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michigandesign.com
How do you help your clients prioritize their budget?
Narrowing the project scope
is the first step to take after
establishing a preliminary
budget. We can help customers with
this very important step if the estimated
cost is over budget. Focusing on specific rooms is an
important decision to make. For example, kitchen and
bath renovations are costlier. It is also important for the
customer to become educated about their options, discuss
the way they need their space to function, and decide on
the aesthetic they want to achieve before determining the
final budget. A best practice that we always use is to add
15 percent to the estimates to cover any price changes that
may occur or additions that are requested. Ongoing two-
way communication is essential because this sets the tone of
the trusting relationship between the client and the design
professional.
It’s very important to have an overall
realistic budget in mind when
embarking on any design project.
Usually at our first meeting I like to
create a “dream wish list” where every
idea we have gets written down. Once a total estimate has
been put on the project, the wish list is a great tool to go
through item by item and together we decide what are the
most vital aspects of the project and what can be eliminated
or postponed for a later date. I also do floor plans for all
the rooms that need to be completed with an allocation of
estimated cost for each piece of furniture as well. However,
this number is obviously a moving target. Having a sense of
what you have to work with and a total vision for the project
allows my clients to get comfortable with a cohesive master
plan.
Designer Talk
Top designers tackle some of clients’
most common questions.
– Emily Crawford