What a Straight Window Quote Looks Like

Most window quotes are written to be hard to compare. Here is what a quote you can actually trust has on it.

The window, named

Manufacturer, line, and model. Not “vinyl impact windows.” If you cannot look the product up, you cannot compare two quotes and you cannot check the approval.

A count and a schedule

How many openings, what size, what type each one is. A single lump sum for “whole house” hides everything.

Who pulls the permit

It should say the contractor does, and the fee should either be included or listed. A quote silent on permits is a quote with a hole in it.

What happens to the opening

Stucco patch, interior trim, paint, and who hauls the old windows away. This is the single most common source of the argument at the end of a job.

Two warranties, not one

The manufacturer warrants the window. The installer warrants the installation. They are different things and a leak is almost always the second one.

A payment schedule tied to progress

A deposit, then payments as work is done, then a final payment after the inspection passes. Be careful with anyone wanting most of the money before the windows are ordered.