The short answer
Short answer: material, louvre size, frame type, hinge type, colour reference, configuration per window, fitting, removal of old dressings, waste removal, VAT, lead time and payment terms. If a quote is one line and one number, you cannot compare it with anything.
- Format
- Written, itemised per window
- Must state
- VAT, fitting and lead time
- Our quotes
- Free, written, no obligation
The checklist
Take this to every quote you get, including ours.
- Material per window (hardwood, engineered core, waterproof ABS)
- Louvre size in millimetres
- Frame style and depth, and whether it is recess or face fit
- Hinge type and finish, including whether hidden hinges are included
- Colour or stain reference, not just the word white
- Configuration per window: full height, café, tier-on-tier, solid panel
- Panel layout and which way each panel opens
- Fitting included, by whom
- Removal and disposal of old blinds or curtain poles
- VAT stated, not added later
- Lead time in weeks from order to fitting
- Deposit, balance and what happens if a panel needs remaking
Questions worth asking out loud
Who is fitting it, the person quoting or a subcontractor? Is the quote based on measurements taken at the window or from numbers I gave you? What happens if the panel does not fit on the day?
In our case: Jonathan or Tony measures, and the same person fits. Nothing goes to a subcontractor.
Comparing two quotes fairly
Line up material, louvre size and hinge type before you compare totals. A cheaper quote with a smaller louvre, a surface hinge and a thinner frame is not the same product.
Common questions
Should a quote be free?
Yes. Our home survey and written quote are free with no obligation.
How long should a quote stay valid?
Ask for it in writing. Material prices move, so a fixed validity period protects you both.
Is a deposit normal?
Yes, because shutters are made to your exact sizes and cannot be resold. What matters is that the terms are written down.
What if a panel is wrong on fitting day?
It gets remade. That is why the measure matters, and why we measure ourselves rather than working from customer figures.