A friend recently asked me, “What’s the process of buying windows and doors?” It made me realise how confusing and inconsistent this industry can be.
Some people are confident — they’ve done it before, know a good installer, or have someone in the trade. But for the majority, it’s difficult to know where to start. Unlike other services, like insurance, there’s no obvious, trustworthy path to compare products and prices online.
Let’s take insurance as an example. Most people go to comparison websites like Go Compare or Compare the Market, enter their details, and within minutes they can see quotes and what’s included. Simple.
Now try that with home improvements. If you search for “replacement windows” or “new conservatory roof,” you might land on a site claiming to give you an instant quote. You fill in your details, click submit, and… no quote appears. Instead, your information has been passed to one or more sales companies, and the phone calls start.
This is the reality of how many “quote” platforms operate. They capture your information, sell it, and connect you with whichever companies pay for those leads — often with no consideration for quality, locality, or what you actually need.
Here’s what typically happens when you search:
- Sponsored ads appear first, usually big national names like Anglian (now incorporating Safestyle and Everest after their respective closures in 2023 and 2024). Their high marketing budgets put them front and centre.
- Companies like ‘Help2Buy’ appear, advertising grants or discounts that don’t exist. They’re just collecting your data to sell it.
- You might see a local map listing, but it’s hard to tell who offers what, whether they have showrooms, if they’re trustworthy, or if they offer finance.
And once your data is in the system, you’ll notice targeted ads appearing across social media. These are usually the same model: a false comparison promise, a form to fill, and a flood of phone calls. Not from companies you chose, but from whoever paid for the lead.
The truth is, buying windows and doors today is more like buying a car than buying insurance. It depends on the salesperson, the overheads of the company, and how much margin they want to make. Two people buying the exact same product can be quoted wildly different prices.
That’s why Square Hub exists. We help you compare genuine, local installers based on your actual needs. No fake quotes, no surprise phone calls — just real options, transparently matched to your request.ere you will find key comparisons from local installers to aid the consumer buying experience.