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Tuesday, June 14th, 2016
. Hooker Furniture Living Room Imperial Regal 3-Piece Stationary Sectional is the anchor to the rest of the design elements.
Building or remodeling a home is a huge emotional and financial investment. This project will also require a lot of your time especially when you want to be closely involved with the decision-making process. Setting your expectations prior to the beginning of the project will make you better prepared. Here are the 10 questions that you should ask your design contractor during his interview –
What Is the Project Schedule?
Setting the project start and end dates is not enough. The schedule is actually an outline that will give you a bird’s eye view of the sequences, tasks, timing and the deadlines. This is the benchmark so you’ll know when things are not keeping up with the deadlines.
Who Are Going to Work on the Project?
Depending on the structure of the interior design company, the answer to this could vary. Remodelers often make use of the lead carpenter system where the superintendent leads the day-to-day work. This is also known as a staff member since he works physically, too.
Ask who among the team members will be opening and locking up. Ask also who will be the contractors’ supervisor.
How Will You Keep the Property Safe?
This is a question that you need to ask before anything is demolished. Answering this will also assure you which parts of your home will be cordoned off. You also need to know how you will move about in your home.
Another issue that needs to be addressed is how all the stuff such as furniture, books, vases, drapes, and others could be removed from the construction area. You wouldn’t want any of them to collect dust or, worse, be damaged when the construction starts.
How and How Often Will We Communicate?
Set the mode of communication for the entire team. Would you need to call every day or would e-mails suffice? There are contractors that like to communicate on a weekly basis but are you amenable to that?
Which Part of the Project Is Problematic to You?
The contractor will always have something to say that will oppose what you planned. It is best to talk about the elephant in the room so that change orders won’t take place in the middle of the project.
Ask him what worst case scenarios he was able to bail out of in the past.
What Happens Should a Change Order Take Place?
Document change orders in writing. Remember that these have a way of catching up in financial terms and having paper trail is the best rebuttal to the contractor’s question on number of hours added, etc.
When Will You Need Me to Make Decisions?
Ask for an organized list of the things that you need to make a decision on. The list should give you a concise direction of what and when a decision is required from you.
Can I Call You After Hours?
It is important to know how you will get in touch with your contractor during emergencies. Exchange your numbers with the contractor’s landline, cell phone and work phone. Make sure that getting in touch with him won’t be a crisis.
When Will the Additional Meetings Be Held?
Even when there are weekly meetings, there could still be additional meetings where you would be required to attend. Installation of electricity, setting of tiles, is such activities that require your presence.
What Documents Will Be Given to Me After the Project Is Finished?
There are interior design projects that may require some kind of paperwork apart from the contract. This is especially true when you have to tear down walls or build new ones in your home. Documents also include the list of subcontractors, their contact details, etc.
The Winners Only Bedroom Slat King Bed BCQ1002K, the nightstand, the drawers, even the carpet all blend to create this harmonious bedroom.
Tags: design contractor, hiring interior designer, interior design contractor, interior design team, interior designer, interior designer interview, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, searching for interior designer
Posted in Interior Design 101, The Interior Designer | No Comments »
Monday, June 13th, 2016
This sample dining room set up by Hooker Furniture blends wood, metal and other materials beautifully.
Have you ever thought of renovation or the creation of a home as an exciting journey? Well, it should be an electrifying experience but in reality, most would-be homeowners dread having to take on such a huge project. Creating home from scratch – if done correctly – can help you discover who you are, what you actually want, and what environment you would like to live in. This is, essentially, your shot at defining your relationship to your family, your community and more so yourself.
So, are you ready to get down on your knees and begin this journey?
Every Journey Has a Plan
Just like any other journey, you must begin it with some planning and research. You would want to know what the end result would be and, of course, how much it is going to cost you. Don’t even begin to think that you’ll be able to finish this project alone because no has. A helping hand is not just a welcome idea but a needful aspect throughout the course of your building your home.
Planning requires goal setting. As a would-be homeowner or someone who wants a totally new look for his home, you must have goals. Effective goals are comprised of both functional and decorative elements. Each is crucial and must be recognized.
Make two plans for your project – Plans A and B. Should Plan A fail to make sense, then there’s always your backup plan.
The Cynthia Rowley 7064-011CR Windsor Tight Seat Sofa sits comfortably in a sea of like and complementary hues. The pop of color, now and then, is a fresh sight to behold.
Ask the Right Questions
Whoever thought that creating or designing home from scratch requires a series of questions? First, you need to know what you would want to achieve. This can be summed up in a theme for most people. Knowing your ultimate choice between contemporary and traditional makes a huge difference in the elements that will be bought and brought in.
It is also important to ask where you would want to be. This is that end result that you have been asked to envision. The layout should help give you a mental picture of what your home would look like when finished.
It is also vital to know the cost of the entire project. This is a good way to prevent scenes where you’d end up being cranky because the project turned out to be thousands of dollars costlier. Being realistic would help you plan a budget that works, else, you would be left to the mercy of unscrupulous individuals.
Make good use of an Excel sheet where you could have a bird’s eye view of what has been spent so far and where the cost is going.
Round Up Your Team
Remember, this is your project. Gather professionals who have proven their worth in terms of interior design. Just like a lawyer shouldn’t represent himself in court, then so should you take experts who will take on your project.
The team leader is you and your right hand should be the lead interior designer. This expert will be your guide, advocate, therapist and counselor throughout the project. It pays to find the best team from the onset. The right guide also ensures that the journey that you have embarked upon will be an enjoyable one.
You might also add some team members now and then. There are specialists among these experts (e.g. a kitchen and bath designer) that will be better able to help you. Every extra member will cost you more but it is an added guarantee on the success of the interior design project. Once you gather these experts and they are willing to help you out then, rest assured, that you will have a smooth-sailing journey ahead.
Tags: finding an interior designer, hiring an interior designer, hiring interior designer, home renovation projects, home renovation tips, how to hire an interior designer, interior designer interview, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, redecorating, redesign, remodel, remodeling, remodeling a home, remodeling your home, remodeling your house, renovation and remodeling, renovation guidelines, renovation project, renovation tips
Posted in Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements, The Interior Designer | No Comments »
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