Custom Closets: How to Compare Estimates

With so many custom closet companies out there, contacting a handful may result in a wide variety of price quotes. It can be very difficult to compare these quotes, as there are many ways to create a cheaper custom closet. While you might not know at first glance that the materials and workmanship are not quite up to par, you will certainly realize after time passes that something is amiss. In many cases, it’s the little details that are the difference between a closet that functions smoothly and one that needs constant adjustments. Here are some considerations to keep in mind as you compare custom closet estimates:

Some closet designers may recommend a low-cost closet option that uses an inadequate amount of support material. While this may save you money, the truth is that hanging large sections with limited support means that the structural integrity of the entire closet is compromised. If the entire structure collapses, you have saved neither time nor money.

Placing fewer shelves spaced further apart can certainly save you money, but it also costs you space. As an example, a higher-priced custom closet company might place shoe shelves six inches apart, allowing you to store double the number of shoes than if you had gone with the lower-priced company and had them placed twelve inches apart. Since the point of having custom closets installed is to be able to house all of your belongings in one space, this may be defeating the purpose.

You could go to a big box store and buy tie racks, belt racks and jewelry cases for less money than you’d spend if you’d hired a professional closet designer. These products will work for a short time, but won’t be able to last for years with regular use; they’re simply not designed well enough for that. A discount custom closet company might use these cheaper closet accessories, however, leaving you in the lurch when the accessories fail a short time later.

Just as you wouldn’t skimp on the quality of the support beams holding up your house, you shouldn’t hire a closet designer who uses cheap or inadequate assembly components in your closet. With the use that your closet will be expected to stand up to over the years and decades, it’s worth it to spend a little more on quality assembly components.

Most custom closet companies will give you a lifetime warranty. Unfortunately, this does not cover appearance or ease of design. If the closet organization system is unappealing or difficult to use, you won’t use it. This means that the money that you spent on a low-cost custom closet has been largely wasted. If you’re going to make the investment in custom closets, make it worth your while and spend the money necessary to ensure that the finished product is one that you’ll enjoy using over the long haul.

It can be difficult to decide between various custom closet companies, particularly when the quotes that you receive are disparate. Ask the closet professionals that you interview about the items listed above and weigh their answers against the price quote that you’re given. An investment in your home deserves careful consideration, and you deserve a custom closet system that you will be proud to use, year after year.