With the increased popularity of the renovation industry, and the saturation of design and decorating shows on TV many people have become "Do It Yourselfers" - thinking that they are saving money by doing the design and sometimes even the construction of projects on their own.
While it is possible for this to be the case with some background knowledge and research skills, more often than not, working with an interior designer and contractor can save time, money, headaches and sometimes even relationships.
Hiring an interior designer can save you more money than it costs.
How is this possible? It's as simple as experience and contacts. Interior designers are able to purchase items at steep discounts - anywhere from 25 to 60 per cent off. The majority of designers will pass these discounts along to their clients in one way or another.
Some will pass along the entire discount and charge hourly for their time, and others will work on a "cost plus" basis. "Cost plus" is a term used often in the design and construction industry and refers to taking the cost of a product and adding a percentage to it.
For example, if the designer is able to purchase $2,000 in tiles for a project at 50 per cent off, they would add 15 to 25 per cent to the $1,000 they paid and the homeowner would end up paying $1,150 to $1,250 for the tile that would have cost $2,000.
Same scenario with the hourly charge - if it took one hour for the designer to select the tile, their charge may be $100 to $150 an hour added to the $1,000 for the tile and the cost to the homeowner is $1,100 to $1,150.
Either way, the cost of the product from a retailer is generally greater than the cost of the product including the professional advice from the designer.
A complaint often heard from homeowners doing their own renovation or construction projects is the difficulty finding good trades people (electricians, plumbers, tillers, etc.) or if they are found - the difficulty is keeping them. Designers and contractors rarely have this problem and the reason is quite simple - repeat work. Trades people know if they keep their designers and contractors happy they will be able to quote on future projects.
Timing is another factor to consider when weighing the options of doing it yourself.
Renovations are stressful and renovations that drag on for months or years unnecessarily are even more stressful. It's hard to put the time and energy needed to keep a project moving with other commitments in the mix - family, work, etc.
Contractors and interior designers can be a huge asset in any construction or renovation project. Beyond making your home look the best it can, they are able to advise you on how to stretch a budget, which items are worth spending more on and which are not, where to find the good deals, what materials to use, and how to maximize your spaces.
SARAH GALLOP SARAH GALLOP IS AN INTERIOR DESIGNER BASED IN LADNER
