Comparing quotes

Custom window coverings involve many choices, and two quotes for "roller blinds" can describe very different products. Comparing quotes properly helps you understand what you're paying for and avoid surprises.

This is general information. We don't publish prices or recommend particular brands or businesses.

Make the specification the same

Give every supplier the same list: windows, sizes, mount type, product type, fabric or material range, controls and any extras. Our measuring planner can help you prepare one.

What a good quote should show

• Each window, with size and product;
• fabric or material, including range and colour;
• control type and cord safety devices;
• whether measuring, check-measuring and installation are included;
• the total price and what it includes;
• deposit and payment terms;
• estimated lead time;
• warranty details for the product and installation.

Check the business

Search the business name and ABN on ABN Lookup to see whether the ABN is active. Look for a physical address and clear contact details. Read reviews across several sites.

Your rights

Consumer Affairs Victoria explains that consumer guarantees apply automatically to products and services. Products must be of acceptable quality and match their description; services must be provided with due care and skill. These rights exist alongside any warranty the business offers.

Deposits and terms

Read the terms before you sign or pay a deposit. Check what happens if measurements are wrong, if the order is delayed, or if you need to cancel.

Red flags

• Pressure to sign immediately;
• vague descriptions of products;
• no written quote;
• reluctance to provide an ABN or address.

Working to a budget

We don't publish prices, because they depend on the product, size, fabric, controls and installation. To make a budget go further, prioritise the rooms where coverings matter most, such as bedrooms and street-facing rooms, and stage the rest. Get written quotes for the same specification from several suppliers so you can compare fairly. Ask whether simpler fabrics or controls would meet your needs.

Allow for lead times

Custom window coverings are made to order, so there's usually a gap between ordering and installation. Ask each supplier for an estimated lead time in writing, and what happens if it's delayed. If you're moving into a new home or finishing a renovation, plan ahead so you're not without privacy. Temporary coverings can bridge the gap. Remember that lead times may change with demand, fabric availability and the complexity of your order.

Warranties and your rights

Many suppliers offer warranties on fabrics, mechanisms and installation. Read what's covered, for how long and what you need to do to claim. Keep your quote, invoice, care instructions and warranty documents together. Consumer Affairs Victoria explains that consumer guarantees apply automatically to products and services, in addition to any warranty a business offers. Products must be of acceptable quality and match their description, and services must be provided with due care and skill. If something goes wrong, contact the business promptly, in writing, with photos.

A quick checklist

Before you order:

• decide what each covering needs to do;
• choose the mount type;
• measure carefully, in millimetres;
• see samples at home;
• get like-for-like written quotes;
• check the business and its ABN;
• confirm lead times, warranty and terms;
• plan for cord safety.

Questions to ask yourself first

Before you start, think about what you want your window coverings to do. Is the priority privacy, darkness, glare control, warmth, looks or easy cleaning? How often will each covering be opened and closed, and by whom? Are there young children in the home? Do any windows have handles, winders or unusual shapes? Do you rent or own? What's your timeframe? Short answers to these questions make it much easier to compare products and quotes, and to explain what you need to suppliers.

Ask for samples

Colours and textures look different on a screen, in a showroom and in your home. Ask suppliers for fabric or material samples, and look at them at the window at different times of day. Hold blockout samples up to bright light to see how much passes through. Check sunscreen samples for the view out by day and the view in at night. Compare colours against walls, floors and furniture. If you're choosing for several rooms, keep the samples together and label them. Many people find that the sample they liked in the showroom isn't the one they choose at home.

Keep good records

Keep a simple record for each room: product, fabric or material and colour, supplier, date installed, care instructions and warranty. Photograph the labels or swing tags before you remove them, and keep the cord safety warning labels and instructions. These records help if you need a repair, a matching replacement, or to make a warranty claim, and they're useful if you sell the home.

Where our information comes from

We base the safety and energy information in this guide on official sources, including ACCC Product Safety Australia, the Federal Register of Legislation, YourHome, Sustainability Victoria, energy.gov.au and Consumer Affairs Victoria, listed at the end of the page. Practical tips about products are general guidance only. Requirements and guidance change, so we show the date we last checked the page. Before relying on any detail, follow the source links.

Use the measuring planner

Our free measuring planner helps you list each window, record inside or outside mount sizes, and print a tidy sheet to take to suppliers. It reminds you about cord safety, and nothing you enter leaves your browser. It doesn't apply manufacturing deductions; suppliers do that based on their products.

Getting help from suppliers

Good suppliers will explain options clearly, bring samples, measure carefully and put everything in writing. Don't be afraid to ask questions, including why they recommend a particular product, what alternatives exist, and how the covering will be fixed and operated. Ask to see examples of similar installations. If a supplier can't answer clearly, or pressures you to sign on the spot, take your time and get another quote. A clear, unhurried conversation is usually a good sign that the rest of the process will go smoothly too.

Living with your choice

Once coverings are installed, give yourself a few weeks to see how they work through different weather and light. Notice whether rooms feel warmer, darker or more private, and whether coverings are easy to use. If something isn't operating properly, contact the supplier early rather than waiting. Small adjustments, such as tension on a chain or alignment of a shutter panel, are often simple to fix soon after installation. Make a note of anything you'd do differently for the next room.

Accessibility and ease of use

Think about who will be operating each covering. Heavy blinds, high windows and stiff controls can be hard for some people to use, including older people and people with limited reach or grip. Motorised controls, wands, lighter fabrics and splitting wide windows into smaller coverings can make daily use easier. Ask suppliers to demonstrate controls before you order, and consider where switches or remotes will be kept.

Sustainability

Choosing durable coverings, caring for them well and repairing rather than replacing can reduce waste. Ask suppliers whether replacement parts are available, whether fabrics can be cleaned, and what happens to old coverings when they are removed. Coverings that help reduce heating and cooling needs can also help lower energy use, as YourHome and Sustainability Victoria explain. Avoid vague environmental claims and ask suppliers to explain any they make.

Reading the fine print

Terms and conditions often cover what happens if measurements are wrong, how variations are priced, when the balance is due, and how long you have to report problems after installation. Read them before you sign, and ask the supplier to explain anything that's unclear. Keep a copy. If the terms differ a lot between suppliers, factor that into your comparison as well as price.

Key points

• Give every supplier the same specification.
• Check what each quote includes.
• Look up the ABN and read reviews.
• Consumer guarantees apply automatically.
• Read deposit and cancellation terms before signing.