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The questions you should always ask before hiring a blind company — and we mean any blind company, including us. The right questions separate the companies that do this well from the ones that sell you something and disappear. After fifty-five years in this industry, we know exactly which questions reveal the quality of a company and which answers you want to hear.

Question one — do you measure and install yourselves, or do you subcontract? This is the first question to ask and the answer matters a great deal. A company that sells window treatments and subcontracts the measurement and installation to a third party is dividing responsibility in a way that can leave you with nobody to hold accountable when something goes wrong. If the measurement is wrong — is that the blind company's fault or the subcontractor's? If the installation isn't right — who is responsible for fixing it? A company that controls measurement and installation in-house has full accountability for the outcome. When something isn't right, there's one number to call and one company responsible for fixing it. That's what you want. Crazy Joe's Drapery and Blinds measures and installs every job ourselves. Always has.

Question two — what does your warranty cover, and for how long? Product warranties from manufacturers are standard and relatively straightforward. The question to push on is the installation warranty. If a bracket comes loose six months after installation — whose problem is that? If the mechanism on a roller blind becomes sticky a year in — is that covered? A company that stands behind its work should offer a workmanship warranty that covers installation issues separately from product defects. Ask specifically what the warranty terms are and get them in writing if the installation is significant. The right answer is something like "if there's an installation issue we'll come back and fix it at no charge." The wrong answer is a blank stare or a redirect to the manufacturer.

Question three — can I see examples of your work or speak with past customers? Any company that's been in business for more than a year or two should have a portfolio of completed projects and customers willing to provide references. Photos of completed installations tell you about their quality standards — are the blinds level, are the installations clean, do the products look professional in the final space? Speaking with past customers tells you about the experience beyond the product — did the company communicate well, show up when scheduled, handle any issues professionally? A company that's vague or evasive about references is a company that doesn't have many satisfied customers it's proud to show. That's a significant flag.

Question four — are your samples representative of the actual product I'll receive? Some companies — particularly online retailers and some big box stores — show samples that are display quality but differ from production quality in subtle ways. The colour is slightly different. The texture is slightly different. The opacity is slightly different. Ask explicitly — if I order this fabric, will it look exactly like this sample? Will the colour match under my home's lighting conditions? A reputable company works with quality suppliers and can give you confidence that what you see in the sample is what you'll receive. If they're evasive about this, be cautious. We encourage customers to take our samples home and view them in their own space under their own lighting before committing to an order. That confidence comes from knowing our products are consistent.

Question five — how long will my order take, from measurement to installation? Custom window treatments are made to order and take time. Depending on the product and the supplier, lead times typically range from two to four weeks for standard products and longer for specialty or complex items. Get a specific timeline and hold the company to it. If you're moving into a new home on a certain date, or if you're hosting an event and want the treatments in place, the timeline matters. A company that can't give you a reasonably specific timeline — or that gives you a very short timeline that seems too good to be true — is worth questioning. Rushing custom manufacturing causes errors. A realistic timeline is a sign of honesty. Ask also what happens if the timeline slips — will they communicate proactively, or will you have to chase them for updates? The answer tells you about their client communication culture.

Question six — what happens if something arrives wrong? Custom blinds are manufactured to specification. Occasionally — not often, but occasionally — something arrives that isn't quite right. A colour that's slightly off. A width that's a fraction different from spec. A mechanism that doesn't operate as smoothly as expected. Before you order, ask the company how they handle this. A quality company will tell you clearly — if something isn't right we fix it or remake it, full stop. They won't make it your problem or tell you that minor variations are within acceptable tolerance. The answer to this question is one of the clearest indicators of how a company treats customers when things get difficult, which is exactly when you find out who you're actually dealing with.

Question seven — are you familiar with my building or neighbourhood? Particularly relevant for condo installations — a company that does regular work in your type of building will know the compliance requirements, the installation challenges, and the products that perform well in that context. For a house in an older Toronto neighbourhood — a company familiar with older homes and their often non-standard window sizes and frames will handle the measurement and installation more confidently than one that primarily works in new builds. Local expertise matters. A window treatment company that works extensively in the GTA has seen the specific challenges of Toronto homes — the older houses, the new condos, the large new-build suburbs — and knows how to navigate all of them.

Question eight — how do you handle the end-to-end process? Ask the company to walk you through what happens from the first call to the completed installation. Who comes to measure? Who manufactures? Who installs? Who is your point of contact if you have questions during the process? Who do you call if there's an issue after installation? A company with a clear, organized answer to this question has a professional operation. A company that's vague or inconsistent in their answer may not have the systems to deliver a consistent result.

At Crazy Joe's Drapery and Blinds, we're happy to answer every one of these questions — and our answers are consistent because we've been running the same professional operation for fifty-five years. Call us, ask us anything, and let us show you what working with a company that takes this seriously looks like. We're Crazy Joe's Drapery and Blinds. Toronto's window treatment specialists.

Crazy Joe’s Drapery and Blinds has been Ontario’s trusted window treatment specialist since 1965. We offer custom drapes, custom blinds, motorized blinds, plantation shutters, roller shades, and drapery hardware — all custom-made in our Toronto factory. Free in-home consultations and free measurements across Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, North York, Etobicoke, Scarborough, Vaughan, Thornhill, Burlington, Hamilton, Oakville, Ajax, Oshawa, Woodbridge, and Aurora.

Visit crazyjoes.com/ or call (905) 848-2181 to book your free consultation today.