Hey, hey, hey!! It’s a new week, which means new tips and ID goodies. I have to tell you, though. Making sure we’re prepping for a great Christmas, a holiday birthday, and goals for the new year is a lot of work. But not to fret. I’ve set the proper expectations, I’ve created time to work and time to relax, and Christmas lights make me happy. So! Let’s get down to it.

This week, I want to talk about the Design Process and what happens after the Consultation is over. Going forward, I’m going to focus on independent interior designers and firms. What you have after the Consultation is what I call the agreement. It’s the first step in the process where it’s up to the client to keep the chains moving with your design. Here’s some tips on how to approach this part of the process.

The Follow-Up: After you’ve completed your consultation, your designer will have a follow-up pack provided to you. Most likely, it’ll be sent in the form of an email. This pack will consist of next steps for you, your contract (or letter of agreement), your invoice, and any other proprietary information that may be needed. Once your receive your pack email, read through it to make sure you have all the information. There may be dates you need to be mindful of, or key items that need to be returned. It’s step 1 in making sure all your ducks are in a row.

The Contract: The design contract, or letter of agreement, will be a part of your pack. It lists the details of the project, outlines how work will be completed, details what is expected of you as the client, and how payments will be processed. It also provides additional terms and conditions. Now, I know that in today’s world, it’s common practice to skim a contract and just sign on the dotted line. I’m not a lawyer, but here’s what I advise: read through the contract. Check the project details: is it what was discussed in the consult. How are you charged? How often do you need to submit payment, and how much time do you have to do it? Who’s responsible for construction? Reading through the contract before signing also allows you time to process the information and ask any follow-up questions you may have. It’s all about awareness and prevention. Being aware of the guides ahead of time helps prevent confusion and frustration later on.

Anticipated Scope: Once a consultation is complete, the designer will collect all the info gathered during the consult and send you an anticipated scope. They’ll list all the details discussed and provide you with a document to sign off on everything you want done. Any special notes are considerations are included and some bio info on you as the client may be attached as well. This portion can also be provided in the contract so let’s talk about that.

The Invoice: Well, this part is pretty self-explanatory, but I thought I’d go through it anyway. When working with a designer, an invoice for the work will be sent to you as part of your pack, either along with the contract or after your contract is signed. Depending on the service, you either be providing the full payment, a retainer fee, or a project deposit. You review your invoice, follow the instructions on how to pay the invoice, and then complete the transaction.

Once your designer has your contract signed and your invoice is paid, the real work begins. And that’s where the fun begins. So make sure you stay tuned and subscribe if you haven’t already, because the next step is dropping soon. Plus we’ve got other gems for you and new content coming for 2021. Chat with you soon!