Do you want the best outcome for your new building or remodel
project? Then it’s important to hire the
architect, interior designer, and general contractor all at the same time at
the very start of your design process. Many
people hire an architect first, bid out the project to different contractors
once the construction drawings are complete, then hire an interior designer when
construction is near completion. This approach
results in numerous costly changes to the drawings, contractor change orders,
and schedule delays.
When you hire the interior designer at the same time as
the architect, they can work as a team to ensure the interior layout is
functional and drives the exterior design.
The furniture should be placed on the floor plan to help determine
location and sizes of windows, locations of electrical outlets, lighting, and more. The interior designer will develop their interior
construction drawings at the same time the architect develops their
architectural plans, providing the general contractor with the exact scope of
work, so the contractor can get accurate bids from subcontractors which will eliminate
guesswork and “fat” in their budget as well as save the contractor a lot of
time in coordinating design efforts between the client and cabinet, tile, flooring,
and electrical subcontractors. The savings
achieved from this will more than cover the interior designer’s fees, as well
as result in a smoother, less stressful process. Also keep in mind that most publications will
not publish a completed project unless an interior designer is on board.
When the general contractor is brought in at the same
time as the architect and interior designer, they will be a resource to both
and will help keep the project on budget so drawings don’t have to be revised
after bids are received resulting in additional fees and time delays. Many clients will assume they won’t get the
best price unless they bid out the project to several general contractors, but
that means a contractor can’t start until after the construction drawings are
completed which is too late in the game.
When bringing in a contractor at the start of the project, their profit
and markup, general conditions, and supervision fees can be negotiated up front,
and they can still bid out all the trade work to subcontractors when
construction documents are complete.
Start by hiring one of the three professionals who will
be able to recommend several options for the other two companies for you to
interview to see who feels like the right fit.
You’ll be married to this team for a long time, and it’s important that
personalities jive.
