Before you book
Choosing a local blinds and shutters company
The best local blinds and shutters company is one that measures your windows itself, fits with its own team, puts its guarantees in writing and has somewhere you can see the products before you buy. Those four things decide whether the finished blind fits, whether it gets fixed if something goes wrong, and whether the colour you chose is the colour that arrives.
This guide sets out the questions worth asking any company you are considering, including us. We are based on Hythe High Street, have been trading for 20 years, and cover East Kent, not including Thanet.
Who measures the windows?
If the company asks you to measure, the risk of a wrong size sits with you. A proper supplier sends someone to take the measurements, checks the recess and frames, and takes responsibility for the sizes on the order. Ask whether the home visit is free and whether there is any obligation to buy afterwards.
Who does the fitting?
Some firms sell the blinds and pass the installation to whoever is available. Ask whether the fitters are their own. A team that fits the products every week knows how each bracket and headrail behaves, and the same business is accountable if a blind needs adjusting later.
What is guaranteed, and for how long?
There are usually two separate promises: one from the manufacturer on the product, and one from the installer on the fitting. Ask for both in writing and ask what each covers. Our installation carries a 5-year fitting warranty, and selected shutter ranges carry a manufacturer's lifetime guarantee.
Can you see and touch the products?
Fabric colours shift under different light, and a louvre that looks crisp in a photo can feel flimsy in the hand. A showroom lets you handle full size samples, open shutter panels and compare fabrics side by side. Home visits should also bring samples, so you can hold them against your own walls and windows.
- Is there a showroom you can visit?
- Will samples be brought to your home?
- Are known brands such as Luxaflex available?
- Can you see blinds and shutters on the same visit?
Are lead times stated honestly?
Made to measure products take time. Ask for a realistic timeline before you order rather than after. Our blinds usually take 2 to 3 weeks and shutters 6 to 10 weeks. If you need cover sooner, ask whether temporary blinds are available.
Do they actually cover your area?
A company that says it covers everywhere may be sending you a long way down the list. Ask where they are based and which areas they visit regularly. A local firm that is close enough to come back for an adjustment is worth more than a cheaper quote from far away.
Red flags to watch for
Be cautious of anything that pushes you to decide on the spot.
- Prices that only apply if you sign today
- No written quote after the visit
- Guarantees described verbally but not written down
- Measurements left to you on made to measure products
The short version
Pick the company that measures, fits with its own team, guarantees in writing and lets you see the product first.
Before you book: quick answers
Next, read one of these
Discover more of our made-to-measure window dressing services across East Kent.