Before You Let Anyone Measure: Questions to Ask an Arizona Window Replacement Company

Most homeowners work this in the wrong order. They call three companies, sit through three in-home presentations, and then decide who to trust based on who seemed nicest.

A better sequence is a couple minutes on the phone first with a customer service representative, asking specific questions and eliminating anyone who cannot answer them cleanly. The companies that survive that filter are the ones worth inviting over. Here are the questions that do the most work.

What questions should I ask a window replacement company?

Ask for the ROC license number and verify it yourself, ask whether installers are employees or subcontractors, ask which brands the company carries and whether it is an authorized dealer, ask for both the product and labor warranty in writing or see them on their website, and ask who handles service calls after installation. Those five questions eliminate most of the field.

Everything below expands on those, plus the Arizona-specific ones that national checklists leave out.

Questions about licensing and insurance

"What is your ROC license number?" - Any contractor doing work over $1,000 in combined labor and materials needs a license from the Arizona Registrar of Contractors (ROC). The number should come without hesitation. Verify it yourself through the contractor search at roc.az.gov, confirming the license is active and the business name matches exactly.

You can view details for American Vision Windows of Arizona LLC’s license directly here on the ROC’s website.

"Are you a residential or commercial licensee?" - Arizona's Residential Contractors' Recovery Fund reimburses homeowners for poor workmanship or non-performance, up to $30,000 per claimant and $200,000 per license, but only for work by a licensed residential or dual licensed contractor. A commercial-only licensee working on your house leaves you no access to that fund.

American Vision Windows of Arizona LLC maintains a KB-1 Dual Bidding Contractor’s license, known colloquially as a “KB-1” in Arizona.  This specific type of classification allows the scope of work permitted by the B-1 General Commercial Contractor, and the B- General Residential Contractor licenses (thus the phrase “Dual Bidding” in the license name).  More specifically, what this means for homeowners is that our classification allows us to construct and repair all or any part of a residential structure or appurtenance.  For our commercial clients, we are licensed to construct, alter, and repair in connection with any structure built, being built, or to be built for the support, shelter, and enclosure of persons, animals, or movable property of any kind. This scope includes the supervision of all or any part of the above and includes the management, or direct or indirect supervision of any work performed.  What we cannot do specifically though is work related to electrical, plumbing, air conditioning systems, boilers, swimming pools, spas and water wells, as those items must be subcontracted to another appropriately licensed contractor who maintains one of those specialty licenses.

"Can you send certificates for general liability and workers' compensation?" - Ask for certificates, not a verbal yes. If a crew member is injured on your property and the company carries no workers' compensation coverage, you can be exposed to a claim you never anticipated. Established companies have their insurer send proof directly.

American Vision Windows of Arizona LLC maintains workman’s compensation on all of its measure technicians, installers, helpers, and crew chiefs.  You can rest assured that anyone performing actual work on your home will be covered by our extensive workman’s compensation policy, or the policy of a licensed sub-contractor.  If you would like to request a copy before we begin work on your home, we would be more than happy to request that our insurer send you one via email.  Please make the request of your Project Manager, and he or she will arrange that for you.

"Have you had complaints filed against your license?" - The ROC investigates complaints against licensed contractors and publishes disciplinary outcomes. A clean record gets a plain answer. Deflection is worth a second look in the ROC records.

American Vision Windows of Arizona, LLC had its license issued in September of 2010.  As of the writing of this blog, AVW has had zero disciplined cases against us by the ROC, with more than 10,000 home-owner installations. 

Questions about who actually shows up

The salesperson at your kitchen table is often unconnected to the crew that installs your windows. These questions close that gap.

"Are your installers employees or subcontractors?" - Neither answer disqualifies a company, but the follow-ups differ. If subcontractors, ask who supervises them, whether the same crews work consistently, and who you call when something goes wrong six months later. If employees, ask how long the average installer has been there.

As of this writing, our crew chiefs have an average tenure of more than 6 ½ years with American Vision Windows of Arizona, LLC.  All of our installers are our own employees.  Each installation team generally includes a helper, installer, and a crew-chief.  We like to promote from within, so our employees who start out as helpers can work their way up internally to an installer, and then after a couple of years of positive customer and team reviews, factory training, and experience, they may be asked to lead their own crew.

"Who is on site the day of installation, and who is in charge?" - You want a named lead installer, not a headcount.

The Crew Chief will be in charge of your installation on installation day.  On the morning of install, they will introduce themselves and their crew, and set your expectations for the day.  In the rare event that something unexpected occurs, he or she can call on other Crew Chiefs as well as our Production Manager who will help solve the issue.  The breadth of construction experience on our installation and service teams in Arizona is vast and impressive.  We rarely see something that we cannot fix, so long as it is in the scope of our license.

"Are installers background checked?" - They will be inside your home for a full day. A company that has considered this answers immediately.

Yes, our HR department background checks each of our employees before they are hired, and our installation employees are rarely ever alone when they are on the jobsite.  The safety of both you, and our employees, is most important to us.

Questions about the products they carry

"Which manufacturers do you carry, and are you an authorized dealer?" - There is a real difference between a company with dealer relationships and one buying whatever is cheapest that month. Authorized dealers get factory training, warranty support, and full product lines rather than a single entry-level series.

We are an authorized dealer of many leading national brands, and of the products our customers have asked for most over the years.  We also sell products from a few other leading brands indirectly, meaning we get our product through wholesalers. Having a direct brand relationship is of great value to both us, and our customers, and we would like to have a direct relationship with everyone.  However, in order to be direct with certain manufacturers, certain sales quotas are required which we are simply unwilling to meet.  If there is a product that you want, however, it’s likely that we will be able to source it for you, with a few limited exceptions.  We only install brands that we are most comfortable with installing, and believe that we can help service well if anything unexpected occurs.

"Do you sell more than one brand?" - Single-brand shops recommend that brand for every home, because it is all they sell. A company like American Vision Windows of Arizona, LLC, carrying several lines, can match the product to your exposure, budget, and window sizes. American Vision Windows Arizona carries manufacturers including Anlin, Pella, Simonton, Anlin, ProVia, Therma-Tru, Windsor, and Lincoln.  We can also get many other brand name products.  Please alert your Project Manager if you have a strong brand preference.

"Can you handle custom sizes and non-standard openings?" - Older Arizona homes and custom builds frequently have openings no stock size fits. Ask before you find out during installation. Our window materials and options pages cover the tradeoffs between vinyl, fiberglass, aluminum, wood, and composite in a desert climate.  And generally yes, we have worked with some very unique non-standard openings have have found excellent, bespoke solutions for our customers.

Questions specific to installing windows in Arizona

This is where national checklists stop being useful.

"Who takes the final measurements, and when?" - The person selling should not be the last word here. Ask whether a technical measure happens after signing and before the order reaches the factory. Mis-measured windows mean a reorder and weeks of delay.  Or, if the company cuts corners and thinks the word approximate is good enough for your home, a whole lot of shimming and hiding large gaps behind trim is what they’ll do.  At American Vision Windows, our three dedicated Measure Technicians are trained to measure down to the 1/8th of an inch.  Its practically all that they do - measure windows before we order.  A motto of our founder is to “measure twice, and cut once.”

"How do you handle the stucco cut, patch, and paint?" - On Arizona stucco homes this is real work with real cost. Ask whether it is included, who does it, and how close the paint match will be.  At American Vision Windows of Arizona, we do hire very experienced subcontractors for stucco and paint work.  We do not yet have a stucco department in house.  Stucco is more complicated than many people realize, so sub-contracted stucco teams that we’ve come to know over hundreds of jobs are who we will generally use.

"How do you protect the house from dust?" - If we need to cut stucco and pull old frames, this will generate a lot of dust.  We are very careful about dust containment, floor protection, and the cleanup process.  Our aim is to leave your home looking cleaner than it was when we arrived.  We use a lot of plastic sheeting and tape to protect the inside of your home from excess dust.

"How does the season affect my schedule?" - Lead times and install conditions shift through the Arizona year, and monsoon weather affects exterior work. A company installing here year-round gives you a specific answer. Our guide to the best time of year to replace windows in Arizona goes deeper.  Generally, lead times can vary a couple of weeks depending on manufacturers plant operations which effect product lead times.  When they are especially busy in the springtime, this can cause lead times to expand a bit.

"Have you handled HOA architectural approvals in my community?" - Many Valley communities require architectural review before exterior changes. A company that works your area regularly has done these submittals before.  Our team will help with you with submitting supporting documents to the HOA.

"How long will my home be open?" - Ask how many days the project takes and whether openings are sealed each night. American Vision Windows Arizona installs most projects in a single day, and the installation timeline guide covers each stage.

Questions about what happens after the crew leaves

Most companies are attentive until the final payment clears. These questions test what comes next.

"Who do I call if a window has a problem in year three?" - Look for a dedicated service department with its own contact path, not a general sales line.  American Vision Windows of Arizona has its own dedicated service department.

"How does a warranty claim actually work?" - Ask who files it, whether you deal with the manufacturer directly or the installer handles it, and whether there is a service call fee.  Generally, if you call American Vision Windows of Arizona’s service department, we will help you work through dealing with the manufacturer on a warranty claim, and many times perform the labor on behalf of the manufacturer.

"Will you still be here?" - Longevity guarantees nothing, but a business with a physical showroom and a permanent local address is a different proposition from a crew working out of a truck. American Vision Windows of Arizona is a second generation family-owned company with showrooms in Gilbert, Scottsdale, Tucson, and Peoria.  Here at AVW, we have operated a dedicated service department for more than a decade, and we trust that we will continue to operate in Arizona for decades to come.  In 2026, we were ranked the 201st largest remodeling company in the nation according to the Qualified Remodeler magazine’s annual rankings.  We intend to continue growing smartly and prudently in the Grand Canyon State for years to come. More detailed information about warranties can be found on our warranties page. 

The questions a good company asks you

Reverse the direction for a moment. A consultation where nobody asks you anything is a sales call, not an assessment.

A company that knows its work will ask which direction your problem windows face, the age of the home, whether you have noticed condensation or drafts, how long you plan to stay, which rooms the HVAC struggles with, and what prompted the call. Those answers shape the recommendation. If the presentation runs identically regardless of what you say, you are being sold a package.

Quick reference: what good answers sound like

Once you have your shortlist

Two or three companies should survive this filter. That is the right number to bring in for an in-home consultation and a written estimate.

You can see who you would be working with on our meet the team page, and our frequently asked questions cover the process in detail. When you are ready, schedule a free in-home consultation with our Arizona team.

Frequently asked questions

1. Should I hire a local Arizona window company or a national brand?

Local installation capability matters more than the size of the logo. Ask whether the company has physical Arizona locations, how long it has been installing here, and whether crews are local. 

2. Does it matter if a company only sells one window brand?

It limits your options. A single-line dealer would probably recommend that line for every exposure, budget, and opening size. Being a dealer of several manufacturers lets a company match the product to your home, and tells you the recommendation was a choice rather than the only answer available.

3. How do I check whether a window company has complaints in Arizona?

Start with the ROC contractor search at roc.az.gov to confirm the license and check disciplinary history. Then read third-party reviews, paying attention to how the company responded to complaints rather than the star rating.

4. Is visiting a showroom worth the time?

Yes, particularly for doors and larger units. Photographs do not convey how a window operates, how the hardware feels, or how a glass package looks in real light. It also confirms the company has a permanent physical presence.

5. How far ahead should I book window replacement in Arizona?

Custom windows are built to order, so expect a lead time between the technical measurement and installation. Ask each company for its current lead time in weeks, then plan your season around that number.  A lead time of 6 to 8 weeks is generally reasonable.

6. What if a company wants to measure before quoting a price?

That is usually a good sign. A price quoted without seeing the openings is a guess. What should concern you is a company that measures, quotes, and then pushes for a signature in the same visit.