Why you want to call a designer before a contractor

Over several years in business, I have observed a troubling pattern: clients often call a designer too late in the game. If you’re considering a remodel of any size for any part of your home, you need to call a designer before you start reaching out to contractors. I promise this isn’t just a sales pitch; I’m here to share three specific reasons why having a designer on your team before choosing a contractor is essential.

Please note that not all contractors operate in this fashion. My comments mostly apply to cheap or cash-only contractors. Not all contractors are created equal, just as not all designers are. This is an opinion piece based on my 15 years of professional experience.

1. You Need a Plan

It’s astonishing how many people I meet who have their homes torn apart before they even have a sketch of the desired layout. A client calls me, asking if I can come see their space and help them “pull it all together” so their contractor doesn’t get stalled. The area in question is fully demolished, and the contractor is demanding that the client have all materials and fixtures ready to go within one week.

The client is stressed, caught off guard, and desperate to meet the contractor’s requests. They want their home back together as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, they often prioritize having a functioning toilet in their master bath over ensuring that the results are worth the money they’re spending. So, they scramble over to Home Depot, make rushed decisions based on zero design expertise, and become slaves to their contractor’s lack of process and communication for weeks until their project is “complete.”

Sadly, this is how cheap contractors tend to operate. They show up ready to work and request individual items as they need them. There’s no upfront communication, no advice on what to look for or where to look (other than Home Depot), and certainly no plan. While it is possible to find a good contractor who is also affordable, you must be prepared with a plan—floor plans, elevations, and specifications—before you get on their schedule.

Experienced and reliable contractors often provide plans as part of their contract, but they still rely on the client to provide all the selections and specifications. They send the client to a showroom with fifty gazillion options, and the one the client finally decides on after weeks of debate with their spouse is on backorder for four months. This chaos scars homeowners and gives contractors a terrible reputation. Many clients have no grasp of the planning required to ensure a seamless and successful project. For some reason, many contractors don’t seem to care enough to inform their clients before they get the deposit. They typically recommend calling a designer only when the client is taking too long to make a decision, and at that point, the designer can’t really help.

A well-thought-out plan typically takes a professional a minimum of one week to produce (with drawings), and quality selections take at least two weeks to research, price, review, approve, and document. Lead times for quality materials and fixtures can span from two weeks to twelve weeks. Plan accordingly!

Whether you choose to do all your design work yourself or call in a professional, make a plan (layout, elevations, and specifications) before you start interviewing contractors. If you need help and reside in the East Bay Area, check out my remodel services page here.

2. You Need Specifications

What are specifications? In this context, specifications are the individual selections of each material, fixture, and finish required to complete a remodel project. Sounds simple, right? If it were as easy as picking one tile, one countertop material, and one paint color, then sure, it might be simple. However, a smaller remodel project often requires upwards of 30 individual specifications.

For example, a guest bathroom remodel will require specifying your countertop material, countertop edge profile, size, sink(s), lavatory faucet(s), toilet, cabinet type, panel style, wood species, cabinet finish, backsplash material, wall tile, floor tile, Schluter finish, grout color, niche size and location, shower door material, shower hardware finish, shower bracket & hinge type, shower pull type, shower drain type and cover finish, shower bench seat size and configuration, shower fixture(s), light fixtures, fan, mirror(s), wall paint, ceiling paint, trim paint, door paint, door, baseboard, door trim, crown molding, door hardware style, door hardware finish, cabinet hardware style, cabinet hardware finish, cabinet hardware placement, towel hardware style, towel hardware finish, and towel hardware placement. I could go on!

There are literally dozens of design decisions to make, even if you hire a reputable contractor to handle your plans and permits. Unless you want to receive calls every other day from your contractor and constantly drive around to showrooms accumulating dozens of samples in the back of your car, you need a solid plan and specifications before you break ground. Call a designer first. Let them help you create a beautiful design that you love, then either have them bring in their regular team to do the work or present the plans to any contractor you interview. This way, you’ll get apples-to-apples quotes that are much closer to accurate than they would be otherwise.

3. You Need Order

Here’s the thing: an experienced designer knows what to expect. They understand the game, the struggle, and the problems to anticipate. They know which contractors to avoid and which are reliable enough to deliver a professional result. They understand which products to order first and which to order last. They know where to go for certain products and who to ask for help.

If you want your home remodeled with as little hassle as possible, start with a designer who is well-established and experienced, with a tried-and-true team of contractors and subcontractors.

PLEASE NOTE:

Not all designers are project managers, and not all project managers are designers. My company happens to be both. We maintain a consistent 7-step process to manage projects as seamlessly as possible. We can’t remove all chaos from renovations, but we can at least take it off your plate from the beginning so you can keep your focus where it needs to be.

Inquire about our project management services for your remodel today.