Blinds for new construction homes: what the builder does not tell you

Closing day on a new build comes with a surprise for most families: every window is bare. The model home had beautiful coverings, the sales office never mentioned them, and now the neighbours across the street can see straight into your kitchen. If you are closing on a new home anywhere in the GTA, Halton, York, Durham or Simcoe, here is what we tell every client who calls us in that first week.

First, do not measure from the floor plan. Builder window sizes vary more than the drawings suggest, by lot, by elevation, and by which trade installed the frames on your particular street. We have measured identical models in the same subdivision and found an inch of difference on the great-room window. A shade cut to the plan is a gamble, and a shade cut to a real measurement fits. We can give you a budget estimate from the plan, but we measure the actual openings the day you get your keys, or the day after.

Second, think about privacy first and style second. The windows that matter on night one are the bedrooms, the main bathroom, and whatever faces the street. If you are tight on time, we can prioritize those and handle the rest in a second visit. Most new-home clients choose zebra or roller shades on the main floor, blackout roller or cellular in the bedrooms, faux wood in the bathrooms, and a motorized shade for the tall foyer window that nobody can reach.

Third, plan the timeline backwards from your move. Custom window coverings take 10 to 15 business days to make after you approve the quote. So book the consultation two to three weeks before closing, we measure on closing day, and you are covered within a couple of weeks of moving in. If you need something immediately, we can usually get a few bedroom shades done faster, or you can order online for pickup if you already have your sizes.

Fourth, know the rules. Since 2022, Canadian regulations effectively ended long free-hanging cords on window coverings. Everything we sell is cordless or motorized, which is the right answer in a house full of kids anyway. Builder upgrade packages sometimes include corded products that do not meet current standards, so it is worth checking what you are actually being offered.

Fifth, think about the whole house as one order. Builders install one brand of window, so the sizes repeat, and a whole-house package is where you get the best price per window. We quote every window on its own line so you can see exactly what each room costs and trim where you want to.

If you are closing in a community like Mount Pleasant, Boyne, Seaton, Brooklin, Doon South or Binbrook, we have measured hundreds of those windows already. Book the free measure, tell us your closing date, and we will work around it.