Asking the right questions can make or break the flow and outcome of a project, in any profession.
This month, I would like to address some of those questions and encourage you to organize your thoughts and stimulate ideas behind the questions you should keep in mind when taking the step to hire a professional for your interior or exterior upgrade.
The first things a Designer wants to know:
- Has the potential client ever worked with a Designer before?
- This will tell us if they are familiar with the design and construction processes, terms, pricing, timing, etc.
- What would you like to invest in your home? There is ALWAYS a number.
- The timeframe. Are there any deadlines you need to meet for your project?
- Have you been in the marketplace and looked at materials and prices?
- Have you collected ideas? It helps if you have done some homework. Designers will quickly understand what style you are comfortable with.
PHOTO BY STIL ON UNSPLASH
X
Things you will want to consider and ask:
Many designers specialize and have their own aesthetic so you will want to figure out what your design style is first or, at least what you tend to gravitate towards. Look at shelter magazines or online design sites and collect ideas. Then, take a look at their portfolio and see if their style is compatible with yours.
When creating your budget, ask and factor in the Designer’s fee upfront, and ask how the fees work. Designers have multiple ways of charging fees for a project depending on size and scope. One design fee does not fit all projects so ask what would be best for your project.
Before you get bids, decide on what pieces you will be keeping, replacing and/or refurbishing. This is where your materials and furnishings’ budget begins to take shape and where your research is most helpful. The information you gather will also help you make those decisions. Once you factor those things in, you should get a complete estimate. If your designer is already onboard, they can help you create a tight budget.
Again, ask them to put in writing exactly what you are getting for their services. Every designer should have a contract that details exactly what the project scope entails and the services that designer will provide. Some designers are full-service and others offer limited services.
It is not unusual to be confused about how to compare designer pricing. Designers are not ‘apples to apples’ pricing. The wide range of services a designer provides can be difficult to quantify and shouldn’t be expected to be priced as a “commodity.” You are purchasing not only their years of expertise and experience but their unique style and vision. No two are identical.
Here is a short list of what may or not be included.
PHOTO BY SARAH DORWEILER ON UNSPLASH
Don’t do business without a contract.
It is in no one’s best interest and, a contract will alleviate potential misunderstandings.
Ask for referrals and read the testimonials on their website.
If you have construction, know that there are always variables that are unforeseen. No one knows what is behind a wall until it is opened up. There could be leaky pipes, HVAC that must be re-routed. So it is a good idea to have an additional 15% on top of the budget for potential variables.
What is the timeframe?
Tight deadlines require more people on the project and this affects all aspects of the job. From purchasing to the production of custom pieces. You may need to break up the project and this is when that decision and the advice of an expert is advantageous. You can do the project in phases because there may be a lot of construction or there are budget constraints. Talk to your designer up front to a create a strategy.
