The emergence of networks like HGTV and DIY have been both a blessing and a curse for the design industry. The regularity of design-centric programming has made design a more prolific and intrinsic part of the everyday lives of people outside the profession, it has made design more accessible, and that’s been wonderful! On the other hand, the TV magic it takes to tell a room, or even an entire home’s story in a half hour (with ad breaks), has audiences fooled into believing beautiful rooms can be produced overnight– that it’s possible to do it all yourself on a shoestring budget.

These shows make this look EASY and that can result in some construction nightmares! Thus managing clients’ expectations in a post-HGTV world can be exhausting (take it from us!). These shows have piqued public interest in design, but they haven’t done a great job educating the masses on what it really takes to produce the gorgeous spaces gracing the covers of your favorite glossy design magazines, and preparation is key; Know what to expect. So here is what those shows don’t tell you: Read on for our 5 quick tips about how to avoid a botched design or construction job. Know the questions to ask and know what you can do yourself vs. what you should leave to the experts if you want your home to look something like this:

Avoid a Construction Nightmare By…

1. Communicating With Your Contractor

Clear communication all the way through the process is the best way to avoid dissatisfaction. If you are unhappy or uncertain about any aspect of the process, talk to your contractor and see how they can help you resolve the issue. A successful contractor wants to do good work and wants to make their clients happy. Be realistic and fair and expect the same from your contractor. You trusted them to do the job, trust them to complete the job. 

Q. How involved should I be in the design build process? SoCal Contractor principal Roy Yerushlami answers:

2. Vetting Your Contractor

In order for you to establish trust and relinquish some control over your renovation, you have to do your research ahead of time. 

3. Protecting Your Property

If you have anything you value, it must either be moved to storage, locked up or covered like a surgical unit ahead of time. Unfortunately, items often do go missing on a job site, and lots of different people from lots of different trades will be on your property. It’s important to keep that in mind so you don’t end up with more broken than fixed when the work is all done.

4. Scheduling, But Being Flexible

You will decide your level of participation at the beginning of your project and should agree with your contractor as to when you will be required to be onsite. There are key days in the installation process that will require your presence, if a designer or architect is not handling this for you. Find out when these dates are ahead of time, but be flexible– more often than not, jobs take longer than expected due to a number of external factors or issues which can arise..

5. Trusting Your Contractor

Often times homeowners want to work on aspects of the project themselves or bring on their own sub-contractors. This is a recipe for disaster. You should only have one general contractor in charge of a project and the trades working on the job should report directly to the general contractor. This ensures that there is one company who is responsible for the work and delivering results, and, ultimately, this leaves way less for you to worry about.

Curious about how to hire a designer for your project or how much an interior designer costs? Our partners at Lori Dennis Inc. wrote all about that!