Can Custom Closets Raise the Total Property Value of a Home?

Mike Beard • Jan 11, 2021

Of all the upgrades you can make to add value to your home, custom closets may not be at the top of your list. In fact, between kitchens, bathrooms and appliances, closets may not make your home improvement checklist at all.

Although they may not be readily apparent, there are some big reasons why custom closets can raise the total property value of your home:

Make your home appear larger
Help your home stand out
Improve the coveted master bedroom
Add function to older homes
Save you time and money

The best part about a custom closet? It can deliver big benefits that extend to your entire home, at a fraction of the cost of other upgrades. Keep reading to find out exactly how a custom closet system can raise the total property value of your home.

Make Your Home Appear Larger

HGTV explains that an “overstuffed” closet is a major turn off to potential buyers. When homebuyers see your items spilling out into hallways and other rooms, it sends the signal to them that your house doesn’t offer adequate storage space or square footage. A disorganized closet prevents visitors from being able to see their items fitting comfortably in the space. With how much Americans love their consumer goods, clothing and accessories today, a home without the space to store these precious items is often a deal breaker.

However, a well-designed custom closet, with space-saving solutions, makes the rest of your home appear larger and more functional. Even if a home does not offer the square footage of a neighboring house, its tidiness conveys a sense of space that an overstuffed home does not. Particularly with so many individuals spending more time than ever at home working remotely today, an organized, functional space is more important than ever.

Help Your Home Stand Out From Others on the Block

Lots of houses feature numerous bedrooms, spacious patios, luxurious kitchens and decked-out master bathrooms, but fewer feature the appeal of a stunning custom closet. In fact, Homes.com notes that a large custom closet can sometimes increase the value of a home more than an additional bedroom. Sure, when adding an extra bedroom to a two- or three-bedroom home, you can expect a big bump in your home value. However, going from a four-bedroom to a five-bedroom house may not yield as large a home value increase. On a home listing, a five-bedroom home likely will not jump off the page as much as a home with a breathtaking walk-in master closet.

Particularly with the smaller family sizes seen today, homes with more than four bedrooms are just not in the high demand they once were. If you have the space to spare, an impressive walk-in closet may be a smart investment that translates to more interest. If you find yourself in a buyer’s market, extra interest due to listing photos of an eye-grabbing closet may be the difference between a home that gets multiple offers and one that sits unsold for months and months.

Make Your Master Bedroom More Desirable to Potential Buyers

While the master bedroom is a key space that adds property value and buyer interest, the master closet is the unsung workhorse of the space. HGTV explains that the responsibility to keep the master suit clean, organized and functional lies with the master closet, making it an integral, if sometimes overlooked, space.

With more space comes more design options. Master bedroom closets typically offer the most square footage of any home closet for buyers, so they have the potential to shift a home on the market from a “maybe” to a “must-have.” Popular features being incorporated in luxurious master closets today include custom drawers, colors and finishes that tie the space into the rest of the home and a variety of clever storage solutions, such as slide-out drawers, hampers and ironing boards.

Add Function to the Charm of Older Homes

In general, older homes are more likely to feature small reach-in closets that don’t suit the modern homeowner. Realtor.com explains that because homeowners generally didn’t have as many possessions a few generations ago, there was simply no need for big closet spaces. In fact, earlier homes didn’t even have closets. Homeowners instead opted to use trunks, armoires and dressers to hold their clothes and accessories. Unfortunately, a home with smaller closets immediately sends the signal that your home does not have the layout and features that will satisfy the needs of families today. However, you can address this home dilemma.

Although newer homes generally feature more generous closets, you’re not necessarily stuck with costly home renovations when you convert a bedroom into a closet. A custom closet system, whether it’s located in your master bedroom or the foyer, will help you maximize limited space without major structural changes that could involve updating the floor plan. The key is to implement space-maximizing options that take advantage of every usable inch. For example, small closet spaces should make use of all the available vertical and wall space when square footage is limited.

Save Time and Money

According to a recent blog post from the National Association of Productivity & Organizing (NAPO), Americans spend an average of a year of their lives searching for lost items in the home. While time lost searching for missing items may not directly translate to your home’s value, it certainly impacts your wallet. In addition to the maxim “time is money,” you will undoubtedly spend unnecessary money on lost items that you just couldn’t locate. Furthermore, not having items stored in a neat, organized closet impacts your ability to quickly locate them, which could pose a serious risk in the event of an emergency.

Although disorganized closets may not be readily apparent to homebuyers or noted on your appraisal, they can certainly hurt your home’s value. Individuals who are house shopping want to see a home that offers efficiency for their everyday routines. They also want to know that their prized possessions will be kept safe and stored correctly. Highly organized custom closets show homebuyers that they’ll be able to seamlessly step into an efficient routine if they purchase your house. Particularly for those with a fast-paced, on-the-go lifestyle, your home’s functionality offers a major selling point.

Conclusion

In addition to the concrete benefits of well-organized custom closets, such as all the stunning hardware, cabinetry and design options, they also offer some big intangible benefits that should be taken into account. If you’re considering putting your home on the market, you can’t overestimate the importance of highlighting the efficiency and comforting calm potential buyers will see when they’re browsing photos of a well-organized home.

Remember, you want to make it as effortless as possible for potential buyers to see themselves living in your home. A custom closet’s benefits aren’t limited to these largely hidden spaces. As the hidden hero of home organization, your closets help the rest of your house shine by letting each room function as intended, without any unnecessary clutter.