What To Expect At Your Cincinnati In-Home Shutter Consultation

March 26, 2019

Before you determine what window treatment to order, some companies, like Sunburst, send out a rep for an in-home consultation. By taking products to your home, we can present how different window treatments would look with your decor. You’ll discover how natural it is to find the best window treatment when you get out of the artificial surroundings of a showroom.

But what actually goes on during an in-home consultation? And how can showing you different products at your home allow you to better choose the perfect window treatment? Even though every in-home consultation is personalized, there are some things that you should see.

Walking Through A Typical In-Home Shutters Consultation

Homeowners looking at samples of window treatments.

Start by making an appointment by calling your local representative. If you already know what window covering you want, like our Polywood® plantation shutter, then we will make a special note to bring you a variety of options available for your preferred choice. We will also offer other options, so you can know that your room matches your vision.

During the actual appointment, we’ll sit down and figure out what you want in a window treatment. We’ll cover issues like your lighting, privacy, and energy efficiency needs, and we’ll ask about hard-to-reach or specialty-shaped windows. Your rep will also want to know how your windows are used and what aesthetic you are trying to accomplish. The final goal is to fully envision what your room will ultimately look like with the treatments installed.

We might show you many different samples until we find the perfect window treatment for the room. Most customers want to explore a few different treatments, like comparing Polywood with our real-wood Ovation® shutters or finding the perfect stain to match the walls. We’ll also find all the options available for the shutter, shade, or blind, like available colors, louver sizes, or hidden tilt-rods.

Once a decision is made, we’ll get the exact measurements of your windows. We generally measure the windows in each room—even if you only want to make a purchase for some of your windows. We get multiple measurements because a lot of our customers ask to be able to order additional shutters or blinds without another consultation. Finally, we will walk you through a detailed, written quote, so there are no phantom numbers on your invoice.

Alt text: Sunburst Shutters van parked at customer's home.

Red Flags For A Subpar In-Home Shutter Consultation

While we are confident that Sunburst will give you professional in-home consultation, there are some red flags you should never experience from any window treatment company. It should go without saying, the quality of your sales representative reflects the quality of the window treatments.

First, your rep should be careful and professional. The rep should show up on time, clean and presentable, and offer to protect your floors with shoe booties. Your consultant should always give you product and company pamphlets and pricing information.

When discussing pricing, you should expect a complete written quote. Don’t accept a vague guess, jotted down on a product brochure or the back of a business card. And always reject pricing estimates before they take any window measurements. You want to be able to follow how much product and installation should cost. Don’t forget to look at references and online reviews.

You Can Anticipate A Professional In-Home Consultation With Sunburst

At Sunburst, we work hard to match our clients’ windows with a quality window treatment. Our reps are said to be courteous, professional, and knowledgeable. And you won’t see any cost or product surprises on the invoice. Just phone your local Sunburst rep at 513-216-9740 to schedule your in-home consultation.

Back to Blog