Is Professional Blinds Installation Worth the Cost? An Honest Answer

Is professional blinds installation worth it, or can you save money with a cheaper quote? It’s a fair question. After 38 years of making and installing blinds and curtains in Johannesburg and Pretoria, we see the answer in real homes every week. Here’s our honest view.

The short answer: is professional blinds installation worth it?

• Yes, for most homes. You pay once for blinds that are measured properly, fitted properly and built to last 10 years or more.
• A cheap quote often costs more later. Wrong sizes, broken mechanisms and no after-sales service mean you end up paying twice.
• DIY is fine in a few cases. For example, our standard-size curtains from the online store. However, custom sizes, motorised blinds and shutters need a professional.

A real example: the cheaper quote that cost more

Not long ago, we visited a client and gave her a quote. In the end, she went with another company because their price was a bit lower. Unfortunately, the sizes were wrong and the installation wasn’t done properly. So she called us, and we had to go back and fix everything.

As a result, she paid for her blinds twice. That is the hidden cost of going cheap. We see it far too often, whether people use a cheap company or try to measure and fit the blinds themselves.

What you really get for the extra money

When you compare two quotes, the numbers only tell part of the story. With a professional company, this is what you’re paying for:

• Good-quality fabric and the right brand. The product is made to last, not to look good for only a few months.
• Quality mechanisms. Strong chains, brackets and motors that keep working year after year.
• Professional measuring. We measure every window ourselves, so the blinds fit the first time.
• Professional installation. Our own team fits everything neatly and checks that it works.
• A 2-year factory warranty. If something goes wrong, we come back and fix it.
• After-sales service. We’re a phone call away long after the installation.

Most importantly, we build relationships, not only sell products. As a family-run business, we want you to feel like part of the family from your first call to the last bracket.

How long good blinds last, and what breaks on cheap ones

Good blinds can last 10 years or more. Cheap blinds, on the other hand, often show problems within a year or two:

• The sun fades the fabric or slats, and they change colour.
• The fabric tears or the slats break.
• The mechanism stops working, so the blind won’t go up or down.

Then the real problem starts. The client calls the cheap company to fix it, but they never arrive. Meanwhile, other companies don’t want to touch it either. They know it’s only a repair, and the parts don’t match their own mechanisms. So the blind usually has to be replaced completely.

Common mistakes we’re called to fix

• Wrong measurements. The blind is too small, too big or doesn’t fit the window.
• The wrong product in the wrong place. For example, a heavy Venetian blind on a door.
• Poor installation. Crooked blinds and the wrong brackets that come loose.
• Nobody comes back. When something goes wrong, the installer is gone.
• Deposits that disappear. Sadly, some people take a deposit and never deliver. Always pay a deposit to an established company.

In every case, the result is the same: unhappy clients who paid a lot of money and lost it.

The right product in the right place

Good advice matters as much as good installation. Here are a few examples we see often:

• Doors: a Venetian blind is heavy and makes a door difficult to open. A roller blind works much better.
• Light-sensitive sleepers: even a blockout roller blind lets a little light in around the edges. Rather choose curtains, or ask about a face-fix installation.
• Very sunny windows: zebra blinds don’t like strong sun. The sun damages them, so they won’t last.
• Cheap fabric in full sun: it fades and gets damaged quickly.

A professional will ask how you use each room before recommending anything. This is a big part of why blinds installation is worth it. That alone can save you from an expensive mistake.

How to choose a blinds company in Johannesburg and Pretoria

Before you pay a deposit, do your research. Here’s what we tell friends and family to check:

• Google reviews. This is very important. Read what real clients say.
• Hello Peter. Check for complaints and how the company handled them.
• Real photos. Look at their Instagram and social media. Are the photos of their own work, or stock pictures?
• How long they’ve been in business. A company with a long track record will still be there when you need them.
• Warranty. Ask what’s included and for how long.
• The brand of the product. There are cheaper brands, so ask what you’re actually getting.

In short, look at the overall feel. The market will tell you who does good work.

What happens at a free home consultation

With Blind Concepts, the first step costs nothing. Here’s how it works:

• We come to your home and bring our samples.
• We ask questions first, because we need to know what each room is for.
• Next, we show you which products will work for your needs and your budget.
• Then we measure all the windows ourselves.
• Finally, we send you the quotation as soon as possible.

We try to be on time, friendly and easy to deal with. That way, you know you’ll get great products, friendly people and excellent service, smoothly from start to finish.

When DIY is fine, and when to call a professional

To be fair, you don’t always need a professional. For example, our standard-size curtains are made to fit almost every home. For these, a measuring app on your phone can give you a good idea of the size. We’re also happy to help you over the phone.

However, for anything made to measure, you need a proper tape measure and, ideally, a professional. Always use a professional for:

• Motorised blinds and curtains
• Shutters
• Big windows and high ceilings
• Custom-made blinds and curtains

Building or renovating? Call us early

If you’re still building, get us involved early in the process. We can advise you where the plug points for motors should go and how big the curtain pockets need to be. Planning this now saves you a lot of trouble later.

Fast-forward two years

If you’re sitting on the fence between a cheap quote and a professional one, fast-forward two years. Picture the quality blind: it still looks the same and is ready to last for years. Now picture the cheap one. The slats are broken, the colour has faded, and you’re thinking, “I’m going to have to replace this. I just wasted a lot of money.”

Maybe you saved 20% on the first quote. But now you have to replace the blind completely, find somebody new and hope it’s done correctly the second time. With us, you get it done right the first time.

Get a free quote

Blind Concepts makes and installs blinds, curtains and shutters across Johannesburg, Pretoria and surrounds. Want to know more about price? Read How Much Does Professional Blinds Installation Cost?, or see why we recommend professional installation over DIY.

📞 +27 83 277 2739 (call or WhatsApp)
✉️ sales@blindconcepts.co.za
📍 41 1st Avenue, Edenvale, Gauteng

👉 Book your free home consultation