As an Interior Designer for nearly 30 years, the biggest part of my job can be helping people value engineer a project and iron out the differences in the way the overall budget is allocated to certain areas. Yes, mediating is a hat I often wear. 🙂 In all honesty, most people feel completely overwhelmed at the thought of doing any work in their home, and fear reigns when it comes to consideration of finishes. Most people are worried that they won’t like something for the long haul.
SO, where does one start? My advice is to never discount the valuable service of hiring a Designer. Most Designers and Remodeling firms charge you a fixed fee or a percentage of the overall cost of the project. Ask yourself: Do you really want to navigate all these decisions with your spouse and maybe a handful of friends and family putting in their two cents about your selections? How many opinions are you going to get before you feel exhausted and procrastinate another year?! A professional Designer spends an ample amount of time getting to know you, your lifestyle, your must haves vs. the frivolous. In addition to having a “good eye for design”, we pride ourselves on the most important skill set for this business: LISTENING. We care about what is best for you and your family, not what your sister did at her house that she insists you won’t be able to live without. The process to conquer these fears can be long and there is a trust level to be achieved with your Designer. After deciding on the right floor plan and finishes, often couples argue about the best way to spend their hard earned money. Hesitation number two. Most women feel it should be spent in the kitchen with top of the line appliances, beautiful backsplash, new cabinets with features to make their life easier and organized. Most men are confident that spending in areas that will pay off in future energy savings are the top priority, such as new insulation, windows, and siding. Sound familiar?
At Wildwood, we feel it is important to establish if we are the right fit for you and your project. We also spend a great amount of time managing expectations. This includes having a scope of work clearly documented along with your selections and costs before we start your project. Our process is such that we like to send out an initial questionnaire before our first meeting at your home. The first consultation and secondary meeting to discuss budget estimates is always complimentary to you. YES! COMPLIMENTARY! From that point, if things look good with numbers, and our services provide the perfect partnership for you, we start nailing down costs and providing you with selections based on your wants, needs and budget. This does require a design deposit that is determined by the size of your job. I like the term “value engineering” because with our experience, we can provide you with options that will fit the aesthetic you are looking for and still be budget friendly.
On a personal note, the reason I have been in this business so long is the satisfaction I get from making my clients everyday life easier because most remodeling projects are so transformative in every regard. Yes, there will be things that go wrong, that is the reality of construction, but we are here to help you navigate when things are discontinued and your toilet comes cracked in two and your mother in law is coming in two days…..
Please contact us at 651-363-3150 if you are considering a major remodel. Bathrooms and Kitchens are always our specialty, but check us out for basement finishing, deck building, space planning, paint consultations and more!
Written by LeAnn Wilbourn
