Doors and Windows - DIY Costs vs. Contractor

Particularly in windows and doors, have gotten the impression that a fellow with a contractors licence will get a better price than I if we go to the same store (Pella). It appears the same with bathroom fixtures as well.

How many percent will the contractor save?

Does anyone have experience in testing their individual people skills and gotten the discount without the license?

Wondering whether it is worth it to pay a fee to a contractor friend for the use of his number.

Thanks,

It all depends on the store you are shopping at and what their policy is. If you go to a store like Home Depot, you are paying exactly what the contractor will pay. Go to an independent lumber yard, and indeed, they may offer some sort of a discount to a contractor. Just their way of saying 'thank you' to a guy who may be dropping $10,000 or $20,000 a month in their place of busibess. (I'm not aware of too many homeowners who do that kind of volume at a lumberyard, but I know lots of contractors who do.)

Lefty said it best....and here's a suggestion.
Try your people skills before paying a fee.....
People skills: For a larger purchase ask for volume pricing which is the homeowner's way of getting or close to contractor pricing which a salesman may extend as a courtesy.

pay a fee:: headache after headache:: First, you'll have to talk the talk or salesman may lose interest quick if he realizes your a homeowner witout knowledge. Here's why...Contractor's shop quicker than homeowners. An employee probably spends more time with a homeowner who is buying one door than a contractor who is buying ten. For this reason the sales are easier and pricing consideratons apply......If you pay a fee for your friend to gather the materials then imagine the headaches if the orders are wrong, you have returns or he goes out of town when you need to resolve a problem. Not to mention if after 1/2 the material are purchased from one place, he is too busy for you or loses interest, then you'll be STUCK dealing for the other 1/2 of materials at full price.........Unless it's a good friend and a one time shot for stock goods then
My suggestion is to establish an ongoing relationship with the store of choice whereby you'll create a comfort zone for questions or stick to a Home Center where pricing is probably going to be comparable.

As usual, I totally agree with lefty and Stephen.
It would be much better for you to establish your own relationship with a materials source. Explain to the them the scope of what you will be doing, and they will probably give you a discount.
I have done so much d-i-y over the years here, that I have a local building supply that automatically gives me their contractor discount for everything that I buy there.
Good luck!
Mike

Thanks for the helpful thoughts on the subject.

Hopefully making it easy for a supplier with some kindness might do the trick.

I am a planning freak! Know exactly what I want when I buy and do my research before asking questions at a store. Unless I can know and understand the subject, won't start trying to do it.


Part of the reason I can get prepared is through the kindness and wisdom of the fine people who provide answers on this board.


BTW: Lowes carries Pella windows but they can't sell them in an area where there is a Pella showroom store. Found out the mark-up of an "apples to apples" comparison is 22% from a Pella from Lowes vs. Pella from a the "showroom".

What series of Pella windows are you considering? Not all Pella windows are created equal. If I understand your last post correctly; the windows from the Pella store were less expensive than from Lowe's?

Sorry for the lack of clarity


The windows from the Pella store were more expensive.

Was comparing the identical casement window.

According to Lowes, they can order anything from the Pella line or arrange for them to build custom windows. From what I gather at the Pella store, what you can get from Lowes and what is available from the Pella store is the same.

Exactly.
So all that you're doing is comparing price, right?
Not necessarily.
NEVER measure your own windows or doors.
Let the dealer measure them (Lowe's, pella rep, whoever).
If you measure something wrong, it's YOUR loss, not theirs.
If they measure it wrong, it's THEIR loss, and they'll replace it.
Just a thought.
Mike

Your latest post and Mike's bring up a couple of points.

First, your's. Lowe's can offer a lower price on a given product for a variety of reasons. Volume buying, their volume of sales, a wider range of products being offered in their stores, etc. A local hardware store or lumberyard will never compete with them on price. Where the local guys have an advantage is in service, and most times, in the fact that you can be in and out of their store in a couple of minutes with a $4.00 purchase that may take you a half hour to get through a Lowe's store with. Shopping for windows at the Pella store may make a lot of sense. Those guys do windows and doors, and very little else. They are very good at them. The guy you talk to at a big box store (like a Lowe's) has to be somewhat knowledgable on a very wide range of products. He simply cannot be as well versed on a given subject (like Pella windows) as the guy who does nothing but Pella windows.

Mike's point about letting them measure the windows for you is a very good one, for just the reason he points out. We have all made mistakes reading a tape, and we have all transposed numbers when writing them down. One mistake like that occuring when dealing with windows is always worth several hundred dollars. Sometimes the installer can adjust for it and all works out OK, but not usually.

A lot of thoughtful things to consider from the above kind posts.

I will soon start building a house with one size windows on the front and side plus some larger size windows in the rear.

Have a total of 38 windows to purchase. Of course, one must know the window size before the rough-in. In my case it will be pretty easy. Have only three different sizes of windows.

Want to get a good quality thermally efficient window and as you all can imagine, the costs are high enough that price research might save thousands.

I may have had some great luck yesterday afternoon. Was driving around and saw a new house being built. The owner was there and we seem to hit it off quite well. He said his son was a rep. for Norco windows in our region and he saved 37% on his windows and doors. He offered to help me with the son to get some for me. Never heard of Norco, but looked the up on the internet and they appear to be a quality window. If they have NFRC certification, will probably buy them.

Now have to decide whether aluminum/wood or vinyl/wood. Heard aluminum transfers heat/cold much more than vinyl, so perhaps the later is the answer.

Again, appreciate your helpful comments.

Go to your Pella Store, Order your windows, they will measure them, and install them if you wish, pay the bill. End of story, turn the page.

I had a customer walk into a Pella and recieve contractor pricing for less windows than you need. A Pella rep once told me Volume is Volume unless your building a neighborhood which gets a higher discount.

Yes, that is probably true. The customer does have to know what kind of window he wants. I have never had a problem nor have any of my customers. However in big purchases, I always accompany my customer. My job is to look out for him.