Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Our representatives and installers wear masks and gloves to protect themselves as well as you and your family. Furthermore, our decades of experience working with real estate agents, property managers, and out-of-state customers have actually prepared us well for these unprecedented times in that we have had years of contactless services from walk-around estimates to online quotes.
Walkaround Estimates and Online Quotes are a specialty of ours as we have done them for many years. With a “Walkaround Estimate”, we literally do the estimate from the outside of your home, and while exact measurements cannot be completed this way, we can certainly put together accurate pricing based on window sizes without needing to enter your home.
Performing Online Quotes, and by this we mean putting together pricing without coming to your home, is also something we’ve become very familiar with.
Some customers send us approximate measurements, and some clients who are not as handy with a measuring tape may even just send us pictures of a room or a wall, and our experience has enabled us to determine accurate measurements for pricing based on these pictures.
Yes. Tech-savvy customers may choose to email/text us pictures of their windows and openings. We have become quite familiar with this process and we can guide you through the best practices to enable us to be as accurate as possible. For example, a picture of an entire wall or room actually gives better context in the view than a closeup of a single window. Whether you’re looking for assistance with a DIY project or just saving time getting quotes without having to schedule someone to come to your home, we’re happy to help you with the process.
Yes. As we have all learned through this pandemic, video chat services are now something we are all familiar and proficient with, and this has lent itself well to our industry. Being able answer questions live as well as directing camera views has provided for more accurate estimates than customers simply sending pictures and then needing a back-and-forth communication with questions and clarifications. So we very much prefer this method when possible.
Yes. For material choices such as fabric color/pattern choices and slat/wood colors and texture, we can definitely send you pictures of actual samples. Also, our vendor partners can provide full color/palet samples digitally, and for some products, samples can even be mailed to you directly! Our staff will be happy to walk you through these option choices virtually. From our end, this is also useful for some of the technical questions regarding how a product will “sit” in your opening and which control options will be viable or most practical.
Yes. Due to requirements in multiple states restricting staff volumes at all of our vendors’ manufacturing facilities, lead times have definitely increased. However, we work with very reputable vendors who have been upfront about their delayed turnaround times and most products arrive for install sooner than the projected ETA’s, although the ETA’s are admittedly further out than pre-pandemic levels. We sincerely appreciate their efforts towards safety and helping slow down the spread of the virus while protecting us all.
Bowman Blinds & Shades offers a wide variety of product lines, so we’re well-equipped to help you determine the most apt product based on what your goals are with this project. For example, if you’re trying to cool down a room in the summer, this may direct us towards one set of product options while someone who is just beautifying a room or adding privacy may have other product options that are more suited for their needs. We never want any customer to feel rushed or pressured into a specific product or decision, and we’re happy to take our time helping you figure out what style you’re going for and what usage this product will have in your home.
Yes. We’ve always said that although we don’t do “cheap”, we’re very experienced with doing “inexpensive”. This is more than just offerings of products to fit every budget. By offering products from multiple vendors including overlapping product lines, we are able to offer the best pricing options without sacrificing quality.
Yes. We are quite accustomed to assisting handymen and handy homeowners with their home improvement projects. Sometimes this includes taking actual measurements for folks so that the product they’ll install themselves comes in correct with a custom-made look for their opening. Other times, perhaps a customer just wants to run their thinking by someone with experience, so a phone call or email sorts things out. We’re happy to help make sure your project is successful and perfect.
Yes. While every product we offer will provide aesthetic beautification to your home or work space, we definitely have some products that are more effective for energy savings. Cellular Shades, for example, actually create an insulative layer of air in your window while Roll-Down Shades can be made with Solar Screen to actually reflect UV rays. Other products, like shutters, can create a full barrier to keep the outside temperature from entering your home.
Yes. Our products come with some of the longest warranties in the industry. What’s perhaps more important than a long and solid warranty is that the product is actually built-to-last in the first place. In addition to extensive testing, most materials are also weather-treated to avoid issues over time. Whether your concern is the effects of sun such as bleaching or fading or durability to withstand young children and active pets, our products were made for “lived-in” homes and meant to last.
Even beyond the manufacturer warranties provided by our vendors, we are local and determined to earn the referrals of your friends and neighbors in addition to you being a repeat customer in the future even if that’s not until your next home a decade or more from now, so we typically honor warranties even longer than the manufacture may provide.
Yes. Our installers are licenced, bonded, and insured, but more importantly, they want you to feel respected and in good hands throughout the process, so their goal is for their professional expertise and customer service orientated demeanor to impress, not simply to not offend. You will surely find our professional installation to be yet another reason that you have chosen the right company for your window covering needs.
Yes. We are local. We are your neighbors. We are not a big box store, and you’ll see the difference and benefits of working with us within your first contact with Bowman Blinds & Shades. We want to be proud when we see you at the local grocery store or school sporting events, so we are perhaps more diligent in regards to our reputation than if you purchased your window coverings from a salesperson at a big franchised store.
No. We are confident that our pricing, options, and customer service will lead you to placing an order with us when you’re ready to move forward with your project, so we happily provide quotes free of charge.