Two quotes for blinds can only be compared when both name the same things: who measured, the exact size of each blind, the fit, the fabric, the control and what is included. If a quote leaves those out, you are comparing two totals and not two products. Ask for every line to be written down before you decide.
Who measured the windows
Check this first, because every other line depends on it. A measure done on site by the person writing the quote is one thing. A quote worked out from a plan, a photo or your own tape measure is a good guess and nothing more.
Sydney openings are rarely square. Brick reveals, rendered walls and old timber frames can shift several millimetres from top to bottom, and that is exactly the margin that makes a blind rub or leave a gap. Steve Bath takes the sizes himself on every job, so they come from your windows and not from a drawing.
If a quote is based on your own measurements, ask who covers the cost if the blind turns up the wrong size. Get the answer written on the quote.
Sizes, fit and fabric
Each window needs its own line, with a width and a drop in millimetres and the words inside mount or outside mount. “Three blinds, lounge” is not a size. For an inside mount the blind is cut slightly narrower than the reveal so it can run, so a quote that matches the reveal exactly is worth a question. Our inside vs outside mount guide explains the difference.
The fabric or material needs a proper name. That means the range and colour, and whether it is blockout, light filtering or a sunscreen weave, because those behave very differently on a west-facing window. “White roller blind” tells you nothing. If you are comparing roller blinds, ask to see a sample of the exact fabric quoted, not a close one. For venetians, the material and the slat width should both be stated.
Controls, motors and hardware
The quote should give the control type and the side it sits on: chain, cord, wand or motor, left or right. It sounds minor until the chain lands behind a bed head. If there are young children in the house, it should also show how cords and chains are kept out of reach. Our child safe blinds guide covers what the rules require.
For a motorised roller blind, the quote should say how the motor is powered (battery, plug-in or hardwired), what remote is supplied and how many blinds it can run.
Then the hardware: the bracket type and colour, and whether the top has a cassette, a pelmet or an open roll. That changes how it looks, how much light spills over the top and how much depth the reveal needs.
What is included, and when
Installation should be a line of its own, shown as included or not. Do the same for taking down old blinds and taking them away. Some quotes assume a bare window, and the old blinds are still hanging there on the day.
Lead time should be a number of weeks, with a note on when the clock starts, at the deposit or at the measure. “A few weeks” is not a date. Get the warranty in writing as well: how long it runs, what it covers and who you contact. What is promised at the kitchen table has to be on the paper.
Made here or bought in
Ask where the blind comes from. We make our roller, venetian and vertical blinds in our own factory in Sydney. Many companies buy blinds in from a supplier and add their margin on top. That is a normal way to run a business, but it is a real difference between two quotes.
When the maker is also the one quoting, there is one less step between you and the people who built the blind. That is not a guarantee on its own, but it is worth knowing. Roman blinds, shutters, curtains and awnings are different: we supply and install those, and we do not make them.
Red flags and a checklist
Some things should slow you down. No site measure before a firm quote. A fabric described by colour only. One lump sum with no lines under it. Pressure to sign today because a discount ends tonight. A fair quote can wait a few days while you think.
Use the table below to hold two quotes against each other.
| Line to check | A clear quote says | Warning sign |
|---|---|---|
| Measure | Done on site, before the quote is firm | Worked from a plan or photo |
| Size | Width and drop in millimetres, per window | One size for “the lounge”, or none |
| Fit | Inside or outside mount, per window | Fit not mentioned |
| Fabric | Range, colour and type, such as blockout or sunscreen | “White roller” or a colour only |
| Control | Type and side, with the child safety arrangement | Control not mentioned |
| Motor | Power source, remote and blinds per remote | “Motorised” with no detail |
| Hardware | Bracket, plus cassette, pelmet or open roll | Not listed |
| Installation | Included or not, stated plainly | Left for you to assume |
| Old blinds | Removal and disposal stated | Not mentioned |
| Lead time | In weeks, with a start point | “A few weeks” |
| Warranty | Length, cover and contact, in writing | Verbal only |
| Made where | Who makes it, and who you ring | Vague or no answer |
Steve measures every window himself and brings samples, so the numbers on your quote are real ones. Book a free measure and quote and he will come to you.
Common questions
How many quotes should I get?
Two or three is plenty. Ask each company to quote the same windows, the same fit and the same control, so every quote covers the same job.
Can I get a reliable quote from my own measurements?
It works as a rough guide. But if the blind is made from your numbers and arrives wrong, the cost of putting it right can land on you. A site measure puts that risk with the person who knows the product.
Should installation be included in a quote?
Not always, and some people prefer to fit their own. What matters is that the quote says which. If it is included, ask what the installer will fix into, because a bracket held by plasterboard alone is a common reason blinds come down.
Does a big discount mean it is a bad quote?
Not by itself. A discount that disappears if you do not sign today is a sales tactic, though, and not a reason. Compare the lines first, then the total.
What should I ask about the warranty?
Ask how long it runs, what it covers (fabric, mechanism and motor are separate things), who you contact and whether it is written on the quote. Ask each company the same questions and compare the written answers.