R SMITH
INTERIORS
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
HOW DO I ENGAGE YOUR SERVICES?
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Request a quote! This can be via email or 30-minute phone interview.
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Approve your Interior Design Quote provided via email shortly after your request.
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Sign an Interior Design Contract and fee schedule.
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Schedule on-site consultation, and your Design process begins!
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WHAT DO I NEED TO START THE DESIGN PROCESS?
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Inspiration images that showcase your design aesthetic and style preferences. Great inspiration resources are Houzz and Pinterest.
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Existing plans of your home – applicable for New Home Construction or Renovation projects.
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WHEN SHOULD I BE HIRING A DESIGNER?
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New Home Construction: 9 to 12 months prior to breaking ground.
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Residential Renovation: 3 to 6 months prior to demo day.
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Interior Design (per room): 3 to 6 months prior to preferred completion date.
You may be shocked to know you have to plan that far in advance, but the element of time is the most valuable asset to your project.
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WHAT IS A REALISTIC BUDGET?
Figuring out if you’re on track with a realistic budget will be identified during the quoting process. I always speak honestly (it's genetic) regarding how your proposed budget compares to what you hope to accomplish with your project. I will advise on how to best allocate your funds for maximum value and impact from my experience in construction, design and decoration. We can discuss ballpark estimates during the quoting process prior to starting your design. In the event that your numbers are unable to achieve your goals, I may advise you to hold off on your project until you are financially ready or suggest alternate approaches.
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HOW MUCH DO YOU CHARGE?
1. Flat Rate Fees: A fixed fee is established for every service task I offer, and is calculated by my hourly rate based off of the typical amount time spent on completing each task, presentation time, and estimated revision time that completes the service. Design packages that are a flat rate fee offer more of a guarantee that you as the client know exactly what your designer is providing you. For additional design services that are not included in the initial design package can always be added upon your request during project progress. If you are curious about my design fees for a specific room, please do not hesitate to ask! You can request a quote by filling out a small contact form here.
2. Hourly Fee: My current hourly rate is $100.00 per hour, billed in 15 minute increments. There are only two areas where I charge an hourly fee: On-site Consultations or Administration services (found under Step 4 in my Process). The hourly Consultation is only applicable for projects that happen in real time on site, such as art or paint consultations, and payment will be processed on site once the task is complete.
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FEE SCHEDULE?
Every client is provided with a Fee Schedule outlined in your Interior Design Contract once your flat rate fees have been established based on your scope of work. You will approve this fee schedule prior to commencing your project, so there are no hidden fees or invoices along the way. For a further breakdown of my four-step process, please visit the Process page.
Typical Fee Schedule Breakdown:
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Assessment – During your first on-site meeting, your first payment will be processed.
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Concept – After your design concept meeting, your second payment will be processed to proceed to the Execute phase.
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Execute – You are provided with your final design package, including all necessary details such as construction and millwork drawings, appliance and plumbing fixture selection, furniture and decoration. No payment is processed at this stage.
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Admin – A separate Design Quote will be provided for this service based off of the scale of your specific project, and will be approved by you prior to commencement. Administrative services including on-site visits during construction are billed based off of my hourly rate and billed in 15 minute increments. After administrative tasks are completed, you will be invoiced bi-weekly (often on the 1st and the 15th of every month).
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SHOULD I INVEST IN ADMIN SERVICES (STEP 4)?
Some projects do not require a designer to oversee installation, whereas others require it to be successful. Admin services are an asset to New Home Construction and Home Renovation projects, and are tailored to my clients who simply do not have the time or expertise to accomplish all the design tasks necessary for a completed project. My roll is to oversee key installation days (flooring install, cabinetry install, etc) and inspect progress on-site to ensure compliance with your design, and be available to you when (Murphy's Law) materials need to be re-selected on the fly and drawings/plans need to be revised without unnecessarily holding up your construction team.
For smaller scale projects such as interior design for specific rooms, my administrative roll includes tasks such as ordering furniture and accessories, scheduling deliveries and being on-site during installation day to bark orders and the delivery team and manage unforeseen circumstances like damaged goods.
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WHO HIRES THE GENERAL CONTRACTOR OR BUILDER?
You do! My design process is not dependent on the contractor or builder I'm working with and is completed prior to engaging in their services. The completed design provided to you can be used to base contractor or builder quotes as each business will receive the exact same amount of information, making the quoting process more streamlined and straightforward. Once you select your preferred contractor or builder, I communicate with them directly to provide them with your full design scheme and answer any initial questions they may have. If you invest in Admin services, I will be in close communication with your contractor or builder throughout the entire process.
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I am happy to make recommendations of businesses that I have enjoyed working with in the past.
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WILL WORKING WITH YOU BE ANYTHING LIKE THE SHOWS I WATCH ON HGTV?
Nope! The ‘designers’ you see on the majority of interior design television are actually television hosts. If you stick around to read the end credits, you’ll see over a dozen team members responsible for the actual finished design. Not to worry! Your experience will still be filled with witty banter and cliff-hanger-worthy excitement but the process will take longer than 60 minutes.