Hiring a Designer: Part 2

In part 2 of our Hiring a Designer series, we’re going to chat about how to find a designer who is a fit for you! When it comes to finding an interior designer, it’s really important you do your homework. Just like any other professional, you’re probably not going to just hire the first person who pops up on Google! And if you do, it’s because you’ve done your research on them. A designer should be a great fit for you in their style, their pricing and their personality!

Here are a few key steps to find the right designer for you:

Look at their website or online portfolio and make sure you like what you see.

Viewing a designer’s website is an absolute must! Even if you love following them on Instagram, take the time to actually go to their website and look at their portfolio images. If their portfolio doesn’t reflect some of your style goals, they’re probably not a fit for you. If you love what you see, that is a great sign! While you’re browsing their website, check out what services they offer, read about the designer or their team and familiarize yourself with their look and feel. You’ll probably be able to find some answers to questions you might have as well! If they have social media pages, take a look at those as well but keep in mind that the number of Instagram followers a designer has doesn’t reflect their success or skill and they might be sharing photos that aren’t from their portfolio but are from other designers.

Schedule a phone call with the designer!

A phone call is the best place to start when you’re ready to reach out to a designer. They’re going to be able to explain their services and processes so much better on the phone than going back and forth via email or messaging. This is also a great time to get a ‘gut feel’ for if they’ll be a personality match for you! It can kind of feel like a nerve-wracking first day; will I like you? Will you like me? A phone call gets those nerves out of the way! Hopefully, you’ll end the conversation feeling like the designer is a good fit but if not, you’ll know to move on and not waste anyone’s time going forward. It’s okay if this happens! This is business and if you don’t get a good ‘vibe’ from a conversation with a designer, thank them for their time and move on.

During your phone call, ask questions and share details about your project! The more information you can give a designer, the better they can help you. If everything feels good, ask the what the next steps are moving forward.

Talk about money.

Ah, the dreaded money talk! Some people approach it fearlessly, other’s dread it. Regardless of which boat you’re in, investment and pricing must be discussed upfront. You need to have a budget in mind when interviewing designers. Please don’t throw out random numbers that sound good; be prepared and have a budget ready to share. It doesn’t have to be a hard number down to the penny but a defined range you’d like to work in is necessary. Not all designers work with the same budgets and they’ll be able to steer you in the right direction up front when you share your budget with them. Again, honesty upfront saves everyone time and energy! Have the designer walk you through their pricing and why they charge what they do. Take notes! Hopefully the designer can send you a Welcome Packet with the information for you to read as well. We have an Investment Guide that we send to any potential client who reaches out to us and it walks them through all of our pricing, services and processes. If your budget isn’t quite a fit for a designer, don’t take it personally. They’re business owners and professionals too and have pricing set for a reason. Many designers will be able to refer you to someone who might be a better fit for your budget!

Get reviews from previous clients.

During your conversation with a designer, ask if they have a previous client that you can call or reach out to for a referral. It’s always comforting to hear another person sing someone’s praises before you hire them! You might be able to find client testimonies on a designer’s website too and those are great resources as are online reviews on Google, Houzz or Facebook.

Meet in person!

So you’ve reached out to a designer, talked with them on the phone and you’re feeling really good about what you’ve discussed. It’s time to meet in person! Designers all have their own process and their first in-person meeting might be an initial consultation in their office, a get to know each other meet-and-greet over coffee or an in-home consultation where they come to you! Some do this for free, some charge for it. Again, keep in mind that designers are professionals and their time is valuable. They’re offering a service to you just like any other service-based business owner! You don’t go to your hair dresser for two hours and expect it to be free, right? Have an open mind when it comes to a designer’s process structure.

All these steps are a must when you’re searching for an interior designer! This designer is someone you’re investing in and trusting with your home. Do your research and don’t rush the process! You’ll know in your gut when a designer is a fit for you.

Found your dream designer? Great! Next up in our Hiring a Designer series, we’re going to talk about some steps you can take to make your partnership with a designer as positive and enjoyable as possible.