These two companies have vastly different pricing. In the case of the quote I got for my home from both of these central Ohio Replacement Window Companies, Universal Windows Direct was more than double the cost of Window World.
Columbus, Ohio Replacement Window Costs
We all do it, we Google phrases like “best windows near me” or “best replacement windows in Columbus, Ohio,” in an effort to feel like we are doing our homework as consumers. When we finally got to the point where we were ready to replace the builder grade windows in our almost 10-year old house, we dreaded the fact that we knew we needed to be prepared to let 3 or 4 or even 5 different replacement window companies into our home just to get an idea of the cost.
The first company we let in was Mad City Windows, then McCloud and then Rosati Windows. After the Mad City marathon appointment of over two hours, we knew that three in total would be our limit for over-the-top Window Presentations. However, I kept thinking, there has got to be a better way for consumers to get a ball-park idea of what it will cost to replace the windows in your home without sitting through a window demo. This website is a result of me knowing there had to be a better way to get started on your Replacement Window journey.
Columbus, Ohio – Universal Windows Direct
It’s not that I had a bad experience with Universal Windows Direct, but rather their Sales guy, “R” gave up on the sale once he learned we had quotes from Window World, McCloud Windows, Rosati and Mad City. It’s as if he knew several of the ones we had already collected a quote from would be lower and there was no way he could compete.
He could have tried to one-up the others with some spec his window had that he knew the others didn’t or played up how his warranty was better by this feature or that feature, but he totally gave up. He called our 1,580 square foot home of twelve-windows a “large” project and that it would be over $20,000. As we begin to question him on items like would haul-away be an extra cost or was there an add-on if we wanted financing, he said that we could assume his windows would be $2,000 per window give or take and everything were asking was not considered an extra. I thought to myself, so why isn’t he selling that? Rosati charges extra to haul away the old windows and adds a flat fee to the cost if you want to finance, why wasn’t he using those facts to fight for the sale?
“R” basically quoted us $2,000 per window and said that our 1,580 square foot home with 12 windows was a large project? That sounded odd to me, my home is fairly small and I know many people in the Columbus, Ohio area that have way more windows than twelve. So in the end, he never put anything in writing, but said everything was included and the price for all twelve would be $24,000.
Columbus, Ohio – Window World
“Walt” from Window World had a different view on our appointment that “R” from Universal did. He confidently walked into our home with his bag of “stuff”, his window sample and his brochures. I was in another room when he arrived and didn’t get to hear the beginning of his sales pitch and he didn’t bother to repeat it for me.
He immediately went to his brochure and using his ink pen as a pointer began to explain how the window was manufactured and some differences that I likely didn’t catch because he was talking so quickly. Once he finished his tour of the Window World brochure, he then grabbed a Window World Price Quote Sheet. It contained five sections on it:
- Window World Basics
- Glass/Window Options
- Door Options
- Pre-1978 Built Home option
- Miscellaneous options
Once he added all the options together his total price was $10,673 making them number two, currently on the Wacky Window Woman Replacement Window comparison chart.
On Window World’s quote, “Walt”, he also noted ways to take away features in an effort to reduce the price. We could have removed argon gas or Low-E glass for example, but those were all items we knew we wanted and were non-negotiable. There was nothing we were willing to remove only to reduce the price. And besides, his price was actually pretty good. The total for all 12 windows with all the same features as Universal Windows Direct quoted us was $10,672, so less than half! Window World didn’t end up being the the most affordable, but certainly, they were closer to the top than to the bottom of the quotes we’ve collected so far.
Replacement Windows, Columbus, Ohio – Who should you choose?
When you get the point where you feel you have collected enough quotes, seen enough demos and feel comfortable that you recognize a good deal when you see it, then it’s time to call it quits and make a final decision. For me, the window, the cost and the sales process/experience all weighed in on who we chose. For me being in sales, the experience and the person sent to my home to try to “sell me” always leaves an impression, sometimes, good and sometimes not so good.
Once you narrow it down to the few categories that are important to you, make a decision and don’t look back. I would suggest that you take notes as they begin to parade into your home as it’s easy to forget who had what and the name of the sales guy that did a great or not so great window demo and presentation.
After you refer to the Wacky Window Woman Comparison Chart, if you have a hunch as to who you want to go with, call them in last, so you can get the quotes of those you suspect will be #2 or #3 and leave number one for last, so if they are as good as you hope they are, you can write the contract on the spot and not have to call one of others back in. We found that this was the most efficient way to get the whole thing behind us so we could move on with our lives.
