What have I been quoted?
A price is not a specification.
Most homeowners are given a figure, a discount and a signature box. Here is how to work out what that figure actually buys — and what to ask before you commit.
Line by line
The phrases that hide the detail.
These appear on quotations every day. None of them are necessarily dishonest — they are simply vague enough to make comparison impossible.
“UPVC windows” with no system named
There are dozens of PVC-U profile systems in the UK, at very different quality levels. If the quotation doesn't name the system, you cannot tell which one you're buying — or whether the second quote is for the same thing.
“A-rated energy efficient glass”
A window energy rating is a whole-window figure, not a glass grade. Ask for the U-value, the glass make-up, the gas fill and the spacer bar. Those are the things that change the price.
A discount that only lasts today
A genuine price does not expire at the end of a home visit. Discounts of 40, 50 or 60 per cent usually mean the starting figure was inflated to make room for them.
“Fully fitted, all inclusive”
Ask what is included: internal finishing, external sealing, waste removal, scaffolding, structural lintels, certification. “All inclusive” means very little unless it is itemised.
A guarantee with no named backer
A ten-year guarantee is only worth as much as the company standing behind it. Establish whether it is the installer, the manufacturer, or an insurance-backed scheme.
One total figure for the whole job
Without a per-opening breakdown you cannot see where the money is going, or adjust the scope if the total is more than you wanted to spend.
Independent review
Send us the quotation and we'll tell you what it says.
Upload the paperwork you have already been given. We read the specification, flag what is missing, and tell you what to ask before you sign anything. No obligation to buy from anyone.