I am going to have new windows installed for a house in S. Yarmouth, MA.   The house is outside of the windborne debris zone.   The current windows are original wood windows that need to be completely replaced so I am looking for new work windows.  I’ve just started navigating the new window maze and have a bunch of questions    Costs, types of windows, working with builders and dealers and other things I probably haven’t thought of yet.

I am going to look at Marvin, Anderson and Pella windows.  My plan is to visit the showrooms and have them quote the cost of the windows and installation.   Do all dealers for a particular brand charge the same cost for the windows?  For example, if I decide on a Marvin window and get a quote from one dealer,  does it make sense to shop another Marvin dealer to see if they quote a better price?

Once I have decided on the windows I want is it better to use the dealer installer or an independent contractor for installation?  I know of a few contractors I trust, I probably wont know the dealers installer at all.   Are there warranty considerations if using an independent contractor?  Is there a cost benefit to one or the other?

The house siding is unpainted cedar shingle.   Would that have any influence on the type of window I should select – wood, vinyl, composite, etc.?
Thanks