to £15000, making the credit card company secure the performance of the installation, and guarantee the safety of your money if anything goes wrong. This is not covered on cash or cheque payments (inc debit card). The cover is provided under current UK consumer law hence is cast in stone. Use it. Pay all you can by credit card. If someone does not accept cards, there can be reasons for that. We’ll leave that for you to work out.
5) Greater value of work
It’s your living space, so always try to have a significantly greater value of work done, or be in receipt of more goods than you’ve paid for. Bona fide proper contractors will have no issue with this as they will have faith in their work. Bear this in mind when making stage payments. If capital risk is very high, before discharging accounts in full’ it is wise to have the installation examined by a building inspector. Never pay in full until its finished. No genuine contractor will have an issue with this.
6) Contract: Get it signed
Insist that all works are covered in detail by a proper legal contract and all monetary items and agreements displayed for clarity. Take legal advice if in doubt.
7) Premises
Whilst not a cast iron guarantee of satisfaction, you are more likely to experience proper standards of product and installation from a proper standard of contractor with owned offices rather some spurious operator offering ‘too good to be true window installation packages’ with no office/showroom, or non-established company or sole trader, operating with a mobile number and rented house or offices. It shows intent to exist and commitment to the business.
Contact our friendly team today or visit our Bangor showroom to arrange your no obligation quotation.
From design to fit, we take care of it.
