What to Ask Before Buying Blinds and Shutters

So you’re thinking about getting shutters and blinds for your windows, which is a great decision on your part. Blinds and shutters, after all, aren’t just there for making your windows more visually appealing. They’re also there to help keep your home cooler and therefore save you money in the long run.

If this is the first time you’re buying shutters and blinds, it pays to do a little research before going ahead with the purchase. There are a lot of factors you need to consider first before making a decision. Here are some of the things you need to ask before buying blinds and shutters.

1. Ask how long they have been in the business

It’s always good to do business with those who have a lot of experience in it. A long history of sales is usually a good sign that a business has a solid customer base, which almost always means the latter are happy with the products and the services that they’ve been getting over the years.

2. Ask for references from past customers

Good companies usually don’t have second thoughts about providing potential customers with feedback from previous customers. They know they provide great products and service, and know that their past customers would only have praise for them.

While you’re at it, it will also be great if you ask to see their products as they are displayed in the home of a previous customer. That way, you will get a feel of how they would look on the windows of a real home.

3. Ask about warranties for shutters and blinds

For a purchase as major as shutters and blinds, you naturally would want to be protected from issues or defects that just might pop up down the road. With a proper warranty for your shutters and blinds, you will save yourself a lot of trouble and heartache should your purchase turn out to be substandard or defective.

4. Ask if their shutters and blinds are safe for children

It’s horrifying to hear of children getting strangled by those cords that hang from blinds or curtains, but it’s been known to happen in Australia once or twice a year. That’s why it’s extremely important that the shutters and blinds you’re buying strictly comply with mandatory safety regulations, which include necessary warning labels. If the salesperson isn’t knowledgeable about these regulations, you can always ask to speak to the manager, or move on to another store with salespersons who can talk to you about these regulations and how they’re complying with them.

5. Ask if they are selling UV stabilised blinds and shutters

Shutters and blinds that are not UV stabilized are just like people who go to the beach without sunscreen. They will easily warp and wrinkle from too much direct sunlight. Granted, that UV stabilized shutters and blinds cost more, but since they last longer, the few extra dollars you’re going to shell out are definitely worth it.

6. Ask if their products are friendly to the environment

If you’re environmentally conscious and you’re eyeing wood blinds, ask about how and where the wood was harvested. You would also want to know if the shutters and blinds you’re interested in buying are energy efficient, and to what extent. With energy efficient shutters and blinds, your energy usage will be reduced and you’ll be doing the environment a favour.

7. Ask if their products are locally made

This is not to knock shutters and blinds that were made somewhere else, but shutters and blinds that were made locally usually have better craftsmanship and if there are any issues down the track, it is also far easier to rectify with local suppliers. Besides, buying locally-made shutters and blinds also help boost your local economy.

8. Ask why you should buy their products and not their competitor’s

The good thing about hearing a salesperson make a pitch is the fact that he or she might just come up with good comparison information that could make it easier for you to make a wise purchasing decision. You may find that with blinds and shutters, prices could vary significantly from one store or blind supplier to the other, and that is why it is important to understand the reasons for the price differences. It could be anything from the type of blinds, quality differences, product warranties and services. So ask what sets his or her company’s products apart and make a decision based on the information you’re provided with and not simply price alone.

9. Ask about available colours

When the displays you can see inside the store are not in the colour that you want, don’t hesitate if they have those blinds or shutters in other colours in stock. If they don’t have it, you can always go to another store and see if they have your preferred colour available there.

10. Ask about availability of the product and installation times

Let’s say that you have finally decided to buy from a certain store or blind supplier. Before making things final, it is important that you ask if the blinds or shutters you’re buying will be available and can be delivered and installed on a date that you specify. In some cases it may be a several week lead time.

Choosing the right shutters and blinds can make a huge difference in the appearance of your home. Hopefully, the tips above can help you in that regard. If you are looking to install new blinds or shutters in your home, then contact our friendly team and they can tell you about some of the trusted businesses in our network.