An Interior designer does not come cheap. Making a mistake when hiring one could both cost you money and leave your house in shambles.
If the person you hire does an awful job, then you’ll either have to fix it yourself or hire someone else to do it. Not many people can afford to do that. So you have to be very careful when vetting designers.
Not all of them will be up to scratch, even if they sound like they know what they’re talking about. Let’s take a look at a few questions you should ask when hiring an interior designer.
What Kind of Projects Are You Familiar with?
You first need to assess what kind of interior designer you are working with. Some of them have a specific style and prefer working on a specific type of home.
Someone who is more used to working on contemporary homes, for instance, may have trouble working on a period home or a country house. You also have designers that are more accessible and others that focus more on luxury properties.
If you are looking for someone to work on an upscale property or you want to give your home a luxury upgrade, then you have to go with a luxury home designer. If you’re looking for an example of a great one, you can check out this luxury interior designer’s website.
Do You Have any Certifiable Expertise?
You should know that there are no statutory requirements for anyone to call themselves an interior designer in the UK. But a good interior designer will usually have a background in a particular discipline, and it would be wise to ask any of the people you’re thinking of working with if they have any.
If someone has a diploma in creative techniques, a certification in designs and craft, or a diploma in professional interior design, then these are all great signs. You also have people who have architectural backgrounds in interior design. While they will often charge more than the average, they could be a better option. Especially if your house has a unique configuration.
You should also check if the designer in question has received any accolades and if they’re members of a professional organization. You should look for things like SBID accreditation. And check if they’ve ever been nominated or won a UK property award. If they have both, then there’s a strong chance that you’ll be satisfied by their work.
How Will Payment Work?
Next, you have to ask about payment terms. This will be very important as it will give you an idea of whether you can trust the person.
Most designers will ask for an amount up front and you can either pay the rest when the job is done or every time they reach a predetermined milestone. These milestones will be up to you and the designer. But you should never pay them more than 30% upfront or you run the risk of never seeing them or your money again.
All of these questions should give you a clear idea of the type of interior designer you’re dealing with. We suggest that you speak with a few today and start comparing what they have to offer until you find the perfect match for you.