Why there is no price list
The first question almost everybody asks is what this costs. It is a fair question and I wish I had a simple sheet to hand you. I do not, and neither does any honest company in this business, because nothing we sell exists until it is ordered. Every shade, blind, and shutter is built to the measurements of one specific opening in your house. A quote is a real number for real windows, not a starting point.
What I can do is tell you exactly what goes into that number, what should appear on the page in front of you, and what questions to ask before you sign anything with anybody.
What actually drives the price
Six things move the number more than anything else.
- How many windows. Obvious, but it is the biggest single driver. It is also why quoting a whole house at once usually lands better than doing one room at a time.
- How big they are. Pricing is built on width and height. A wide slider or a two story great room window can cost several times what a bathroom window costs in the same product.
- Material and product line. Composite versus hardwood, a basic roller fabric versus a premium woven, an entry level cellular versus a top of the line one. Same window, very different numbers.
- Specialty shapes. Arches, angle tops, circles, and bay corners take custom fabrication and cost more than a rectangle of the same size. Worth it, but they should never surprise you on the invoice.
- Motorization. Adding a motor raises the price per window, and there may be remotes, hubs, or wall controls on top of that. Those should be listed separately so you can see what the automation itself costs.
- Mount type and hardware. Inside mount, outside mount, ceiling mount, extension brackets, valances, side channels, and specialty corner posts all carry hardware. Small items, but they add up across twenty windows.
What should be itemized on the page
You should be able to read a quote and understand it without an interpreter. At minimum I expect to see a line for every window, identified by room and location, so you can walk the house with the paper in your hand and match each line to an actual opening.
Each line should show the product and the specific line or collection, the color or fabric name, the mount type, and the price for that window. Motorization should be its own line or a clearly marked upcharge, not folded silently into a bigger number. Remotes, hubs, chargers, and specialty hardware should be listed as their own items. Then a subtotal, any discount clearly shown, tax, and the total.
You should also see the payment terms, the deposit, and an honest lead time. Custom product takes weeks to build, and the number of weeks varies by product and brand. Anyone who will not put a lead time in writing is guessing.
The reason itemizing is worth insisting on is that it lets you make real decisions. If the total is more than you planned, an itemized quote lets you say keep the shutters in the front rooms and do a simpler shade in the back bedrooms. A single lump sum gives you nothing to work with except yes or no.
What should be included with no surprise
Some things should never be an extra line, and if they are, ask why.
- Measuring. The in-home consultation and the laser measure should be free, and free means free with no obligation and no deposit to get someone to the door.
- Installation. The install should be in the quoted price, done by the company's own crew. We do not use subcontractors, and I think you should ask every company that question.
- Standard hardware. Brackets and the fasteners to hang the product are part of the product.
- Cleanup. Drop cloths down before work starts, packaging and old product hauled away when it is done. You should not be left with a pile of boxes.
- The measurement guarantee. If we measure it and it does not fit, that is on us, not on you. Ask any company how they handle a bad measure, because the answer tells you a lot.
The parts people forget to ask about
Removal and disposal of what is hanging there now should be discussed, especially if you have old shutters or hardware that will leave holes. Wall repair is usually not included, and that is normal, but you want to know it in advance.
Change orders are the other one. Once a custom order goes to the factory, changing a color or a size is not a phone call, it is a new product. Get your color choices settled before the order goes in, and take a sample home for a day or two if you are on the fence. There is no charge for that and it prevents the most expensive kind of regret.
Warranty terms deserve a look too. Ask what the manufacturer covers, how long, whether motors and fabrics carry different terms, and who handles a warranty claim if one comes up. With our brands, we handle the claim for you.
Questions to ask any company before you sign
- Is this quote itemized by window, and can I see the price of each line?
- Who measures, and who installs? Are they employees or subcontractors?
- Is installation included in these numbers?
- What is the lead time, and what happens if it slips?
- What is the deposit, and when is the balance due?
- What is the warranty on the product, and separately on any motors?
- If a measurement is wrong, who pays to remake it?
- Will you take the old product and the packaging with you?
- How long is this quote good for?
Any company that is comfortable with those questions is a company you can work with. Hesitation on the itemizing question in particular is worth paying attention to.
Why the real number needs an in-home measure
I could throw out a per window average and it would be close to useless. Two houses on the same street can be double each other in cost because one has ten standard bedroom windows and the other has a great room wall of glass, an arch over the front door, and a slider that needs motorization.
The in-home visit is where the number becomes real. I look at each opening, check the depth for an inside mount, find the cranks and the obstructions, measure with a laser, and talk through what each room needs. You see the fabrics in your own light instead of under showroom bulbs. Then the quote reflects your house instead of an average of somebody else's.
It costs nothing and there is no pressure at the end of it. If you want to see the full process before you call, our how it works page lays out each step, and the products page shows what we carry.
When you are ready for a real number, book your free in-home consultation or call (866) 834-5805.