7 things you need to look for in your next office interior designer
7 things you need to look for in your next office interior designer
Every business needs to hire an office interior designer at some point. Sometimes it’s just time to remove that carpet that dates back to the neolithic era. Other times, you realize it’s time to add a little color and flair to your office. Whatever your reasons, you’re going to need to contact an office interior designer.
And if you want to do the job right, you need to hire someone who knows what they’re doing. While we all want to think we can do it on our own, you’re always better to hire a plumber to fix a leaky pipe. Even though Jim from marketing has watched a few YouTube videos, he still has a lot to learn. Because once you complete a remodel, there is no turning back.
Finding a reputable office interior designer isn’t always the easiest process. You probably have many questions. In this week’s post, we are going to lay it all out and help you understand what you need to know when it comes to finding your next office interior designer.
1. They respect your budget
Every company has a different budget. A great office interior designer will know how to stay on budget. They won’t let their ego get in the way because they know it’s your office.
They work with you to make the most out of your budget. If they know you are working with a smaller budget, they will recommend different ways for you to stretch it even further. It’s their job to make recommendations, but you have the final say.
Their job is to help you design an office that enables your employees to do great things while staying on budget.
2. They work with your timeline
We all hate missed deadlines. When someone promises something, you expect them to deliver. That same rule applies to office interior design.
The best office interior designers understand how long a project will take. From day one, they will keep you in the loop and provide you with an accurate estimate. If they are unable to give you a reasonable timeline, they probably aren’t that experienced.
Veterans know how long it takes for furniture to arrive, how long the construction process requires, and they are familiar with all the major processes involved in remodeling an office.
3. They understand your expectations
As the client, you have the right to get what you want. After all, that is the whole reason why you are hiring an office interior designer, right?
And your designer should do what they can to satisfy those expectations. But, this is a two-way street. A reputable designer will do their best to understand your expectations, all the while providing you with recommendations and suggestions that aim to improve them. You don’t want to work with a designer that makes it all about them, their wishlist, and who completely ignores the needs and personality of your business.
The best thing you can do is make it very clear what things are important to you from the beginning. If you are focusing on creating a workplace that takes advantage of agile design, great, communicate that with your designer. If you don’t understand something, or if you don’t like the way a specific feature has turned out, tell them. A quick email or phone call during the early stages can save a lot of time.
Your designer will appreciate you communicating your needs. It helps them design the perfect office for your business.
4. They have a portfolio that wows you
Competition is fierce. Whatever office interior designing you are looking at better have a decked-out portfolio. And even more important, make sure that portfolio has real projects, not just 3D renderings.
Look, we’ve been in this business for a while, and we’ve worked on many projects. Any designer you are considering better be willing to show off their portfolio. The truth is, if they are good, they will be practically throwing their portfolio in your face. Why? Because they are proud of their accomplishments.
Take the time to look at their past work. Really see if their style fits what you are trying to do. You don’t have to commit if you aren’t a fan. You should only hire an office interior designer if you like their work.
Hiring an office interior designer is a big commitment. Most of your early communication will take place through email or over the phone. But, before you agree to anything, meet with them in person.
You can tell a lot about the character of a person when you actually meet them. Don’t be afraid to ask them specific questions, to get their opinion on how they will handle your office, and to ask what you need to ask to be sure that they are the right fit. You need to make sure that they are a good fit for your company. First impressions are everything, and that same idea applies to your first meeting with your interior designer.
Remodeling an office takes a lot of time and money to complete. Your relationship with your designer is important. There’s going to be a lot of emails, a lot of feedback, and it’s important that you get along with your designer so that you can get exactly what you want. You want to work with an office interior designer that can properly incorporate the values and culture of your company into their designs.
6. They are willing to sign a contract
Contracts are your friend in the world of interior design. A contract is more than just a detailed receipt. Your contract should specify what will be completed, how it will be completed, and it should spell out all the responsibilities that your designer will have. While we always want to believe in the goodness of people, accidents happen and promises get broken.
A contract will protect you when things go wrong. This isn’t to suggest that anything will go wrong, but it’s never a bad idea to be a little proactive.
Make sure any office interior designer that you are looking to hire is willing to sign a contract.
7. They have insurance
This one ties into the idea of the contract. We can’t predict when something will go wrong. Still, when accidents happen, you don’t want to be left footing the bill.
Reputable office interior designers will have proper insurance for their business to cover accidental damage like burst pipes, structural damage, and other things that can happen during the construction process. They will also sometimes offer a warranty for their work should anything break immediately after the design.
Don’t be scared to hire an office interior designer
We aren’t trying to scare you away from remodeling your office. There are a lot of reasons to remodel. Whether you want something modern, an office that is healthy, or you just need to be able to seat five more people in the same tight room. We all have our reasons.
Instead, we want you to know what to consider, the types of things you need to look for, and how you can get the most out of your office interior design experience.
Here at Space Refinery, we’ve been helping businesses all throughout Belgium update their offices to the 21st century. We believe in smart design that is backed by real science.
Do you want to learn more? We are passionate about what we do, and we want to show you how you can update your office and make it a better place for your employees to work.
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