With these four simple steps, finding the best DC closet company to fit your needs has never been easier.

When it comes to home improvement, the DC metro area is chock-full of resources. Whether you’re looking for a custom tailor in Georgetown to take care of prepping suits for storage or you’re on the hunt for the best contractor to do a remodel on your home, you’ve got a plethora of great options at your fingertips. This area is a cornucopia of service providers—a huge plus for those living here. However, it can also be a bit overwhelming to choose from such a wide variety.

If you’re looking to get a closet in your home remodeled, it can be daunting to select a company that you want to work with. Aside from seeing a billboard along I-95 or doing a quick Google search, you might not know how many custom closet companies are available or how they differ from each other. Following these simple steps, however, can go a long way toward streamlining the process and making your life just a little bit easier.

Step 1: Ask Around

Chances are good that someone in your social circle has worked with a custom closet company or knows someone who has. Word of mouth is the strongest recommendation for a service, after all, and you can usually trust that a company endorsed by a friend is doing great work. Speak with neighbors on your block first and then expand to friends in your local area to see which companies they may have used in the past.

Taking this idea further, you also want to consider people who are within the “two degrees of separation” category. Ask the other moms at Arlington Traditional when you’re picking up your elementary-aged kids. Speak with any local realtors, home developers, designers, or architects you come across or have worked with already. These professionals are bound to have a custom closet provider in their network and can provide you with a good place to start.

Step 2: Compare Online Resources

After you’ve got a couple of company names to consider, start digging into the online resources that they provide. Go to each company’s website and examine their organization system offerings. You’re not likely to find exact price points online, as a general rule, but you will be able to play around with ideas for accessories, finishes, and other design elements based on the work the company has already completed.     

The internet is full of marketing ploys and an overwhelming amount of resources to sift through, but there is one incredibly helpful corner that you’ll also want to check out: the company’s accolades. While you’re on their homepage, check out the awards and recognition that they’ve received for their service. Read up on reviews from sites like Yelp and Google to see what other customers have to say. These elements can give an even clearer picture of what it’s like to work with each company.

Step 3: Visit Local Custom Closet Showrooms

I’m a visual person by nature, and I learn best when I can see products in person rather than online. Customers who visit our Landover, MD showroom always ask valuable questions and have experiences that you just can’t replicate on a website. Visiting the showroom of each closet company lets you interact with their products in person, and you can also get a good feel for the company culture while you’re there. Going in person has some serious benefits:

• You can speak with a design expert. Who knows? This person might end up being your first choice when starting your project at home, and you’ve already made a strong connection. If you can speak with the regional manager—or, better yet, the owner and founder of the company—that’s a good sign that the company truly cares about their customers.

• You’ll learn about the company’s values. National franchises often have a very different outlook from locally owned and independent companies. This perspective becomes apparent when you visit their brick-and-mortar location, and this insight can help you decide which approach best fits your personality.

• You see their best products in person. A picture may be worth a thousand words, but feeling the smoothness of soft-close drawers with your own hands can be worth even more. Showrooms, by nature, are there to display the best of what a company offers. However, the discerning customer will also ask to see examples from the entire line of pricing options.

Step 4: Schedule a Consultation

It may seem like you should only schedule a consultation when you’re ready to buy a custom closet, but I’d argue that this step is part of shopping around for a good company. A free, in-home design consultation with an expert gives you a risk-free glimpse of the service you’d be signing up for.

As a closet designer myself, I would personally recommend that you get a consultation from the top two or three companies you’re considering. Evaluate the service you receive from each designer. Compare the design elements and accessories that each company incorporates into your space. And, of course, you’ll be eager to compare quote prices. This process is part of being an informed consumer, and can help provide you with the best service in the industry.

Finding the Best Custom Closet Company

Living in a resource-rich area like DC gives you access to a full range of what the custom closet industry has to offer. Selecting the company that’s perfect for you might seem daunting at first, but becomes easier once you’ve done your research. These steps will help guide you through the process and save you a lot of back and forth. In no time, you’ll be able to find a company and a custom closet that you’re more than satisfied with.

Looking for a good starting place? Closet America is a locally owned DC-area company that’s dedicated to bringing your closet dreams to life. With a penchant for excellent customer service, we look forward to helping you find the right custom organization system for your home. Reach out to us today to learn more about what makes our company unique in the industry.