Selecting the right window company for your home renovation or construction project is key to ensuring it turns out well. Windows has a large impact on the energy efficiency of the building as well as its looks and value.
When you make the decision to install windows, as a homeowner, you are faced with one of two choices: do you go through your local window company or choose a national brand? They both have their differences, and they really can not be compared the same way, so you would really need to evaluate both to determine which is better for your project.
Understanding Local vs. National Window Companies
A local window company generally includes small businesses that operate within a small geographical area. Many of them pride themselves on offering customized assistance tailored to the needs and desires of local citizens.
A window company in Kansas City would understand the specific weather conditions of the city, which enables them to supply specialized choices that match the local climate. Other cities where local window companies excel include Austin, Seattle, and Denver, where each offers services best suited for the local environment.
National window brands, on the other hand, operate in many states or regions and provide similar services and products. These companies tend to have bigger budgets, reputations, and a range of windows.
National brands can afford to take on big jobs, are often able to offer many years of warranties, and have financing options. However, their wide scale can do more harm than good in certain regards, especially when it comes to support and personal touch.
Pros of Hiring a Local Window Company
Personalized Service
A local window company can resonate more of a personal touch than their national counterparts. Being smaller in size, homeowners usually directly work with the owner or a small team, which can result in a more personalized experience. Every project is unique and receives personalized attention so the window company can focus on meeting its client’s needs.
Quick Response Times
By having an office local to your area, they can react rapidly to service calls, repairs, and follow-up callbacks that will leave homeowners feeling well taken care of. Being local reduces delays in communication or scheduling, which benefits homeowners who are looking for a quick response or have extremely tight schedules for their projects.
Support the Local Economy
When you hire a nearby window company, it contributes to the local economy by helping small businesses and producing jobs for local workers. Homeowners like knowing that their investment is going directly towards their community. This type of local spending builds business relationships and subsequently induces greater accountability, as these companies depend on good word-of-mouth referrals from within their communities.
Customization Options
Local window installation companies usually offer better flexibility when it comes to customized windows to meet the needs of a homeowner. From working with a very specific architectural type to adapting windows for specific climate conditions, these companies are inherently better placed to provide tailored solutions. They can customize their offerings to meet whatever building codes and energy constraints the local area may have, making them perfect for niche applications.
Cons of Hiring a Local Window Company
Limited Resources
Because local window companies are, well, local, they tend to have fewer resources than national brands. They may not have a broad selection of products and might not be able to serve you using top-of-the-line technology or new energy-saving windows. As such, homeowners lose some degree of flexibility in terms of specific designs or materials.
Higher Costs
Since they are usually small businesses, they may not be able to offer the same competitive pricing as national chains. National companies often benefit from economies of scale, which means that they can buy materials in bulk, which then drives the price down, and this cost reduction is then given to the consumer. A local window company may not have this advantage, which could translate into higher window prices for the customer.
Pros of Choosing a National Window Brand
Reliability and Credibility
Sometimes, a national window brand has years-long or even decades-long reputations to fall back on. Since they serve many regions, they have access to thousands of customer testimonials and use cases that might help potential clients determine their level of craftsmanship. This history of accomplishments gives a lot of homeowners the feeling that if it worked for them in the past, it just might work for others as well.
Wider Range of Products
One of the primary benefits of working with a national window brand is the sheer range of options. National brands come with a variety of window types, materials, and styles, such as energy-efficient options. National brands are also more likely to offer certain specific features, like tri-pane windows or other proprietary glass coatings and technologies.
Wholesale Pricing and Promotion
Another benefit of these national window companies is they can offer more competitive pricing as they buy their materials in bulk. Big brands also have the leverage to provide financing options, promotions, or discounts that local companies just can not compete with. When prices are a factor in making ends meet for homeowners on a budget, promotions like this can really cut down the total cost impact.
Cons of National Window Brands
Generic Assistance
As great as national brands sounds, they do make it difficult to receive the attention you would from your local window companies. This may not be the ideal choice if you want a vendor that is more responsive to what each unique customer wants, but they do have standardized processes. A local company may give you more of the personal touch and attention to detail that is lost in a national brand.
Longer Wait Times
Because of the large quantities in which they operate, national brands might have longer wait times for installation, service, or repairs. If a company has too many customers, then you may have to wait in order to get on their schedule to use them, which can be frustrating for homeowners who want their projects done right away. Local businesses, in contrast, are usually somewhat more flexible in handling smaller workloads.
Subcontracting
Many national brands outsource installation to third-party contractors. The downside of this system is that subcontractors are yet another, albeit vetted and trained one in most cases, layer between service provider and homeowner. Those who like having just one contract and a single company for the entire project may be less enthralled with this approach.
Conclusion
In the end, choosing a local window company or a national one really comes down to what the homeowner feels most comfortable with. Homeowners who favor personalized window quotes, local customization, and local expertise may be the best match for a local window company. On the other hand, those looking for variety, competitive pricing, and established reputations may favor the resources and reliability of national brands.
