Monday, May 18, 2015

How to start a project in Interior Design

MIDWAY through my basic course in interior design, a number of projects came in trickles and prospective clients made calls of queries about renovation of old living spaces. 
I turned down most of them and chose a select few I could handle well enough. Juggling interior design school and projects, I have learned one important lesson: Experience is the best teacher.
There are things that you wouldn't learn within the four walls of a classroom. Getting schooled means getting yourself out there and experience "life" for real. Take the client who demanded a site visit, for example. Three of us drove to her place for consultation and did an ocular inspection. We thought we have nailed it at the end of the day only to find out we all have ended up empty-handed the next day
Talk about expecting too much when a "verbal agreement" doesn't even mean a done deal. So  the first thing designers must do?  Lay down a CONTRACT and get the client to sign on. 
Trust me. A WRITTEN CONTRACT would save you from a lot of headaches later. Refuse to do a consultation work without a written contract or do an ocular visit at your cost when all the client does is talk. Reason is, when all seemed good, in the end, you will find out it is the other way around. So whip out that paper and have the client sign in. Otherwise, it is not a done deal.
In fact, we have spent a few hundred bucks for nothing. When the client was done "stealing" our concepts and figured she could do away with the designers’ fee, after getting some help from Internet resources, of course, it was then she decided she need us no more.
It was a real bummer. And I felt responsible. I brought that project to two of my friends. Well, there was nothing I can do but apologize. All efforts, gas and money went down the drain. Should have known better.
So here's a tip for budding interior designers: PUT ALL AGREEMENTS INTO WRITING. Whatever it is that you've agreed upon, fees and services, make sure you have a contract at hand. It will save you from a lot of headaches. Trust me.

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