Closet installation thru Home Depot

[KGL]

I was wondering if anyone has had any experience with this service (or other construction services) with Home Depot. After having estimates and designs drawn up from several different firms in the last several months, we've decided that the closets designed by Home Depot best fits our needs. We had just decided to go forth with this plan but have just learned that they are asking for payment in full, up front. This is a very unusual circumstance in our more than 30 years of home ownership and facilitating multiple projects in our home over the years.
The total for doing the 2 closets is quite costly and we feel we would have no recourse if there is a problem. The designer doesn't seem to be willing to negotiate, saying this is the policy.
So, has anyone had any experience with Home Depot, what is the quality of the work and reliability of the workers? Any problems? Any thoughts on going through with this, payment in full?
I have done several months of looking into closet design and we've actually torn the old closets out in preparation (yikes!) so I'm feeling quite ready to move forward but certainly don't want to make any foolish judgments here.
All thoughts are welcome. Thanks in advance.

[Chefzhat]

We're going through this process right now and to be honest I would be very cautious of a contractor that demands payment up front.

That said, I had HD quote us along with three other closet sources (one was California Closets). While HD had the lowest price, they also had the lowest quality product, and the worst reputation.

I went with a local provider called Closet Factory, and am eagerly waiting for the final installation. I was able to visit the factory and view my product fully installed prior to making my decision. I'm very pleased.

Debie

[blazedog]

This is odd as most contractors are required by law to only collect a certain percentage of the contract price.

However, is this for the cost of the actual components. I can understand why payment for the "parts" would be up front.

My understanding of HD is that you buy stuff and then have the option of using their contractors to install it -- "their" contractors not actually being employees of HD.

That said, HD is a major corporation so they are highly unlikely to leave you in the lurch and paying by CC provides significant protection if they fail to perform to your satisfaction as you file a dispute.

I am more familiar with the concept of using them for kitchens -- but again one buys the cabinets and then elects whether to have them installed through them as an option. Generally the consensus for HD is that you pay more but you have the theoretical peace of mind of knowing that a corporation stands behind the installation but it's cheaper if you know a reliable installer.

[Chefzhat]

Closet Factory link.

[Gumbeaux]

I was wondering if anyone has had any experience with this service (or other construction services) with Home Depot.

Home Depot teams up with local contractors in your area to do jobs like this and don't use their own employees. You would have to get input on how quality of theirwork they do from someone living near where you live.

Having said that, I used Home Depot to hang some exterior doors and they did a good job.

We had just decided to go forth with this plan but have just learned that they are asking for payment in full, up front. This is a very unusual circumstance in our more than 30 years of home ownership and facilitating multiple projects in our home over the years.

They have probably been "burned" many times from people backing out of a project after materials have already been special cut for the job. Prepayment is a work-around to this problem as well as a work-around to the problem of being perceived as sexist.

[Couperine]

We've used Home Depot installers for a few minor projects as well as replacing our countertops and carpets - all of the contractors that we've worked with have been just fine. I never really thought about partial payment through HD - they are a retailer, so they are going to want their payment up front.

I've just never had a problem post-installation, but I do assume they would have been fairly reliable about customer service after the sale. You always have your CC company to harass them if you pay by credit to take advantage of that option.

[stefania4]

My parents (in PS) had HD put in some exterior doors, and we (in GA) had HD replace some windows upstairs. Neither we nor my parents will use them for any other projects - both were near-impossible to schedule and both projects weren't done correctly the first time and required more near-impossible scheduling to be fixed.

[KGL]

I wanted to give my thanks to all of you who took the time to share your thoughts and your Home Depot experiences. They were very very helpful.

We spoke with someone at Home Depot who confirmed that paying in full, up front is Home Depot's policy but interestingly, the person who explained the policy indicated that she would have trouble with such a policy if she was doing the job. And we've told the Home Depot designer we're uncomfortable with the policy and needed a bit more time to decide.

In the meantime, based on Debie's recommendation (thanks Debie!), I contacted Closet Factory and have a designer coming this afternoon for a consult. I'll have to make a decision soon since the interiors of both closets have now been demolished (and one is my closet in the master bedroom).

Once again, thanks to all of you for your input. I'll let you know how it all turns out.

Karen

[Chefzhat]

Karen, I hope that you are happy with them. I'm thrilled with my closets and I can't wait for them to be installed. My designer was really cool and drew out the whole design for me on the spot, and provided a quote as well. Other closet companies came out and looked around but didn't provide a layout or quote until a few days later. I am hard-wired to want things "right now".

One of the options I went with was an ironing board that pulls out from a drawer. Isn't that cool???

Good luck. I'm in the same spot as you, all my clothes are hanging from temporary racks in the spare room. I'll be out of my closet for about 7 weeks. It's already been too long and it's only been 4 days!

[Romandub]

I have had closets done by both California Closets and the Closet Factory. Both did a great job, but there is one important difference you might want to consider. One of the systems is floor based (i.e. it actually sits on the floor, like a bookcase) and the other is wall-based (everything hangs from the wall.) I can't remember who does it which way, but the floor-based system makes it difficulte to store anything under your hanging clothes because it has the base of the system on the floor. I don't know if that makes any sense, but it really bugged me. I am sorry that I can't remember which company does which system, but be sure and ask. It's been about 10 years that I had the first installation done (floor system) and 5 years since I had it redone with a wall system (due to a remodel.)

You will love having organized closets!

[KGL]

Thanks to Debie's recommendation, a designer from The Closet Factory came by yesterday for a consultation. She listened carefully to our needs and then provided both thoughtful and thorough suggestions. She spent 2 1/2 hours with us and drew up beautiful plans which kept in mind our budgetary concerns. Although these 2 closets are not going to be cheap (they were the most expensive of the 4 consultations we had), they seem to fit our needs the best. Even the standard cabinet hardware she showed us was far better quality than what we had seen elsewhere.
It also looks like they will probably be able to squeeze us in to do the job on Wed. of this coming week! We're both very excited so please keep your fingers crossed.
So, once again, Debie thanks for the referral and thanks again to all of you for your insights and thoughts. After speaking with this designer, we also realized that the Home Depot designer had miscalculated the placement of the door which would have interfered with hanging clothes. We feel that we dodged a bullet by not going with Home Depot. They also more reasonably wanted 50% down and 50% when the installation is completed.
I'll let you all know how it turns out.
Debie, I hope your closet installation goes smoothly and that you're thrilled with the result.
Best wishes to all,
Karen

[Chefzhat]

I'm glad it worked out! Let me know how the install goes, you will beat me by a few weeks. I have to wait until flooring and painting projects are finished before I call in the closet people.

Take pictures!!!!

Debie

[KGL]

Well, I'm so happy to report that my new closets are installed and that they both are better than we could have imagined. Debie, thank you so much for the recommendation of Closet Factory. They have been just a pleasure to deal with, and the process took less than a week from the time of the first phone call to the completion of the installation. There was no pressure (as with Home Depot) and the designer even made some thoughtful suggestions as to how we might cut costs but still have the closets we wanted.

The installers arrived yesterday within the window of time promised and they were just great-polite, hard-working and intelligent. There were several problems with the closet design and the installers recognized the problems, brought them to my attention and offered solutions to correct them. The materials were of excellent quality and the construction was superb, and despite the few design errors, the closets really suit our needs extremely well. My husband and I could not be more pleased.

I would highly recommend this company and would call them again if I ever needed a closet done. Best of luck, Debie. I would be happy to learn how your closets turn out.

Karen

[Chefzhat]

How nice to hear that you had a great experience! Can you post a picture??

[KGL]

I don't presently have a digital camera to post pictures but if my daughter comes to visit this weekend, I'll ask her to bring her camera and we'll try to post some pictures.


I've been happily filling my new closets and it's a real delight to see how well they work. I know they're just closets but after many years (more than 27!) of having inadequate closet space, this is a real treat.

Debie, what day is your installation? Good luck!
Karen

[Chefzhat]

Mine won't install until the end of April. The designer was here again yesterday to take final measurements and complete the details. I'm getting a built in laundry basket, a pull out ironing board, two jewelry drawers, a hanging file drawer, a docking station, two valet rods, a belt rod, and tie rod.

I can't wait! Especially for the ironing board!!

[KGL]

So sorry but the pictures appear to be too big and can't be attached. If you send me your email address, I will try to attach the file to an email.
Karen