The Most Common Mistake Homeowners Make on Construction Projects
As an interior designer, I feel it is my responsibility to help educate potential clients and homeowners interested in home projects on how an effective design + build process is executed and who the key industry professionals you need are. For a new construction or large home renovation, having the proper team in place to execute your project is essential. A core design + build team is composed of a builder/contractor, interior designer, the client (you!), and sometimes an architect (if a remodel warrants one or if your project is new construction). For any type of home renovation or new build, you will want to put your team together well in advance of when you want to start your project. Depending on the scope of the project you want to start the conversations a minimum of six months in advance. For larger new construction projects the planning and implementation can take years.
One of the biggest mistakes I see when clients are taking on a large home renovation or new construction project is that they try to cut costs by hiring an interior designer to design their project, but assume the designer doesn’t need to be on board during the implementation/project management phase of the project. It is common to think that the interior designer designs the project then passes it off to the builder to implement and be done. While this is true to a certain extent, there is a lot more that goes into it than just “passing it off” to the contractor. Depending on the interior designer you work with, they will create a full Construction Documentation Drawing Set that will include technical drawings, lighting plans, tile layouts, window and door scheduled, and all of the details needed to bring the design to life (sometimes architects already have this created ahead of when an interior designer is brought on board). And while that set of drawings includes all of the details, there are always questions or changes that need to be made on the fly throughout the course of the project. If your interior designer is not available to clarify design choices, answer questions, oversee designs getting implemented correctly, and assist in troubleshooting solutions, you will find yourself losing money to costly mistakes.
If you want your project to run smoothly, it is essential to have your contractor/builder and interior designer on the project from the beginning through the finish line. While the bulk of the work from an interior design standpoint is done on the front end, having your designer available and on-site during key points through the building stage is imperative to ensure the design elements are implemented accurately. A contractor/builder also appreciates having the designer on board to assist in project management tasks such as troubleshooting when issues arise, reselecting materials if something becomes out of stock or discontinued, and providing insight into design choices. Having a collaborative team of industry professionals in place is the key to a successful project and will save you money in the long run. It may not feel that way in the beginning when you are writing the checks, but I promise you will have peace of mind, avoid costly mistakes, and the project will ultimately run smoother and finish faster.
Every interior designer and builder or contractor’s process can vary, so make sure to ask who you are interested in hiring, what their process is like and what they need to execute your project smoothly.
