After Your Quote: What to Look For in a Window Treatment Proposal
How to compare window covering proposals in Kansas City before you sign
A lot of Kansas City homeowners get more than one price on window coverings, and they should. There are plenty of businesses offering blinds, shades, shutters, and drapery in this area, and One Stop Decorating is just one of them. So after your quote arrives, what should you actually be looking at? The answer is a lot more than the number at the bottom of the page. Two proposals for the same rooms can be hundreds or thousands of dollars apart, and the price rarely explains why.
This page walks you through the questions that matter, based on 30 years of watching customers set proposals side by side in our showrooms.
Why Window Treatment Quotes Look So Different
The word “custom” is not regulated. One company can write “custom cellular shades, five windows” and mean cut-down stock product. Another can mean a made-to-measure Hunter Douglas Duette with a cordless lift and a lifetime limited warranty behind it. Same word, very different purchase.
Price gaps usually come down to five things:
- The product itself. Brand, product line, material, opacity, and cell or slat size.
- Lift systems and features. Cord, cordless, continuous loop, top down bottom up, or motorized. A proposal that does not name the lift system is hiding a cost decision.
- Measuring and installation. Did a trained installer measure, or did you? Is installation included?
- Warranty and service. When a shade stops sitting level in month six, who comes out and what does it cost?
- The company behind the paper. Rooted showrooms and a reputation to protect are priced into standing behind the work.
Compare quotes on those five things and the price gap usually starts to make sense.
The Product Line: Are You Comparing the Same Thing?
Set your proposals down in front of you and go window by window. For each opening, check that both quotes list:
- Manufacturer and product name. “Roller shade” is not enough. Is it a Designer Roller Shade from Hunter Douglas, a house brand, or an import with no name at all?
- Fabric, material, and opacity. Light filtering, room darkening, and blackout are different products with different price tags. If your bedroom quote does not say which one you are getting, ask.
- Mount type. Inside mount and outside mount can change hardware, brackets, and the finished look.
- Color and finish. Look for a specific color name or code, not just “white.”
- Slat size, cell size, or louver width. A 2.5-inch wood blind and a 2-inch wood blind are not the same blind.
If one quote lists all of this and the other does not, that is not a coincidence. Detailed proposals come from companies that expect you to compare them. You can review the full Hunter Douglas product collection we carry to see how much variation exists inside a single category like window shades or plantation shutters.
Lift Systems and Features: The Line Items Most People Skip
This is where a lot of homeowners get lost, and understandably so. The industry has its own jargon, and the lift system is often the single largest price difference between two quotes for the same shade.
Here is a plain language breakdown of what you might see on your window treatment proposal:
| Term on your quote | What it means | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Standard cord lift | A pull cord raises and lowers the shade | Lowest cost, but not recommended in homes with small children or pets |
| Cordless | Lift by hand from the bottom rail, no cords | Cleaner look, child safe, moderate upcharge |
| Continuous cord loop | A looped cord on a clutch, common on roller shades | Good for large or heavy shades |
| Top down bottom up | Shade opens from the top, the bottom, or both | Privacy and light at the same time, popular in bathrooms and street-facing rooms |
| Motorized or PowerView | Battery or hardwired motor, operated by remote, app, or voice | Highest cost, best for tall windows, skylights, and smart homes |
Two quotes can carry the exact same fabric and the exact same measurements and still differ by 30 to 40 percent based on the lift system alone. If your quote says “cordless” and the competitor’s says nothing, you are not comparing equal products. Learn more about cordless and child-safe options and motorized shades so you know what each line is really buying you.
Measuring and Installation: Who Is Actually Doing the Work?
A window covering is only as good as the measurement it was built from and the hands that hung it. After your quote, ask each company these three questions:
- Who measured my windows? A trained design specialist who measured in person is taking responsibility for fit. If you measured, the responsibility is yours, and a mis-cut shade is not covered.
- Is installation included, and who does it? Some proposals quote product only and add installation later. Others use subcontractors you have never met. At One Stop Decorating, professional installation is performed by our own technician team, several of whom have more than a decade of installation experience.
- What happens if something is off? A shade that is a quarter inch short or a shutter panel that rubs the frame should be corrected without a fight. Ask how that is handled before you sign, not after.
Our in-home consultation exists so measurements, product recommendations, and installation logistics are settled in your home by the same team that will follow through on them.
Warranty, Service, and Support After Your Quote Is Accepted
The product warranty and the in-home warranty are not the same thing
The manufacturer covers the product. The dealer covers the visit. A lifetime limited warranty from Hunter Douglas will replace a failed mechanism, but it does not pay for someone to drive to your house, take the shade down, ship it, and reinstall it. That labor is on the company you bought from, and every company handles it differently.
What a 90-day warranty really means
Some window covering companies in Kansas City offer a 90-day in-home warranty. On day 91, a service call has a fee attached, even if the problem turns out to be a defect the manufacturer covers.
What One Stop Decorating offers
We feature a one year in-home warranty, no questions asked. A problem, an adjustment, an issue, or a warranty concern we need to talk about, we come out and take a look at no charge. After the first year, our showrooms still facilitate manufacturer warranty repairs free of charge, and our service support team lists its trip and repair pricing openly.
| 90-day in-home warranty | One Stop Decorating | |
|---|---|---|
| Free in-home service visits | First 90 days | First full year |
| Charge to come look at a problem | After 90 days | None in year one |
| Warranty repairs after the free period | Varies by company | Facilitated free through our showrooms |
| Service pricing published | Rarely | Yes |
The Company Itself: Rooted Showrooms or a Truck and a Sample Book?
Some window covering businesses are national franchises. Some are one person working out of their home with a van and a sample book. Some, like us, are family owned with showrooms you can walk into. None of that is wrong, but the less rooted the business, the more vetting falls on you.
Before you accept any proposal, find out:
- How long have they been in business? You want them around when a cord needs restringing in year seven.
- Are they accredited or a Better Business Bureau member?
- Do they have a long list of reviews? A handful of five-star ratings is easy. Hundreds over years is not.
- Do they have a physical location? A rooted store means a reputation to maintain and somewhere to go if you need help.
- What type of experience will you have? Full-size samples in a showroom? A real service department?
One Stop Decorating has been family owned since 1995, with showrooms in Overland Park, Shawnee, and Lee’s Summit, and service across Kansas City North and Liberty. Our 4.9-star Google rating spans more than 1,500 reviews. Hold every proposal, including ours, to the same standard.
Use AI to Compare Your Window Treatment Proposals
If the industry jargon is getting in the way, upload your proposals into ChatGPT, Claude, or Perplexity and ask for a comparison. It is advice we now give every customer.
Try prompts like:
- “Compare these window treatment quotes line by line and tell me where the products differ.”
- “Which proposal includes a cordless lift, and which does not?”
- “How does the warranty and service coverage compare between these quotes?”
You get an objective view of the products and pricing without either salesperson in the room. The tool will flag what is missing, point out where a quote is vague, and translate lift systems and features into plain English. We are comfortable with our proposals being read that closely.
A Simple Checklist After Your Quote Arrives
Print this out or keep it on your phone and run each proposal through it:
- Every window is listed with a manufacturer, product line, fabric or material, and color
- The lift system is named for every shade or blind
- Mount type (inside or outside) is specified
- Measurements were taken by the company, not by me
- Installation is included, and the installer is identified
- The product warranty is stated
- The in-home service warranty is stated, with its length in days or months
- Trip charges and service fees after the warranty period are disclosed
- The company has a physical showroom I can visit
- Years in business, BBB status, and review history check out
- Payment terms and lead time are clear
- I have run the proposals through an AI tool for a second opinion
If a quote fails more than two or three of these, the low price is probably low for a reason.
Why Kansas City Homeowners Bring Their Quotes to One Stop Decorating
We can only speak to what we do. We are not going to tell you what another company’s installation looks like or how they handle a warranty call. What we can tell you is this:
- Full-line Hunter Douglas dealer with every product category, plus custom drapery, wallpaper, fabric, and bedding
- Three physical showrooms where you can operate full-size samples before you decide
- In-house design specialists who measure in your home during a free in-home consultation
- Our own installation and service technicians, not subcontractors
- A one-year, no-questions-asked in-home warranty on every installation
- A dedicated service department for repairs, adjustments, and restrings for the life of your product
- Financing options and current promotions to help the numbers work
Bring your other proposals with you. We are happy to walk through them with you, point out what is and is not included, and give you a straight comparison. If another company’s quote is the better fit for your home, we will tell you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are window treatment quotes so different in price?
Quotes vary because companies are rarely quoting the same product, lift system, installation scope, and warranty. Two proposals can both say “cellular shades” and describe very different things. Compare the details line by line before comparing the totals.
How many quotes should I get for blinds or shades?
Two or three is usually the right number. That is enough to spot differences in products, warranties, and service without becoming overwhelmed. More than three often leads to confusion rather than clarity.
What should a window treatment quote include?
A complete proposal lists each window with the manufacturer, product line, material or fabric, color, lift system, and mount type. It should also state who measured, whether installation is included, and what the product and in-home warranties cover.
Is Hunter Douglas worth the higher price?
Hunter Douglas products carry a lifetime limited warranty and are built to measure by a manufacturer that has been around for decades. The higher cost typically reflects better mechanisms, more lift options, and parts availability years down the road. Whether it is worth it depends on how long you plan to keep the treatments.
What does a lifetime limited warranty on blinds actually cover?
It covers defects in materials, internal mechanisms, brackets, and workmanship for as long as the original purchaser owns the product. It does not cover normal wear, sun fading, accidents, or the labor to remove and reinstall the product. That labor is where the dealer’s in-home warranty comes in.
Should I buy window treatments from a company without a showroom?
You can, but the vetting is up to you. Check how long they have been in business, whether they are BBB accredited, how many reviews they have, and what their service policy is after installation. A physical showroom means the company has a reputation in the community to protect.
Can I really use AI to compare my window treatment quotes?
Yes, and we recommend it. Upload your proposals to ChatGPT, Claude, or Perplexity and ask for a line by line comparison of products, features, and warranties. It is a quick way to get an objective view without the sales pitch.
Ready to Compare? Bring Your Quotes to Us
Whether you are starting from scratch or already holding a proposal from another company, One Stop Decorating will give you a detailed, honest quote you can set right next to it. Schedule a free in-home consultation or stop by our showrooms in Overland Park, Shawnee, or Lee’s Summit. Call 913.631.0088 today and let us show you exactly what to look for after your quote.