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Health & Fitness

BK Designer: How to Pre-Shop for People. Legally.

Sssooo...I am assuming since our last conversation (via blog) that you have been merrily shopping for your residence. Good. Great. Now, the serious fun begins. You get to shop for people. Which you can do legally. And merrily. 

Keep in mind that you are not making a commitment. Not ready to have a ring put on it quite yet. You are simply flirting with the idea of possibilities; possible people you might commit to -with a contract, with money- at a later date. 

Of course you will want to do the usual and ask around and around and around. But there are other methods which you can employ which will be more beneficial (hook index finger beckoning you...):

On line shopping: There are great websites such as angieslist.com and servicemagic.com where you can research contractors and sub-contractors (such as electricians, flooring, painters, etc.) based upon your project scope. For designers you can access houzz.com, Interior Design schools such as NY School of Interior Design or even the website of your favorite design magazine (Elle Decor, Architectural Digest, et.al.). They either provide a link directly to interior designers or have a designer directory. 

In person shopping: Yes, be THAT person. If you have a neighbor whose renovation you have been jealously eyeballing, a commercial property that shut down tacky and opened up fabulous, walk in and ask them - Who did you use? What did they do for you? Did you like your experience with them? Do you have their number? Don't concern yourself with budget at this point - you want someone to aspire to. And if it means that you have to save a little longer...so be it. Don't forget: these people are bringing your dream to fruition. And to prevent your neighbor from looking uncomfortable or the commercial establishment giving you the side eyeball 'cause you are staying too long...bring dried fruit baskets or buy something. 

Call their contacts. See their projects in person: Designers and Contractors will be happy - if they are on the up and up- to provide you with a couple of clients for you to call in regards to their services. Contractors will invite you to pay an end of day visit to one of their job sites to take a look. Designers will show you a portfolio of before and after in addition to completed commercial projects. And of course, they will provide you with clients who they enjoyed working with and who enjoyed working with them. But I have found that the best client referrals are the most comfortably honest in their assessments. And good designers and contractors are comfortable with that.  

Shop during the off season. The busy season for the design industry is from the beginning of September to the end of December and then again from the beginning March to the end of June (tax refund anyone?). Immediately after the holidays everyone is broke and busted; at the beginning of the summer children are out from school and parents everywhere become Disney-fied. Designers and contractors consider this 'down time' and therefore would be able to respond to you in a timely manner. As a matter of fact, they would be happy to do so. 

Keep your schedule in mind. If you know that you would like to start your project early next year and it is already near the end of the current year...you can fuhgeddaboutit. Pre-shopping should start to happen at least five months in advance of when you would like to start. Contractors and Designers like to schedule work at least two months, sometimes three months in advance. It gives everyone the opportunity to cement budget, scope of work and schedule. Happy organized client + happy organized work person = successful project devoid of slanty name calling and suing. 

Most of all, be merrily patient. Take your (reasonable) time. When looking for 'the ones' make sure you base the future relationship on boring old solid trust and respect instead of an instant lighting strike. You will be grateful later on. 

Continue to dream design! 

Cynthia Dennard, Principal
INSIDE DESIGN BK

Remember: You can reach me at IDBKpatch@gmail. com!  




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