We have heard about this in the news, but you have to ask yourself, who would want to hurt a senior citizen? The answer is lots of people apparently, including the neighborhood contractor. Hurting seniors has come in various forms – from physical abuse to verbal abuse or to taking advantage of their finances. We are talking here about the latter. For example, take a senior customer that decided against going with a particular local contractor for windows and doors in his home. In a case we are familiar with, the company representative said to this senior consumer, point blank: “If you break the contract, we’ll sue you.” The order had not been placed; in fact, the measurements had not been taken. The contractor had not lost any money. And, to top it off, the prices were exorbitant – criminal, really. But, the customer was afraid not to go ahead and wound up buying some windows from that contractor. By the time he got to us, he was exhausted by the whole process.
No homeowner should feel pressured into spending money and at the time of a sales presentation, every homeowner should have a good education on the products and services before taking any steps. Although there is a set period of time to get out of the home improvement contract, when things looks like they are not going to work out, it’s always in everyone’s best interest to make a situation favorable to both parties. Senior citizens are at a disadvantage in many cases – they may not have as much access as others to resources or be in a circle of people where the information on home improvements is shared more readily. They may be more vulnerable to fast-talking sales reps and feel rushed into making a quick decision. This is not right, short and simple.
At Windows Plus & Allied The Window Center, when we say that we educate the customer and make sure that he or she is comfortable with the proposed contract, that’s exactly what we mean. This last example of abuse drove a homeowner to us, so in this case, we got to build a long-lasting relationship with the consumer. Making such large changes in a home is costly, time-consuming and stressful, but the process and outcome should be a great one. After all, these changes are not made frequently, but when made correctly, they make a tremendous impact on the quality of life – savings in energy and costs, comfort, beauty and most importantly, security and safety. Consult Reg or Tom at Windows Plus & Allied, 703-256-0600, for more information on how we can help you make the best decisions for changes in your home.
