What should you require from an investor before measuring and selling windows?
From this article you will learn how to divide responsibilities between you and the investor ordering a comprehensive service for the delivery and assembly of joinery.
- At what level will the floor be “ready” in a situation when we have just poured a chudier?
- At what height will the window sills be?
- Who has to work window openings for a warm assembly?
These and other questions keep the doors and windows fitters and sellers awake at night and often cause unnecessary stagnation, disputes and problems with the efficient installation of windows, and often time-consuming and costly complaints.
Using our experience
We have created a set of tasks for you, the implementation of which you should require from the investor to reduce the probability of problems.
Before measurement:
1. Ask the investor to set the zero level of the finished floor on the walls of the rooms where the joinery will be installed.
IMPORTANT! Also note that this is the responsibility of the construction manager – who is in charge of the investment.
2. Determine the height of the window sills with the customer and mark it in a visible place next to each window. You can also take a photo.
3. Make sure all window openings are ready – do not come to construction sites where work on them is in progress.
4. Make an appointment with the investor or construction manager.
If they cannot appear at the measurement – don’t waste your time – it is better to serve a more engaged customer during this time.
5. Make sure exactly what you will measure.
Are there any doors, shutters, garage doors apart from the windows? Depending on the products you need, you may have to get other parameters.
Remember!
In the case of necessary corrections in the building, indicate how they are to be implemented and write down on the measurement report that the responsibility for this rests with the investor, and failure to make them before installation may result in charging with the costs of their implementation or losses resulting from their lack (e.g. re-arrival)
The construction manager is responsible for determining the zero level.
Require that the window opening is prepared for measurements and has dimensions according to the design. It is a waste of time for estimated measurements, which you risk making mistakes during assembly.
Before coming to the construction site, check what measurements you will have to make.
During the measurement:
1. Take measurments only in the presence of the investor or construction manager.
2. Prepare measurement protocol! A professional print would be perfect, but if you do not have it – use a piece of paper and write down carefully all the arrangements!
Remember!
In the case of necessary corrections in the building, indicate how they are to be implemented and write down on the measurement report that the responsibility for this rests with the investor, and failure to make them before installation may result in charging with the costs of their implementation or losses resulting from their lack (e.g. re-arrival)
Remember to make a precise record of all measurement findings.
3. Draw dimensioned, demonstrative drawings of assembly openings on the protocol, and next to them, dimensioned drawings of the ordered joinery with directions of opening.
4. Pay attention to the next rooms and select the window functions individually to the client’s needs – an article from our blog will be helpful here: “Best window accessories – 13 simple ways to earn more on the sale of windows “
Check the list of things that will help you earn more money, save time on complaints and gain a satisfied customer!
5. Write on the protocol who is responsible for the following areas:
- utilities – water, electricity
- free access to the construction site (which car? BUS, SOLO truck, TIR?)
- renting a possible crane, glasslifter or other machines to carry heavy items
- scaffolding to places not accessible from the ground floor
6. Determine that the investor is:
- ensuring conditions for free assembly inside or outside the building – in the absence – you can charge the customer for additional travel costs incurred, time, personal
- free access and entry to the construction site
- acceptance of assembly works performed by the manager construction on the day of their completion. If the investor does not appear at the collection of works – you will collect them on their own unilaterally, to which he agrees.
It’s easier to mount windows with a glasslifter, but remember to determine who will pay for the rental.
7. Demand the signature of the construction manager on the measurement protocol. If the investor is an individual customer – it is necessary to add a statement to his signature: “I declare that at my own risk I agree to the findings of this protocol without confirmation of the construction manager“
During the sale process:
1. Remember to attatch the findings from measurement protocol to the proforma invoice / sales contract.
2. Ask for a written confirmation of proforma invoice / sales contract or confirmation by bank transfer.
3. Determine the expected assembly dates with the indication that objective factors such as random damage to the goods or factors independent of weather conditions may delay the date of assembly without consequences for the seller.
4. Think for the investor and anticipate possible problems – openly communicating them to the investor. Do not avoid difficult topics.
5. Do not put off problems for later. Any ambiguities from the sales stage will be returned to you with double strength after / during the assembly.
At debesto.com, we always attach to the pro forma invoice a full specification of the order placed by the customer.
It’s important to determine the key assembly date and situations in which the deadline may be postponed.
