talk to me about double glazeing installers

[Happydutchmummy]

I need to replace 3 (small) windows. Double glazing salesmen have a notoriously bad rep for being sleazy, pushy, etc. I am not sure if this is justified, but the thought of being given a hard sell fills me with dread!

So would you recommend going via a small local company or one of the big name ones? Is there anything I need to watch out for?. My plan is to get 3 different quotes and go with other cheapest

for three small ones, it might be worth asking at a local glazier's or glass supplier if they know someone. They probably keep tradesmen's cards by the door. There will be someone in your town who supplies double-glazing and conservatory components.

Not the same, but my window-cleaner recommended someone who is changing three small misted panes for £75 (not new windows, just the dg units). A big company would not be bothered. A couple of weeks ago he changed four door-sized panes in my commercial premises for £480. He has worked for double glazing companies before as a fitter and foreman but is now independent.

Also, look around your area for people having work done. Afterwards, ask their opinion. Plastic windows and doors often need to be repaired or replaced, so there are local firms who specialise.

Definitely go for a local company. The big companies are usually the stereotypical salesmen.

Look on checkatrade for some local pointers.

Definitely go small and local. We got a quote off one of the big firms and DH more or less had to frog march the salesman off the premises as he wouldn't leave plus they still phone up regularly to try and sell us stuff even though I ask every time to be removed from their database. Also their quote was nearly £3k. The local guy did it for £750.

Also try local tradesmen
They often have accounts with window companies and can supply and fit very competitively

Ok, so local company it is then.

Go local, we did, three small windows and a large bay £2300, one of the big three quoted neighbour £7k for the same windows.

Go local but be strict.

Tell them you will not put up with hard sell tactics, put a reasonable time limit on how long you want them in your home when pricing up/trying to sell, and tell them that if they can offer you a discount, they should do it at the start of the sale and not suddenly pull one out of the hat right at the end.

It works for me. As you can tell, I hate all the selling charades and nonsense

Whereabouts are you? We are in the NW and have used a small company for all of ours. They have been in business since before WW2 and don't advertise so all their work relies on how good their previous jobs are.

I would always use small local companies for this as they can't get away with poor jobs I wouldn't touch the company with the NW county symbolised by a red rose in their name and the initials LDG with a bargepole

I'm in the south east (canterbury area) if anyone has any recommendations

we looked up the windows we wanted (rehau) and asked them about local fitters.
had three round for quotes. on turned out to be a pushy salesman who wanted to talk to dh 'right now' when I told him I need to discuss the options and different quotes with dh. he didn't get the job.
the company who made the best impression (not the cheapest) and who gave us a long list of reference got the job. very happy with the result.

The local company we used, we approached them and the guy came out and measured up for quote from the outside (as we didn't want to disturb our tenant) and rang us with the quote. Once it was agreed the surveyor came out and did detailed measurements. DH tried to reduce the quote by £100 and it was a no straight away, they gave us the cheapest quote which was 1/3 of one of the big 3.