Thank you for choosing Made in the Shade. We are looking forward to completing your installation and helping bring your project to life.

A little preparation before installation day helps our team work safely, efficiently, and carefully in your home. This guide explains what to expect and how to prepare before your installer arrives.

This article applies to most Made in the Shade installations, including blinds, shades, shutters, draperies, exterior shades, outdoor awnings, motorized products, and specialty window treatments.

Before Installation Day

Confirm Your Appointment

Before installation, your local Made in the Shade location will confirm your scheduled installation date and arrival window.

Please review the appointment details and let us know as soon as possible if:

• The date or time no longer works
• Someone will not be available at the home
• Access instructions have changed
• The project area has changed
• Construction, painting, cleaning, or remodeling is still in progress
• There are pets, gates, parking limitations, or building access requirements we should know about

If we arrive and cannot access the home or safely complete the installation, the appointment may need to be rescheduled and a possible charge for the missed work. 

Home Access, Gate Codes, and Parking

Please make sure we have clear access instructions before installation day.

This may include:

• Gate code
• Door code
• Lockbox instructions
• Building entry instructions
• Guard gate approval
• Parking instructions
• Loading dock access
• Elevator instructions
• HOA or property management requirements
• Contact name and phone number for the person onsite

For apartments, condos, high-rises, gated communities, office buildings, and commercial properties, please confirm any special access rules in advance. This helps avoid delays, parking issues, or rescheduling.

Someone Should Be Available

We strongly recommend that someone be present at the home or project location during installation.

The person onsite should be able to:

• Let the installer in
• Confirm the areas being installed
• Answer basic questions if needed
• Approve placement if something unexpected comes up
• Review product operation after installation
• Complete the final walkthrough
• Confirm the project is complete and satisfactory
• Provide or confirm final payment, if applicable

If you cannot be present, please provide clear written instructions before installation day. If the installer encounters an issue that requires approval and no one is available, part of the installation may need to be paused or rescheduled.o

Clear the Installation Areas

Please clear the areas around each window, door, patio, or installation location before the installer arrives.

For best access, please move:

• Furniture
• Tables
• Chairs
• Sofas
• Beds
• Cribs
• Desks
• Lamps
• Plants
• Rugs, when needed
• Toys
• Pet beds
• Décor
• Wall art near the work area
• Items on window sills
• Items leaning against walls or windows

A clear path allows the installer to safely carry products, use ladders, access tools, and complete the installation properly.

Large or Heavy Furniture

Installers may be able to make small adjustments to lightweight items when needed, but they are not professional movers. Large, heavy, fragile, antique, or valuable furniture should be moved before installation day.

This includes:

• Sectionals
• Large beds
• Pianos
• Large dining tables
• Heavy desks
• China cabinets
• Antique furniture
• Large plants
• Large mirrors
• Exercise equipment
• Pool tables
• Built-ins or custom furniture

If furniture cannot be moved, please let your local Made in the Shade location know before installation day so the installer can determine whether the installation area is safe and accessible.

Remove Breakables and Valuables

Please remove fragile, valuable, or sentimental items from the work areas before installation.

This may include:

• Glass décor
• Picture frames
• Artwork
• Lamps
• Vases
• Collectibles
• Electronics
• Jewelry
• Cash
• Small valuables
• Heirlooms
• Items on shelves near windows
• Items on mantels or nearby furniture
• Items on window sills

Our installers work carefully, but installation requires tools, ladders, drilling, hardware, product handling, and movement around the home. Removing valuables ahead of time helps protect your belongings and gives the installer room to work.

Window Cleaning Should Be Completed Before Installation

Made in the Shade installers are not window cleaners. If you would like your glass, tracks, window sills, or surrounding trim professionally cleaned, please complete that work before installation day.

This is especially helpful before installing:

• Shutters
• Sheer shades
• Motorized products
• Products mounted close to the glass

Please make sure windows and surrounding areas are dry before installation begins. Wet glass, wet paint, damp trim, cleaning solution, or residue can affect the product, the installation surface, or the final appearance.

Dust, Fingerprints, and Installation Marks

Our installers make reasonable efforts to keep the work area clean. However, window treatment installation may involve handling products, using tools, drilling, placing ladders, touching window frames, and working near glass.

Some dust, fingerprints, light debris, or minor installation marks may occur during the normal installation process. Your installer should clean up installation-related debris, but final glass cleaning, deep cleaning, dusting, or housekeeping is the homeowner’s responsibility.

Painting, Remodeling, or Construction

If painting, remodeling, flooring, tile work, drywall work, window replacement, or other construction is taking place, please complete that work before installation whenever possible.

Before installation, please make sure:

• Paint is fully dry
• Stain or finish is fully cured
• Caulk is dry
• Drywall dust has been cleaned
• Flooring work is complete
• Window replacement is complete
• Tile, stone, brick, or masonry work is complete
• Construction debris is removed
• Contractors are not working in the same area during installation

Installing window treatments in an active construction area can increase the risk of product damage, dust exposure, measurement conflicts, or installation delays.

If your project area is still under construction, please notify your local Made in the Shade location before installation day.

Pets and Children

For everyone’s safety, please keep pets and children away from the installation areas.

Installers may use ladders, drills, screws, brackets, blades, cords, packaging, and other tools or materials that can create safety risks.

Please secure pets in a separate room, crate, yard, or other safe area before the installer arrives. Even friendly pets can become nervous, curious, or protective when tools and ladders are being used.

Product-Specific Preparation

Drapery and Soft Treatments

Drapery installations may require more wall and floor access than some other products. Please clear space around the window, wall, floor, and nearby furniture so the installer can safely work with rods, tracks, brackets, panels, and ladders.

For tall windows or wide treatments, extra space may be needed to handle long rods, tracks, or fabric panels.

Motorized Products

For motorized products, please make sure we have access to any required outlets, power sources, remotes, hubs, apps, Wi-Fi information, or smart home systems needed for setup.

If a motorized product requires hardwiring, low-voltage wiring, electrical work, or integration with a third-party system, please confirm before installation who is responsible for that work. Made in the Shade installers do not perform electrical work unless specifically agreed to by your local Made in the Shade location.

Exterior Shades and Outdoor Awnings

Outdoor installations may require access to patios, decks, porches, balconies, exterior walls, soffits, beams, outdoor outlets, or mounting surfaces.

Please prepare by:

• Moving patio furniture
• Moving grills, planters, décor, and outdoor rugs
• Clearing access to exterior mounting areas
• Securing pets indoors
• Providing gate access
• Making sure the area is free of standing water, mud, debris, or active landscaping work
• Confirming parking or driveway access for larger products
• Confirming availability of matching paints and stains for touch-up work
• Letting us know about irrigation systems, hidden wiring, exterior lighting, or special surface materials

Outdoor installations may be affected by weather, wind, rain, unsafe surfaces, or site conditions. If conditions are unsafe, installation may need to be rescheduled.

Existing Window Treatments

Please confirm before installation day whether your local Made in the Shade location is removing your existing window treatments.

Existing products may include:

• Blinds
• Shades
• Shutters
• Drapery rods
• Drapery panels
• Valances
• Cornices
• Exterior shades
• Awnings
• Hardware
• Brackets
• Screws or anchors

Removal and disposal may or may not be included depending on your proposal, location, and project scope.

If you are removing existing treatments yourself, please complete removal before the installer arrives unless otherwise agreed.

Payment at Installation

If a final balance is due at installation, please make sure an approved payment method is ready before the installer arrives.

Depending on your local Made in the Shade location, payment options may include credit card, check, ACH, financing, or another approved method.

Please confirm payment expectations before installation day. Final payment may be requested before or immediately after the final walkthrough, depending on your local Made in the Shade location’s process.

Final Walkthrough and Product Review

At the end of installation, someone should be available for a final walkthrough.

During the walkthrough, your installer may review:

• Installed products
• Product operation
• Cordless, corded, chain, wand, or motorized controls
• Remote channels or app controls, if applicable
• Child safety devices
• Cleaning and care basics
• Warranty or service expectations
• Any known product-specific notes
• Any follow-up items, if needed

Please inspect the completed installation before the installer leaves. This is the best time to ask questions, confirm operation, and identify anything that may need attention.

If you are not present for the final walkthrough, please understand that questions, adjustments, or follow-up visits may need to be scheduled separately.

What to Expect During Installation

Every project is different, but a typical installation may include:

• Installer arrival and introduction
• Review of installation areas
• Product inspection
• Removal of existing treatments, if included
• Bracket, frame, rod, track, or hardware installation
• Product installation
• Leveling and adjustment
• Motor programming, if applicable
• Operation testing
• Cleanup of installation-related packaging and debris
• Final walkthrough with the homeowner or onsite contact

Installation may involve drilling, light noise, ladders, tools, product packaging, and movement through the home.

Before the Installer Arrives: Quick Checklist

Please review this checklist before installation day:

• Appointment date and arrival window confirmed
• Someone will be present or access instructions have been provided
• Gate code, parking instructions, or building access instructions sent
• Furniture moved away from installation areas
• Breakables and valuables removed
• Window sills cleared
• Pets secured
• Children kept away from work areas
• Windows cleaned, if desired
• Glass, trim, and surrounding areas dry
• Painting, remodeling, and construction completed where possible
• Existing window treatments removed, if you are responsible for removal
• Outdoor areas cleared, if applicable
• Payment method ready, if final balance is due
• Homeowner or authorized person available for final walkthrough

If Something Changes

Please contact your local Made in the Shade location as soon as possible if:

• You need to reschedule
• You will not be home
• Access instructions change
• Your gate code changes
• Parking becomes unavailable
• Construction is not complete
• Windows have been replaced since measuring
• Walls, trim, tile, or mounting surfaces have changed
• Furniture cannot be moved
• You added new smart home, electrical, or wiring requirements
• You have concerns about the installation area

Clear communication before installation day helps avoid delays, return trips, or additional charges.

Important Reminder

Made in the Shade installers will make reasonable efforts to work carefully, protect the installation area, and clean up installation-related debris. However, homeowners are responsible for preparing the work area, moving valuables and fragile items, cleaning windows before installation if desired, securing pets and children, providing access, and ensuring someone is available for the final walkthrough and payment when applicable.

Each Made in the Shade location is independently owned and operated. Installation procedures, payment policies, removal/disposal services, and service terms may vary by location.