9 Questions to Ask a Closet Company Before You Sign (and How to Read “40% Off” Quotes)

• Compare the final installed price for the same scope. A percentage off tells you very little on its own.
• Stacked discounts don't add up the way they look: 40% off and then 15% off is 49% off the list price, not 55%.
• Get the warranty, the full scope and the installation details in writing before you sign.
• With "no interest if paid in full" financing, know what happens if the balance isn't paid off in time.

Most custom closets are built from engineered wood panels with a melamine or laminate surface; our post on what custom closets are made of compares the options. The label matters less than the details, so ask:

• What's the core material, and what's on the surface?
• How thick are the side panels and shelves, and what's the longest shelf span in my design?
• How are the drawers built, and do drawers and doors close softly?
• How does the material hold up to humidity? (See our guide to preventing closet mold.)

For reference, our systems use wood with a melamine coating that resists moisture, stains and fading.

The Federal Trade Commission's consumer guide to warranties notes that by law a warranty must be available for you to read before you buy, and it advises getting any spoken promise in writing. Ask how long the warranty lasts, whether it covers parts and labor, what would void it, and who you call with a problem. Ask about our warranty at your consultation, too, and compare the written terms side by side.

Ask whether the company uses its own installers or hires subcontractors, whether the installers are insured, who is in charge on site, and who you call if something needs adjusting afterward. Reviews that name installers can tell you a lot, so read them for any company you're considering, including our customer reviews.

Two quotes for "a walk-in closet" can describe very different jobs. Ask for a written quote that lists:

• every component and accessory, such as drawers, doors, valet rods, jewelry trays and lighting
• the finish, door style and hardware
• delivery and installation
• removal and disposal of old shelving
• sales tax
• any charges for wall repair, trim work or return visits

Suzette D. wrote of her design: "The design information was very clear, it outlines everything that will be done, so there is no surprises."

A percentage off is only as meaningful as the price it's taken from. When that's a list price the seller sets, the percentage tells you little until you see the final number. Ask for the list price, each discount and the final total in writing.

The FTC's Guides Against Deceptive Pricing say a former or list price used in a comparison should be genuine: a price the item was openly offered at in good faith for a reasonably substantial period, or one at which substantial sales are actually made in the area. Then do the arithmetic:

• Stacked discounts multiply. 40% off leaves you paying 60% of the list price. Another 15% off that leaves 51%. That's 49% off in total, not 55%.
• "Free installation" is built into the price. Installation still costs the company money, so compare totals rather than line items.
• An expiration date is a question, not a deadline. Ask whether the same design will cost more next week.

The fair comparison is the final installed price, including tax, for the same layout, materials and accessories. If two designs differ, line them up component by component before comparing totals.

Ask for a drawing or 3D design showing component sizes, finish and hardware, and ask how many changes you can make. Ours comes from a free in-home consultation: the designer measures and builds the 3D design with you, and you can change anything before you get a quote.

Ask for the expected lead time and what could change it, such as design changes, materials or scheduling. With us, installation usually follows a few weeks after you approve the design, depending on your schedule and ours. Our post on how long custom closet installation takes explains why.

Ask whether removal and disposal are included, whether holes from the old shelving get patched, and what condition the space is left in. Our installers remove leftover components you don't want, and the area is wiped down and dusted when they finish.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau explains that with deferred interest, interest builds during the promotion and is charged back to the purchase date if the balance isn't paid in full by the end. A true 0% intro APR doesn't do that. The CFPB suggests watching for the word "if," as in "no interest if paid in full." Ask how long the promotion runs, the rate afterward, any fees and the minimum payment. We offer promotional financing through Synchrony, subject to credit approval; read the terms on our financing page as carefully as you would anyone's.

Ask these nine questions at every consultation, including ours, and write down the answers. When you're ready to see a design for your own space, book a free in-home design consultation: we'll measure, build the 3D design with you and give you a quote, with no obligation. To see what that visit looks like, read what happens at a free closet design consultation.

• Federal Trade Commission, Guides Against Deceptive Pricing, 16 CFR Part 233 (eCFR). Accessed October 9, 2026.
• Federal Trade Commission, Warranties, updated July 2023. Accessed October 9, 2026.
• Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, How to understand special promotional financing offers on credit cards, June 8, 2017. Accessed October 9, 2026.
• Federal Trade Commission, Buyer's Remorse: The FTC's Cooling-Off Rule May Help, updated September 2025. Accessed October 9, 2026.