The Interior Designer’s Role in Construction Project Management
If you’re newer to the field, you may have NO clue how to manage a new build or renovation project. Or maybe you’ve been collaborating with contractors for a while, and things are feeling more out of control than ever. And if you have a difficult GC, lots of delays, and subs moving on to other jobs because they couldn’t wait for all your plumbing finishes to arrive, your profitability tanks, your overwhelm skyrockets, and your client is now somehow mad at YOU. The nerve!
If this sounds all too familiar, keep reading for seven ways to create boundaries around project management (there are certainly a million more). Throughout this post, I will refer to construction and renovation management as project management, and I’m making the assumption you are NOT a licensed general contractor.
01 | Clearly define the services you offer during the construction phase
If you are comfortable collaborating with contractors, doing site visits, processing change orders, and being the point person during the construction phase, this should be spelled out clearly in the contract and scope and should be reflected in your pricing. Or, if you will only collaborate and coordinate with your own painter/wallpaper hanger/carpenter/carpet guy/etc. that should be detailed as well.
📌 IMPORTANT: Be sure to check with your attorney on what is allowed in your state related to managing your own subcontractors and billing for their services. This often falls into the General Contractor category, and if you’re not a licensed GC, you could be opening yourself up to a lot of liability. So again → check with a licensed attorney in your state on the legal way to handle this and then define it in your contract.
But, even without taking on the role of GC, there is ample opportunity for you to be an asset to your client during the construction and installation phase.
For instance:
Being present for deliveries of items ordered through your company
Providing on-site design-specific instructions and specification books to installers and fabricators
Confirming that installation meets your design intent
Troubleshooting and answering questions from any of the tradespeople on site
and much more.
An interior designer being on-site at critical points during construction can ensure the design is being implemented properly. If the project warrants and you are making regular site visits during the process, make sure both your client and the GC understand your role.
02 | Know who you will and won’t work with.
If you’ve been in the industry for a while, you’ve likely worked with a builder or two you’d prefer to avoid in the future. During the inquiry phase, find out if the client has already contracted with a builder or GC. Based on past experience, there may be times when it’s best to decline a project early or steer a client away from a problematic contractor.
Ensure your prospects are working with LICENSED professionals, not their brother and his college buddies who are “really good at carpentry.” (Yes, this has happened to one of my clients.)
If they aren’t using licensed contractors and are planning to DIY any construction, you’re likely better off moving them to a Design Only service. More on that here.
Clients will likely ask for your recommendation when they haven’t hired a builder or GC yet, so develop a list of contractors you trust. Some states may require you to provide multiple recommendations to avoid liability, so consult with an attorney to determine what’s allowable and how to protect yourself.
📌 In any event, SAVE your “little black book of vetted contractors and vendors” for once a prospect becomes a client. Don’t give that premium info away to anyone who asks.
03 | Be upfront with prospects about who hires contractors. You or them.
This ties back to point #1—knowing what’s allowable in your state.
A general contractor is responsible for applying for building permits, ordering build materials, managing the project timeline, carrying GC insurance, and hiring, scheduling, overseeing, and paying all subcontractors.
Depending on your state’s laws, you may take on certain parts of the process but always check with a licensed attorney.
For instance, if your state allows you to hire subcontractors without a GC license or without special insurance, you may hire, schedule, and pay the installers whose work involves products or decorative finishes while the GC manages all the construction-related elements, such as the sheetrock install, carpentry, plumbing, and cabinet subcontractors. There may be instances where the installation of decorative finishes (wallcovering, drapery install, mirror, and art installation) happens after the completion of the GC’s management of the project, so these may be areas that you oversee.
Ensure the client understands who is responsible for what and that they will have a separate contract (separate from the contract with you) with the GC and any other third party hired by them (architect, structural engineer, landscape designer, etc.).
When we work with interior designers, we define multiple touchpoints throughout their process to explain who will be responsible for what, how services will be paid for, and who will be overseeing various aspects of construction.
If construction projects have been a source of stress, it’s time to take back control. The DTS Files gives you access to this full post, plus expert insights to help you structure your CA services, set better boundaries, and confidently stay in your lane during construction.
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