Today, we’ll take a look at the difference between choosing your new window treatments from Budget Blinds vs working with a window treatment specialist.
At Graham’s & Son Interiors, we’ve been helping our customers get the best, custom-made window treatments for over 40 years! We’re happy to share our experience and expertise with you.
In this article, we’ll take a look at the pros and cons of choosing each option to help you make an informed choice. So, let’s get started!
Budget Blinds vs Window Treatment Specialists – A Comparison
Average Price
Average Quality
In-Home Consult
Customization
Customer Service
Full Design Services
Budget Blinds
Low – Medium
3.5/5
Medium
Yes
2.5/5
Some customization options, though most options are fairly basic and high-tech features are not always available.
4.5/5
In general, has a good customer service rating score, but will vary across different locations
Offers basic window treatment options and models, does not design or custom-make window treatments such as drapery or curtains
Window Treatment Specialist
Medium – High
5/5
High – Very High
Yes
5/5
Many customization choices including 100% custom-made treatments and high-tech options (various ‘smart’ systems, automated window treatments, etc)
5/5
Most window treatment specialists will have a more personal customer service experience, but will vary depending on the business
Many window treatment specialists offer full design services and will work with you to design custom-made window treatments
What Window Treatment Service Is Right For Me?
When choosing new window treatments, many homeowners are stuck between choosing the less expensive option and the option that can provide a wider range of custom choices and personal service.
In the comparison chart above, you can take a quick look at the biggest differences between choosing Budget Blinds or working with a window treatment specialist. Who should you choose? There is no right or wrong answer!
However, based on your unique wants, needs, and budget, one option may be better suited for you than another. Continue reading below for a more thorough comparison between the two options.
Average Price & Quality
Price and quality will vary depending on where you choose to purchase your treatments
Of course, one of the biggest things to consider when choosing your window treatments is your budget! Your budget will determine the types of window treatments you can afford, the custom options you can choose from, and will also determine what company you purchase from.
Price and quality often go hand-in-hand. In general, stores like Budget Blinds will be offer more affordable options. This is because they typically carry more basic window treatment options made from lower-end materials. That doesn’t mean that they are ‘cheap’ quality, but it does mean that when you find a product for less, there is usually a good reason. And that reason is typically due to quality.
If you are looking for a quick window treatment fix, or you need window treatments for an area in your home where you don’t spend a lot of time in and don’t care if you need to replace them a bit sooner than planned, then choosing to order blinds from a big-box store can be a great way to save money.
However, if you are looking for high-quality window treatments to last, it’s often better to invest in higher quality window treatments. It often costs more to work with window treatment specialists because they offer the highest quality window treatment options available on the market. They will select the best fabrics, woods, and other materials for you to choose from.
Still, many window treatment specialists will also provide their customers with lower-end options, as not everyone has a large budget. When you work with window treatment specialists, you have more choices and they can work with a wider range of budget options.
In-Home Consultations & Customer Service
An in-home consultation can help you choose the right treatments for your home
Both Budget Blinds and window treatment specialists are able to offer you in-home consultations. Budget Blinds provides free consults, while you will have to find out if your window treatment specialist has free or paid consultations. At Graham’s & Son Interiors, we offer free in-home consultations and so do many other specialists – but it will depend on the business. Make sure you confirm before you set up an appointment!
During your in-home consultation, you will get to meet with an expert who will typically go over your budget and take a look at the windows you are planning to purchase treatments for. When you work with a company like Budget Blinds, you will likely not be sure who will do your consultation until they show up at your home, as they have many employees.
When you work with a window treatment specialist, you will often get the opportunity to meet them beforehand or speak directly to your installer, as window treatment specialist stores are typically much smaller and offer a bit more of a personal experience. The same can be said for customer service. Budget Blinds is typically rated quite well for customer service, but because it is a larger store, you won’t get the same personal level of customer service that smaller business can provide.
However, remember that this can vary greatly! In general, all Budget Blinds will operate very similarly since they are a chain store. But window treatment specialists are usually small businesses and customer service can widely vary based on who you choose. If you want to work with a window treatment specialist, make sure you take a look at their reviews ahead of time.
Customization & Options
A window treatment specialist will be able to provide you with more options
Window treatment specialists offer nearly endless customization choices and options. This means you will have a wide range of window treatments to choose from, including blinds, shades, shutters, curtains, drapery, and automated window treatments.
Not only will you have a wider range of treatments to choose from, you will typically also have more options once you choose your treatments. For example, you will likely have more materials, colours, patterns, and accessories to choose from.
When you buy from a store like Budget Blinds, they often only have basic models and won’t be able to create custom window treatments for you. For example, let’s say you have a large living room window and you want to buy drapes. If you purchase your drapes from a window treatment specialist, you will likely be able to choose from thousands of patterns and different fabrics.
If you purchase from Budget Blinds, you will be able to pick from their pre-existing selection of drapes. Stores like Budget Blinds are able to offer a variety of options, but a window treatment specialist will offer nearly unlimited choices.
Is a Window Treatment Specialist Right For Me?
Still not totally sure if a window treatment specialist is right for you? Choosing to buy from a store such as Budget Blinds is appealing due to low prices and a seemingly easy shopping experience. However, many homeowners prefer working with a local window treatment specialist if they are looking for window treatments that will last.
The quality that a window treatment specialist can offer you is often not comparable to the quality of treatments you would get from a big box store. If you have extra large or non-traditional shaped windows, working with a window treatment specialist is often the better choice as well. This is because they will help you create custom window treatments that perfectly fit your windows, no matter what shape or size.
Window treatments can be quite an investment, even if you choose to go with the “cheaper” option. Because of this, most homeowners don’t want to have to replace their window treatments any time soon! The best way to avoid an early replacement is by choosing high quality treatments.
So, is a window treatment specialist right for me? If you have the budget to invest in higher quality window treatments and plan to be in your home for the foreseeable future, then in most cases, yes! However, if you need a quick window treatment solution or you have a limited budget, it may be best to choose a less expensive alternative for now and save for higher quality treatments in the future.
Free In-Home Consultations
Get The Window Treatments You’ve Always Wanted With Graham’s & Son!
At Graham’s & Son Interiors, we are a window treatment specialist that has over 40 years of experience helping homeowners across the Cambridge, Kitchener, Waterloo, and surrounding areas get the window treatments they have always wanted!
We are a family-run business who knows KW area well because we’ve lived and worked here for decades. You can rely on our experienced team to get the job done right.
We help take away any headaches from your project by completely helping you choose the perfect window treatments from start to finish. You can rely on our 40+ years of experience to ensure you get the highest quality window treatments for your unique space.
Contact us today schedule your free, in-home consultation!
“Great experience working with Graham’s & Son Interiors. Highly recommend their services. We had excellent service, advice and workmanship right from quote to job completion. All the staff, the owner, project manager, store staff and installers were incredible to work with. Excellent customer service and quality workmanship. Thank you for your help, patience for a job well done!!”
Karen Darnell
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