Think about it—your home is probably the biggest investment you’ll ever make, whether it’s $500,000 or easily over a million if you’re in Canada. That’s a lot to take on by yourself! Just like you wouldn’t hand over an important job to someone with zero experience, building or renovating really does call for a pro who’s been through it all before.
Sign up for my free 60 minute webinar starting next week where I’ll teach you how to trend proof your next home project!
The last thing to cut from your budget is the designer
I recently spoke with a designer who told me she actually makes cold calls to new build sites. For a flat fee of $10,000, she’ll choose all the paint colours and finishes. But in today’s market, she says she keeps hearing the same thing:
“We’re really watching our budget right now, and our builder will be making those decisions.”
Ugh, this statement makes me cringe because one thing I know for sure is that there will be nothing beautiful in this house.
Your builder will make all decisions based on what’s in stock and not only that, right now your house will be filled by an overdose of black starting with all hardware, lighting and plumbing fixtures.
And then your builder might say something like:
“Hey I have something left over so I’m going to use it”
OR
” There’s only one option left, so we’ll have to go with it.”
Or worse,
” This option is best for my bottom line”
Yikes. 😬
Even if it’s not the prettiest choice. This is 100% how it will go.
The cheapest expense that gives the highest return
If you’re following me on Instagram, in the summer I walk through my newly installed garden in the mornings on my stories and it is truly heaven on earth.
We feel so blessed to live on such a beautiful property but the reason it’s so spectacular is because of my virtual landscape designer, MaryAnne White. Just like me, she works with clients all around the country creating DIY plans for landscapes.
Our garden was a six-figure investment. BUT… The designer, who knew exactly what to plant and where, who had the vision for the space, and who created the hardscape that made everything beautiful, was actually the least expensive part of the entire project.
And yet, many people tackle it on their own—which is exactly why so many gardens and homes end up looking pretty standard.
Spend smarter
If you’re in the middle of a build, do yourself a favour and listen to this podcast episode.
Why to hire a designer (or at least get a detailed plan from someone like me).
Here are some highlights:
“We meet with reps continually, so we know what’s available. If you don’t know what’s available you might spend way more on a solution that you didn’t know you could get for way less.”
“The contractor will be asking you for decisions on a need-to-know-right-now basis, so if you haven’t already thought about that decision, you’ll be choosing from what’s in stock or something that’s easily accessible.”
“Or worse, four rooms down the road you might say ‘Hey I think we should try this’ because you saw it in a hotel or on instagram. A designer helps to keep the vision so there’s flow throughout the house.”
“Renovation or new build projects involve countless decisions and with each decision there can be 10 other decisions inside it so you need to have the ability to stick to your vision because somewhere down the line one of your decisions is going to get broken because it’s no longer available or it’s out 10 weeks so you have to quickly make another decision so the project can continue to move forward.”
“Your designer saves you money and time because your not spending dumb money.”
And finally, I recently watched a video where a colour expert said:
“A neutral decision is no decision . If you are someone who loves color, but you ended up in a totally neutral house, you decided not to decide that’s what you did.“
Sign up for my free webinar here where I’ll teach you how to trend proof your next home project!
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Hi Maria—
Blast from the past—it’s Paula VH….
I so agree! Having built & also watched spec houses go up, you are EXACTLY right about builders not only choosing finishes but Darla appointing their floor plans. Ugh!
I tell people that same thing about painters—-DO NOT. let your painter go to “ his” paint store and either computer match your specified color, and/or downgrade the quality to “ Contractor” grade paint in unmarked 5 gallon ( or 1gallon) buckets. “ Oh, but my painter gets a discount at XYZ paint store.”
Yeah? Think again. He’s working the deal for HIMSELF. Go buy your own paint!!!
I ask for a discount too -and I get it.
Moreover, do not let your painter tell you what sheen “ he uses”.
Oh, this makes me crazy too!
I hope your readers will take your warning and heed. Re-dos later are NOT fun, nor cheap.
xo,
Paula
On the upper left of the screen, there is a pop up for menu, search, etc… it interferes with seeing photos and reading text. Perhaps it could reside on the right side of the screen?? Otherwise, the colors and font on your website are so inviting!
Several years ago, we were doing a lot in our house: painting every room, replacing all the flooring and light fixtures throughout the house, along with kitchen and bathroom counters, backsplashes, sinks, and faucets.
I found a designer online who lives thousands of kilometres from where I am. But we worked together by phone and email, sharing photos, layouts, and links.
As you said, Maria, paying for her expertise and time was a fraction of the total budget. Taking the trouble to really understand who I am, how my family lives, and what my style is, she translated it all into helping me make my home exactly what I wanted. In fact, she sometimes steered me away from what I thought was “me” to what was “really me.” By doing so, she helped me keep a cohesive vision for our house. Eight years later, I still love what we did together.
Love this post, Maria! Excellent advice that I’ll be sure to follow when we’re in need of redoing something in our home.