With so much trust placed on the line at the beginning of an interior design project, where the client has to wait months OR YEARS to see the actual finished product, it is CRITICAL that clients trust their interior designer and know they will be able to deliver them the results they are seeking.  

The more credible you are as a company, the more streamlined your entire interior design client process will be.

Join The DTS Files for my advice and insights.

Dear Dakota,

I have been working with a builder for almost 3 years. He is continually changing his process and his projects are a time suck. He is not accountable for his own process and I found out last week he threw me under the bus to cover his own ass. I'm finally at a crossroad and wondering if I need to stop working with him. However, his business is a consistent cash flow. One of his "project managers" hates working with designers. He will purposely not call anyone on my team for tile walks, paint walks, etc. because he doesn't want to deal with us telling him things are installed incorrectly. I have spent hours and hours of my time with his clients and honestly feel bad for them. I know they have no idea what's going on behind the scenes and I feel totally stuck. HELP!

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I'm so excited and honored to be featured on The Interior Design Business CEO Podcast with Desi Creswell. She and I chat about three common myths designers have that hold them back from implementing systems and processes. 

Here's what we chatted through: 

1. How to get your team and contractors on board with change (and what to do if they push back)

2. What process to fix first even when everything feels like a hot mess

3. How to narrow in on what to consume (and what to ignore) when you feel like everything must be perfect 

I’d love for you to listen to the episode below and explore the three biggest myths about systems in your interior design business with us.

Dear Dakota,

What’s the best practice for handling requests from clients about furniture that shows wear and tear or gets damaged after a period of time from regular use after they’ve moved in and the project is finished? Seems our clients expect that everything we source should be durable, and if it’s not, we should address the issues no matter how long it’s been.

On the one hand, I understand the frustration that some pieces aren’t as durable, but on the other hand, the less durable pieces are often the ones that were sourced with budget in mind (per client's request) - so they are not custom pieces, and not manufactured with high-quality finishes. So it is not surprising that these issues come up.

Our contract states we are not responsible for quality defects, but clients still view us as being on the hook since we chose these items for them. However, we want to preserve the relationship so we often submit the claims to our vendors. Some will gladly send replacements, but others won't. I want our clients to have a good experience and love everything we choose for them - so I try to make sure even the budget items last - but there has to be a better way to move forward - I can't be on the hook forever.

I don't know how to tell my clients they can't expect me to be there forever to help replace items without paying me for the time.

I'd love to hear your insights.

Join The DTS Files for my advice and insights.

Dear Dakota,

Should I charge clients a different flat fee for projects my junior designer completes versus ones I complete?

Join The DTS Files for my advice and insights.

As an interior designer, have you ever had someone say to you, “I would just loooooooooove to work with you! Your style is exactly what I’m going for! But I just can’t afford you!”

When this happens, the people pleaser deep down inside of you may say, “Oh, I should really help this person” or “They NEED me!” or “I could give this person a good price, because it IS still revenue, right??”

WRONG!

Join The DTS Files for my advice and insights.

I'm anti "charge what you're worth" and "just double your price". LOL. 

And if you follow anyone who is teaching how to run a business using bumper sticker mantras like these, I encourage you to find a professional who has experience running a business based on economics and data. 

You can't just increase your pricing or charge $XXX because every other designer you know charges $XXX. Sure, that can give you some confidence around your pricing to know you're aligned with industry standards, but here's what's really key when it comes to pricing:

Join The DTS Files for my advice and insights.