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Quick Answer
The most useful questions cover materials and construction, the actual designer and installer, timelines, what the quote does and does not include, guarantee terms, and what happens if something goes wrong. Answers that are vague, defensive, or heavily qualified are more telling than the specific words used.
Fitted wardrobes are a significant investment. A typical London installation costs between four thousand and twelve thousand pounds, sits in the home for two to five decades, and cannot easily be replaced if it disappoints. The decision deserves proper questioning rather than reliance on brochures, showrooms, or trust in a designer’s manner.
Most homeowners commissioning fitted furniture for the first time do not know what to ask. Questions about hinges and edge banding sound too technical. Questions about price feel awkward. Questions about what could go wrong feel adversarial. So the conversation stays on aesthetics and finish samples, and the practical questions that would separate a well built installation from a poorly built one never get raised.
This guide covers the questions that actually matter, why each one matters, and what the answers should sound like from a company you would want to commission.
Questions About Materials and Construction
What materials will the carcasses be made from?
The answer should specify the material by name. Common answers include MDF, moisture resistant MDF, plywood, or solid timber. Each has different properties. What you want to hear is a specific answer, not a generic reassurance about quality.
How are the carcasses joined?
Cam and dowel joints suit flat pack construction. Screwed and glued construction produces significantly stronger joints that hold up under decades of use. A quality fitted wardrobe should use screwed and glued construction with mechanical fixings.
What hinges and runners will be used?
Named brands like Blum or Hettich indicate serious specification. Unnamed generic hardware suggests corners being cut. Hinges should be soft close. Drawer runners should be full extension where drawers are specified.
What material will the doors be made from?
Painted doors are usually MDF because MDF takes paint well and does not move seasonally. Wood grain doors should specify the wood species. Doors described only as wood or veneer without further detail deserve follow up questions.
Questions About Who Does the Work
Who designs the wardrobe?
The designer visiting your home should be the person who designs the wardrobe. Companies that separate the sales visit from the actual design work introduce translation errors between what you said and what gets built.
Who builds the wardrobe?
Fitted wardrobes can be built in a workshop and installed on site, or built entirely on site. Both approaches produce good results when done well. The important question is whether the same company that quoted you actually does the work, or subcontracts to third parties.
Who installs the wardrobe?
Installation quality matters enormously. Poor installation can undermine even well built furniture. The installers should be either employees of the company or a small consistent team the company uses regularly. Rotating anonymous subcontractors indicate a company optimising for cost rather than quality.
How much experience does your team have?
Experience matters in this trade. The problems that fitted wardrobes present are learned through years of solving them. A company with 15 years of experience will have encountered and solved problems that a newer company has not yet seen.
Questions About What the Quote Covers
What is included in the price?
The quote should specify design, materials, construction, delivery, installation, waste removal, and any decorative work. Ask specifically whether painting, staining, or handles are included. These are common exclusions that add cost later.
What is not included?
Sometimes electrical work for wardrobe lighting is excluded. Sometimes making good the surrounding walls is excluded. Sometimes site preparation is excluded. Get the exclusions in writing before signing.
Are there payment stages?
Fitted furniture typically involves a deposit at commissioning, a stage payment when materials are ordered or work begins, and a final payment on completion. Understand the payment schedule before starting.
What happens if I want to change something during the project?
Changes during a project add cost. Understand how change requests are priced before you commit, so a small change does not become an unexpected expense.
Questions About Timeline
How long from order to installation?
Six to twelve weeks is typical for a bespoke fitted wardrobe. Companies quoting significantly shorter timelines may be using less individualised construction. Companies quoting significantly longer timelines should explain why.
How long will installation take?
A single bedroom wardrobe typically installs in one to three days. A larger installation may take a week or more. Understanding the disruption to your home helps you plan.
What happens if the installation runs over?
Occasionally installations take longer than expected. Ask how the company handles this. Reasonable answers include a defined completion approach and no additional cost for reasonable overruns.
Questions About Guarantees and Support
What guarantee do you offer?
Guarantees vary from one year to fifteen years or more. Read what the guarantee actually covers. Guarantees that cover only the frame, or exclude common failure points like hinges and runners, offer less protection than they appear to.
Will you still be here in five years?
Companies with 15 or more years of trading are likely to still be trading in another 15. Companies that have started recently or changed name several times offer less certainty.
What happens if something needs adjustment after installation?
Doors sometimes need small adjustments as the wardrobe settles. Drawers occasionally need realignment. Ask specifically how post installation adjustments are handled and whether they are chargeable.
What if I have a complaint?
Ask how the company handles complaints. A company confident in its work should be comfortable discussing this. A company uncomfortable with the question may not handle complaints well when they arise.
Questions About Their Work
Can you show me a completed installation in a home similar to mine?
Photographs help. Visiting a completed installation helps more. Reputable companies typically have clients willing to show their finished work.
Can I speak to a recent client?
Ask for references. Recent references indicate current work quality. References from years ago indicate historical work quality.
How many installations did you complete last month?
This helps you gauge the scale of the operation. Very small operations may struggle with capacity. Very large operations may treat your project as one of many.
Questions About the Process
What happens at the design consultation?
Understand what to expect. A quality design visit measures the room accurately, discusses your storage requirements in detail, considers your existing decor, and produces a design that responds to what you have said.
Do I need to prepare the room before installation?
Usually the room needs to be cleared of furniture and any obstructions. Ask specifically what is required and whether the company handles any preparation.
What happens to the mess?
Installation generates dust and offcuts. Ask how this is managed during and after installation. Good companies use dust extraction and clean up thoroughly.
FAQs
How much should I expect to pay for fitted wardrobes in London?
A quality bespoke fitted wardrobe in a standard London bedroom typically costs £4,000 to £8,000. Larger installations or more complex specifications can reach £12,000 or more. Prices below £3,000 for a full wardrobe usually indicate lower quality construction or materials.
How many quotes should I get?
Two or three quotes gives you enough comparison without becoming overwhelming. Ensure each quote covers the same specification so you are comparing like for like. Quotes for different specifications produce different prices that are not meaningfully comparable.
Should I choose the cheapest quote?
The cheapest quote is rarely the best value across the wardrobe’s lifetime. Consider the materials specified, the construction methods, the guarantee, and the company’s likely longevity before making a decision on price alone.
What should raise red flags during a design consultation?
Pressure to sign immediately, reluctance to itemise the quote, vague answers to specific questions, refusal to provide references, and quotes that seem too good to be true all warrant caution. Reputable companies are comfortable with detailed questions.
What Humphries Cabinets Offers
We design and install fitted furniture across London and welcome detailed questions before, during, and after any project. Our services include:
• Bespoke Fitted Wardrobes designed and built to specific requirements
• Wardrobe Interiors configured for actual storage needs
• Built In Cupboards for bedrooms, living rooms, and utility spaces
• Built In Shelves and bookcases
• Media Units and TV Cabinets for living rooms
• Home Office Desks and workspace furniture
Every project starts with a free design visit where you can ask any question about our approach, materials, timelines, and process.
Why Choose Humphries Cabinets
At Humphries Cabinets, we have been building fitted furniture across London for over 15 years. Our 15 year guarantee reflects our confidence in the work, and we are happy to answer any question about how we build, what we use, and how we handle problems if they arise.
If you are planning fitted furniture for your London home and want to discuss any of the questions in this guide, contact us today to arrange your free consultation.
