We've sold thousands of sets online since we've been in business, so we've learned a few things about our customers. Most parents who've purchased a swing set from us over the Internet are doing so for the following four reasons:
- All of the "big box" stores did not have swing set displays, and there were no local swing set dealers nearby.
- Parents wanted to do as much research as they could online (if not ALL research.) We live in a very busy world (especially in NJ!) so coordinating a time to go into a store was a chore.
- They looked at local swingset stores and were not happy with the experience they had or the swingset selections provided.
- They found the NJ Swingsets website extremely helpful and wanted to purchase from us knowing that they would be taken care of through the entire process.
But even once you’ve found the best place to buy a swing set, you may have some uncertainties. How much does a swing set cost? Should you go with a metal vs wood swing set, or a vinyl vs wood swing set? Which brands are best?
You’ve got questions, we’ve got answers. You can eliminate any stress and uncertainty from the process of choosing a swing set by getting in touch with our team or stopping by our Bergen County show room. Or, you can read our swing set checklist below!
Swing Set Checklist
We've created a swing set checklist to help YOU make a more informed decision before making this purchase. This checklist will also help make your online swingset purchase and installation go as smoothly as possible.
If you have any questions along the way, feel free to reach out using the chat box on our website or give us a call at 201-670-4000!
CHECK YOUR YARD SPACE
Or have your yard checked by a professional installer. As a rule of thumb, you should have 6' of free space around all four sides of the set.
So a 20'x20' swing set would have a 32'x32' area to safely hold your swingset. If your yard space is in question - you can reach out to us for assistance, or find a local swing set installer to help out with the process.
CHECK YOUR YARD SLOPE
The slope in your yard should not be more than 4" to 6" variance from the left to the right side of the swing set, or from the front to the back of the swing set.
That means that the ground where the front of your swing set is to be placed should not be higher or lower by 4 to 6 inches than the ground where the back of the swing set is to be placed.
If your yard slope is in question, of the grade of your yard is questionable, you can reach out to us for assistance, or find a local, professional swingset installer to help out with the process.
If an installer comes to your yard and finds an excessive slope, he may charge extra fees to level your set as it requires extra time to do so.
DO YOUR RESEARCH
There are all types of families with all types of requirements. There are also all types of swingsets with all types of features. Finding the swing that is best for you and your family can be a lot of work! We try to make this process as easy as possible for you.
NAVIGATING INSTALLATION
If your are doing the swingset installation yourself, great! Definitely take a look at your desired swingset's installation manual.
The manual will tell you what tools you need, how long the installation will take, and give you an overall idea of what to expect. Many customers, after seeing the manual, opt to hire a professional installer after looking at the work involved!
If you are hiring a professional installer... - If you'd like to hire a professional installer in your area, we have three places we use: NJ Swingsets Preferred Installers, Gorilla Playsets Preferred Installers, and using local search websites to find an installer in your area.
Keep in mind, if an installer is listed on our website, we have used them many times and we trust them to do a great job! All others we cannot vouch for. Please be cautious using contractors that DO NOT specialize in swing set installation.
KNOW HIDDEN OR ADDITIONAL COSTS
When you view a swing set on our website, the price you see is the price of the swingset shipped to your curb. All delivery and freight charges are INCLUDED.
The ONLY additional cost would be NJ sales tax if your billing and/or shipping address is in NJ. Installation is NOT included in these costs. Other websites may have lower costs, but when you factor in delivery charges, they may shoot the cost up even higher.
KNOW HOW SHIPPING A SWINGSET WORKS
The biggest drawback of ordering a swingset online is having a large freight shipment delivered via LTL freight.
Freight shipments, unfortunately, are not like Amazon Prime - delivered in two days with rare issues. There can be quite a few problems with freight such as lost deliveries, extended delays, and smashed or broken parts.
Not to mention, a freight carrier is only responsible for leaving freight at your curb. That means you may have to break apart pallets and have several adults carry heavy boxes into your backyard.
You would then have to have the boxes sit there until your swing set is installed. Please see the "Delivery" and "Common Problems" sections of our blog post for more information
KNOW ABOUT BROKEN/MISSING PARTS
Another drawback to ordering a set online is broken or missing parts when you receive your set. In some cases, the freight company will smash a box and parts will be damaged.
In other cases a box may get lost. When you receive your delivery, make sure all boxes and parts are intact and present.
Keep in mind, once you find broken or missing pieces, it will take at least a week or two to obtain broken or missing parts. During the busy season, at times it may take longer. Keep this into consideration when hiring an outside installer.
You may have to reschedule, otherwise he may charge fees to come back to complete the install. We have seen installations complete months after an order has been placed due to these issues.
KNOW ABOUT INSTALLATION ISSUES
We will not go into installation issues from hiring an inexperienced installer (there are countless experiences here). Installation issues occur when your set doesn't fit, when your yard is not as level as you thought, or when there are broken/missing parts. In any of these cases, an installer may have to charge you extra to complete the install.
Armed With This Checklist, You’re Ready to Find the Perfect Swing Set and Reap All the Benefits it Has to Offer!
We hope this swing set checklist leaves you feeling confident in your next steps. Speaking of which, if you’re looking for Bergen County swing sets, remember that NJ Swing Sets is your trusted provider. We’ve helped so many families reap the swing set benefits and can’t wait to do the same for you!
From a classic wood swing set (like our popular cedar swing sets) to more simple vinyl swing sets, we’ve got the perfect pick for your home. Browse space-saving designs for small backyards or feature-rich playsets that transform backyards into adventurous playgrounds. Here are some of our most popular styles:
- club house swing sets
- swing set with monkey bars
- swing set with rock wall
- swing set with sand box
- swing set with tire swing
- swing set with tube slide
No matter which style you go with you can rest assured you’re getting the long-lasting quality you deserve. That’s because we only source from the most reliable, highly-regarded brands in the swing set industry - including Gorilla playground and King swing sets.
For those in New Jersey and beyond, we invite you to visit our Bergen County showroom. Here, you can see and experience our quality playsets first-hand, get expert advice, and find the perfect addition to your family's outdoor space. So, hop in the car and head over as we wrap up our swing set checklist guide!
A Final Word on Our Swing Set Checklist
We’ve covered some of the main things to do and be aware of when ordering a swing set online. As you can see, it can at times be overwhelming, especially for busy moms and dads!
For these reasons, we always recommend seeing your local swingset store! Not only are you supporting a local business, they can take care of all the work and issues you may encounter.
If you still prefer purchasing a swing set online, consider letting NJ Swingsets help guide you through the process. We love helping out! Give us your best questions.
Contact us using the chatbox at the bottom of the website, or give us a call anytime at 201-670-4000.
Best of luck and take care!