Before you get started on a window or door installation, review these expert tips. While some might seems obvious, they will ensure the job goes smoothly and your customers are five-star satisfied.

  1. Before you leave for the job, make sure you have everything you’ll need, including all boxes if the product is packaged in multiple boxes.
  2. When you arrive at the jobsite, take a close look at the surroundings. Check for potential issues in the area where you’ll be working, such as a crack or bulge in the wall. Outside, look at the deck, porch or whatever space surrounds your work area. Even look above. If you spot any damage, let the homeowner know, and document it with a note and photos.
  3. Remove items from the area where you’ll be working — everything from rugs and furniture to art and photos on nearby walls or shelves. Enlist the homeowner to oversee or help, if they’d like. And be aware of hanging lights. “Taking a few minutes to move objects to a safe location, whether inside or outside the home, will build equity with the homeowner,” says Conrad Mast, director of installation support for ProVia.
  4. If the homeowner has a pet, ensure the animal is safely contained in a room or crate to prevent escape.
  5. Cover and protect floors, walls and furniture with a dropcloth, protection paper or rubber mat. “A rubber mat that can be easily rolled up and reused can add better protection than a drop cloth alone,” Mast says.
  6. Open the box, measure the product, measure what you’re replacing and make sure they match.
  7. For door installations, test the doorbell to see if it works. If it’s broken, let the homeowner know. “In the past, I’ve offered to install a new doorbell button if the homeowner would pick one up,” Mast says.
  8. Make note of flooring such as tile that may pop out or crack as you’re removing an existing door, and be careful not to damage it.
  9. Know the product: Be able to explain how it’s put together and finished. Familiarize yourself with the warranty, as well. Explain with confidence and be trustworthy — even use yourself as an example, if it makes sense, by saying, “I have this same door in my house.” Gaining the homeowner’s trust helps instill confidence — and it can help you get referrals.
  10. Ensure the product you’ve brought is what the homeowner ordered. Also be sure to ask their preference for the install — for example, which way the door should swing, which patio door should be the slider, or which is the active part of a French door? Don’t assume you know what they prefer.
  11. Alleviate the homeowner’s worries by explaining everything you’re going to do. Show them the current state of the door or window and what you’ll be doing to replace it. Answer any questions and manage expectations.
  12. If something changes mid-project, tell the homeowner right away, not afterward.
  13. If you’re working for multiple days at the site, clean the area at the end of every day. Then ensure everything is clean when the job is complete. “When a homeowner is able to say that an installer left the home cleaner than they found it, you can be sure that they will tell their friends and neighbors,” Mast says. “There’s little that will help to build trust more than knowing that someone truly cares.”
  14. One final reminder: Appearance counts, so look professional. Homeowners are letting you into their homes and want to feel comfortable with you.

Learn more about custom windows and doors from ProVia.