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| Typical costs: | - Expanding an existing closet by moving walls and adding new lighting and other features takes about 15 hours and $1,000 worth of supplies; hiring someone to do the work adds another $1,700, for a total cost around $2,700, according to DIYNet.com.
- Building a 9x9-foot walk-in closet (with three new walls) or a 26x3-foot reach-in closet (two new walls, front and side) in an existing room runs about $4,000 -$6,500 or more, depending on the choice of lighting, doors and built-in storage, as well as ventilation requirements for a walk-in.
- If the existing room configuration allows a closet to be installed without new side walls, the cost for a simple reach-in closet (with no lighting) drops to $1,000 -$3,000, depending on the style and number of doors and other features.
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| What should be included: | - The addition of even a simple closet must meet code (especially any electrical wiring and lighting) and often requires a building permit; check with your local planning department. In some municipalities, a room must have a closet to be considered a bedroom. Some developers create an office or den room without a closet to avoid extra building fees; check with the local planning department to see if you might have to pay extra when adding a closet to a room that doesn't have one. Not getting the proper permits could cause problems when it's time to sell the house.
- Generally a walk-in closet is a minimum of six feet by six feet, and walk-in closets often need both lighting and a fan for ventilation. AskTheBuilder.com provides basic plans and material lists for a simple corner reach-in or a standard walk-in closet, while RDLiving.com gives detailed how-to directions for building a walk-in closet. And Better Homes & Gardens provides a calculator for estimating the amount of space you'll need for the clothing you want to hang.
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| Additional costs: | - Adding a standard prefab closet-organizing system starts around $100 -$400 for basic storage modules (drawers, shelving, shoe storage, etc.), and can run $300 -$3,000 or more for a customized system, depending on the style and type of components selected.
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| Shopping for building a closet: | |
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Article updated November 2007 |
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