Interior disaster

How do I backround check a designer??

January 02, 2009

Susy Renoz responds...

You may find the following segments of Alicia Beach of Ecoteriors on Ottawa Daytime news show where she discusses useful info on what you need to know about hiring a designer:

http://www.homeinteriorguide.com/videos/working-with-a-professional

http://www.homeinteriorguide.com/videos/working-with-a-professional-part-2

http://www.homeinteriorguide.com/videos/working-with-a-professional-part-3

http://www.homeinteriorguide.com/videos/working-with-a-professional-part-4

Susy Renoz responds...

More information from this Money Sense article from 2006:

"Decorators are unaccredited and can be anyone from salespeople at furniture stores to someone who simply figures that he or she has a flair for color and design. Registered interior designers, in contrast, have graduated from an accredited program at a community college, worked in the design field for four years, and passed an exam.

… Before beginning, you should nail down how the designer will be paid. Designers can charge by the hour, the job or by a percentage of overall costs. Many designers use a “cost plus” system, meaning the designer buys materials, furnishings and even services such as carpentry and electrical work at cost and sells them to you at a markup — often about 30%. Don’t be afraid to suggest a different fee arrangement. …put a cap on what you want to spend in total for furnishings, materials and services. …" Get both the fee arrangement and spending cap in writing. … What happens if halfway through the project you decide things aren’t working out? Have a full and frank discussion with the designer. If he or she can remedy the problem, great. If not, fire them."

link to full article: http://www.canadianbusiness.com/my_money/spending/home/article.jsp?content=20060103_111157_5252

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