Buying guide
Before you commit to a fitted wardrobe company, check five things: that the design visit and quote are genuinely free, that the quote is fixed and itemised in writing, who physically fits the furniture, what the guarantee actually covers, and whether the units are built to your room or to standard sizes. Those five answers separate most companies from each other far more than the showroom does.
On this page: Is the design visit free? | What a written quote should contain | Who actually does the fitting? | Made to measure or standard sizes? | What the guarantee covers | Questions to ask
Is the design visit and quote really free?
It should be, with no obligation and no deposit taken to produce a design.
A home visit is the only way to quote accurately for fitted furniture, because the price depends on the exact dimensions and the state of the walls and floors. Any company quoting a firm price without measuring is guessing.
Be clear about what happens to the design if you decide not to proceed. Ask whether there is any charge, and whether you are under any obligation once the drawings are produced. Our own free design service covers the visit, the measuring, 3D CAD drawings and the written quotation, with nothing to pay unless you go ahead.
What should a written quote contain?
A fixed total, an itemised breakdown, the finishes specified by name, and confirmation of what happens to the old furniture and the making good.
Vague quotes are where disputes start. The figure should not move after the survey unless you change the specification, and the paperwork should make that explicit.
Fixed, not estimated
A price that is described as an estimate can change. Ask directly whether the figure is fixed once agreed.
Itemised
Carcasses, doors, interior fittings and installation listed separately, so you can see what a change would cost.
Finishes named
The specific door style, colour and material, not just “white gloss” or “shaker”.
Removal and making good
Who removes the old wardrobes, who disposes of them, and who makes good the plaster and paintwork afterwards.
If you are trying to work out whether a figure is reasonable in the first place, our fitted wardrobe cost guide explains what actually drives the price.
Who actually installs the furniture?
Ask whether the fitters are employed by the company or subcontracted, because it changes who is accountable if something goes wrong.
Fitted furniture lives or dies on the installation. Scribing units to walls that are not straight, dealing with skirting boards, and finishing neatly around sockets and radiators are all skills that vary enormously between fitters.
Where fitting is subcontracted, the company selling you the furniture may not control who turns up or how the job is finished. It is a fair question to ask, and a straight answer is a good sign. At WOW Wardrobes the installation is done by our own team.
Is it genuinely made to measure, or standard units with fillers?
Ask what happens to the gaps, because that is where the difference shows.
Some companies install standard-width carcasses and close the leftover space with filler panels. That is a legitimate and often cheaper approach, but it is not the same as furniture built to the room, and in an alcove or under a slope it wastes usable space.
| Question | What a made-to-measure answer sounds like |
|---|---|
| How do you handle an alcove that is not square? | Each unit is scribed to the wall on site. |
| What happens above the wardrobe? | The run is built to the ceiling, with an upper tier for storage. |
| Can you follow a sloping ceiling? | Yes, the units are made to the actual angle after measuring. |
| Will there be filler panels? | Minimal, and only where they are the sensible option. |
Both approaches have their place. If your room is a straightforward rectangle, modular wardrobes may be better value. If it has a chimney breast, a bay or a slope, bespoke fitted wardrobes will use the space properly.
What should the guarantee actually cover?
Check the length, what it covers, and whether it survives if the company stops trading.
A long guarantee is only worth what the company behind it is worth. Ask whether it covers the furniture only, or the installation as well, and whether moving parts such as sliding gear and soft-close hinges are included.
Ask for the guarantee terms in writing at quote stage rather than after installation. If a company is reluctant to put the terms in writing before you commit, treat that as an answer in itself.
What should you ask before signing?
Seven questions will tell you most of what you need to know.
1
Is the quote fixed, and what would change it?
2
Are your fitters employed or subcontracted?
3
How do you handle walls and floors that are out of true?
4
What exactly does the guarantee cover, in writing?
5
Who removes the old furniture and makes good afterwards?
6
What deposit is required, and when is the balance due?
7
How long from order to installation, and how many days on site?
How does WOW Wardrobes answer these?
We would rather you asked us these questions than not. The design visit, measuring, 3D CAD drawings and quotation are free with no obligation. Quotes are fixed and itemised in writing. Installation is by our own fitters. Everything is made to measure for your room, and the work carries a 10-year guarantee.
See examples of completed work in the gallery, compare styles on the wardrobes page, or book a free home design visit. You can also send us a message if you would rather ask a question first.
