True of False: When planning a renovation, the first step is to call a Contractor to get a price?
False!
Think about it; you’re asking for a price and you don’t know what you want yet. That makes no sense. Would you ask a travel agent how much you’ll be spending on your holiday when you have no idea where you want to go? No.
So, who do you call first? An Interior Designer, of course! Here’s why:
- Working out the space planning, finishes and fixtures involved in your project at the start allows you to create a renovation recipe to follow.
- Having this recipe allows you to get multiple prices and choose the best construction team for your project.
- When you have everything planned & selected ahead of time, you avoid costly delays and mistakes throughout the construction process.
- A Designer works for you. Their design solutions are based on what will work best for you, your needs, and your budget.
How do you select the right Interior Designer?
There are many criteria to consider when researching a potential Design team for your project. They are going to be your partner and guide you through the process, so you want to choose wisely based on these factors:
- Qualifications & Experience
- Design Style
- Personality
- Value (note that I did not say ‘price’)
With so many qualified designers in Vancouver, your greatest determining factor in who to work with is personality. You’re going to get pretty close with this person; telling them everything about the way you live, spending hours pouring over plans and finishes, and dealing with some fairly stressful situations so choose someone that you’re comfortable with and who has a communication style that aligns with your own.
Getting in Touch
Online searches are a great way to start but nothing beats a good ol’ fashioned phone call. If a Designer’s online presence looks professional, up to date and speaks to you, give them a call to talk about your project. Here’s what to think about:
The Home Owner (You) Wants to Know:
- Does the Designer work in your area?
- Do they have experience in this type of project?
- When would your project fit into their schedule?
- What is the process when working with them?
- How do they charge for their services?
- Are you getting a good vibe/feeling a good rapport with them over the phone?
The Interior Designer Wants to Know:
- What area of town are you in?
- What is the general scope of your project?
- Have you tackled a project like this before and/or have you worked with a Designer before?
- What is your time line?
- What is you budget?
- Are they getting a good vibe/feeling a good rapport with then over the phone?
At MãK, a big factor is whether or not the clients have a sense of humour. Why? Because 1) funny people are just fun to work with and 2) because renovations are stressful and a sense of humour means less sweating of the small bumps along the way (and there will be bumps!). If you get that warm fuzzy feeling (ie: you feel that this person can help you navigate the renovation waters), ask about meeting in person.
We always meet with potential clients for a free-of-charge half hour meet & greet. We do this for free because we want a chance to qualify our clients just as much as they want to qualify us. We don’t give design advice in this meeting, we just ask a lot of questions.
What does a Designer cost?
This is a question that has plagued humanity since the dawn of time.
Fees can vary widely depending on where you are in the province and what level of design you’re looking for. Do ask about fee structure and design process but don’t expect a quote over the phone because services are tailored to each project. Here are some ways that designer’s charge:
- Hourly rate (open ended)
- Hourly rate up to a set maximum fee
- Flat fee for a specific scope of work
- Percentage of project budget
You can expect to pay anywhere from $100 – $250 per hour and up for a senior level designer. Other designers or drafting technicians on staff may be billed out at lower rates ($75 – $100/hr). At MãK, we charge $125/hour and charge a flat fee based on the scope of work, with additional services billed by the hour.
Requesting a Proposal & Signing the Deal
Proposals take a lot of time and energy so only request proposals from those Designers that you’re serious about working with. If you don’t feel a good fit, move on. I do recommend collecting a few proposals (maximum of three) so that you can compare and gauge the price range and/or what’s included.
By this point, you’ve had a number of interactions with the Designer and their team. You should have a good understanding of their approach to this type of project, their communication style and you know the fees involved. The final decision rests on these factors and ultimately your gut – who is the best fit for you?
Next up …
The next installment in the series will focus on the design process and the steps a Designer takes to turn your goals into a renovation recipe for your construction team to price and execute.