Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Important Questions to Ask When Purchasing School Furnishings

  • 08/01/10
You have a purchase order to be filled — student desks, computer desks, media cabinets, chairs, bookcases, and on and on — by the single item or by the hundreds of units. No matter what method you use to purchase them and from whom, there still is a process to be followed when buying furnishings for the schools in your district. But, there is also some information that is important to have before you finalize those purchases.

Knowing the questions to ask when purchasing furniture for your classrooms is as important as knowing what furniture to buy. The answers you receive can go a long way toward determining the “right fit” of product and supplier for your needs.
  • Will the furniture you are considering buying fit in with the type of classroom environment you are trying to create? Will the furnishings you choose provide you with sufficient flexibility for your curriculum and physical space requirements? Are there add-ons that can expand the furniture’s function and can they be purchased later?
  • What is the durability rating of the furniture you are looking to purchase and under what conditions of use? Will your choice last for a planned period of time? Do those furnishings meet the safety standards for your area?
  • What are the reputations of the manufacturer and authorized distributor? Can you check references?
  • Can you inspect furniture samples before purchasing? What is the return policy?
  • Who services the warranty — the manufacturer or the distributor? Is an extended warranty available and do you need to purchase it? Is the warranty transferable?
  • What after-sale support is available for repairs? Who assumes liability for damages in the case of performance defects?

Featured

  • Campus Safety Requires Using Every Resource Available

    Across the U.S., school and campus leaders are facing a security landscape that has changed dramatically over the past decade. Incidents on school property have increased in recent years, with several consecutive years setting record totals. According to analysis of data by CNN, dozens of shootings now occur on school grounds annually across K-12 and higher education environments.

  • Secret to Efficient, On-Time School Infrastructure & Modernization Projects is All in the Preparation

    Warmer weather and longer days make summer the ideal time for construction and modernization projects at educational facilities. School boards and construction firms must coordinate effectively to ensure that these projects do not extend even a single day into the school year and impede classroom operation.

  • RIT Saunders College of Business – Lowenthal Hall Addition

    RIT Saunders College of Business – Lowenthal Hall Addition

    Established in 1999, the Education Design Showcase is a vehicle for showing off innovative — yet practical — solutions in planning, design, architecture, and construction. RIT Saunders College of Business's Lowenthal Hall Addition has been recognized with an EDS 2026 Project of Distinction award in the category of New Construction.

  • Planning with Clarity: Using AI to Make Better Campus Decisions, Not Just Better Designs

    Higher education leaders are being asked to make increasingly high-stakes decisions about campus facilities amid greater uncertainty than ever before. Social and economic pressures, shifting enrollment, and evolving learning models compete with growing deferred maintenance needs to strain even the most robust infrastructure budgets.