Custom closet questions for Tega Cay.

Price follows from three things: how the cabinets are laid out, which products are chosen and how much installation is involved. Request that extras and room preparation appear as their own lines, so you can see what each one adds.

List what the central drawers would hold, check the aisle on every side, note any sloped ceiling and decide whether the top is for folding, laying out outfits or display.

Photograph the opening with the doors moved fully aside, compare drawer widths with the clear opening, note any tracks and say who shares the closet.

Photograph the garage as it is used, with the car and golf cart parked, mark the space beside open doors and compare cabinet depth with the lane left over.

Measure the largest platters and cases, check how items come out, note signs of damp and keep daily food within easy reach.

Include the chair and window in the photographs, mark the route behind the desk and note where sunlight reaches the screen.

Mark the appliance and cabinet doors, photograph the towels and shoes that arrive through the room and note visible plumbing.

Two finishes can look alike on a sample board and still be built differently. Get the core material, the surface layer, the edge treatment and the hinges and runners in writing, then hold them up against the sample in your hand.

Tell the provider what has to come out, what stays put and how someone carrying panels gets to the room, including any stairs from the driveway. In a garage, mention where the vehicles and the cart usually sit. Then ask which preparation jobs, and which outside trades, the quote takes care of.

Once the products are chosen, ask for the manufacturer's care notes for those exact items. Surfaces that look the same may need different cleaning, and a gallery picture cannot tell you which product it shows.