how to manage design fees
Designing a home comes with a fair amount of stress.
Unfortunately, DIY shows have brainwashed you into thinking that it is a process that just goes by in a snap and all your dreams are fulfilled.
Sorry to be the Debbie Downer, but that’s not reality.
All too often I see the happy occasion of designing your dream home morph into a point of contention and constant disagreements between couples.
I sometimes joke that my job description includes couples counselling and design.
So why does this happen?
There has been little to no discussion about the project priorities between all involved. It’s much easier to bask in the glow of something new on the horizon than to face the weighty decisions paired with the financial implication of taking on a project.
This is the moment tensions rise.
If you haven’t made ample time to discuss and absorb the full scope of what you are taking, you will likely spin your wheels during the design process. This causes you stress and frustration because the project isn’t going anywhere. Plus, you will rack up significant hours with your designer looking at all the options that come to mind since you have no clear idea of what you both want.
Don’t get me wrong, I love helping clients see various ways to solve any design problem (actually something designers thrive on). Still, I know you want to see tangible progress on your project and stay within budget. So, to keep your stress to a minimum, I suggest you look at these areas before engaging a designer.
Define your top priorities
The Lifestyle Home Design Process asks each partner (or decision maker) to make a list of their top three priorities.
Often I find one person more engaged in the design process than the other. Still, by asking for this from all involved, I am making sure everyone has a voice, and I am inviting them into the process. This step opens up discussion about what I, as a designer, see as areas we need further discussion on.
Be honest and realistic
This one is always a doozie.
I recognize that building a home is a very vulnerable process for you, and I’ve met a few people who are comfortable talking about what they want with extreme clarity. There is a notion that if you divulge your actual budget to a designer or builder, they will take advantage of you.
This simply isn’t the case.
By having a realistic baseline budget established I know where we are heading overall and can be a check and balance for your end goal.
Here is the question I ask clients…
Is your home size reflective of your baseline budget?
Here’s how we figure this out. CAVEAT - These numbers constantly fluctuate and depend significantly on the level of finishes you choose. Use $300-400/square foot (which includes a land cost of approximately $250,000). You can get a rough baseline number and a relative square footage number that could work.
For example - you want a 2500-square foot home, you will need a baseline budget between $750,000 and $1M for the project.
It can sometimes be shocking when you first see a number like this, but that is the reality I want you to have to go into working with me. I can’t magically make a larger home without cost implications or sacrificing features elsewhere.
I’m sharing this with you in the hope that this will help you understand how to manage your project design fees and give you ways to prepare yourself going in.
Until next time,