How much leg must I hump to get good service?

[turbo6bar]

Been wrapping up things on a residential new construction project. I've been in contact with numerous vendors sourcing the last supplies to get the job finished. Some are really great: helpful employees, competitive pricing, and good product inventory. Others companies are terrible. You'd think with home construction and remodeling in the tank right now, these companies would be eager to get a live one coming through the door.

The other day, I sent an aggressive email to the interior designer protesting the fact she doesn't address all issues handed to her. In essence, she will answer/cover select topics and totally ignore other issues. I suspect she may have gotten in over her head (Interior Design major in college). She was not impressed and decided to hit the road. The search for a new designer begins. Such is life.

Am I too damn picky, or are some folks just clueless? Probably a bit of both. I've found being assertive (not my personality type) gets results sometimes and a kick in the teeth other times.
jurgen

[id10t]

Where are you? I've got a cousin that does interior design, but she's in Minnesota...

[onewhippedpuppy]

Cling to the good ones, fire the bad ones. There's a lot of opportunity out there for those willing to go the extra mile, because most service is BAD.

[David]

Originally Posted by id10t

Where are you? I've got a cousin that does interior design, ..

(me too) but she's in LA...


If you're in LA, PM me just in case it's her

[ruf-porsche]

Interior Design student

High School graduate, but not good enough to get into a a regular college to study ARCHITECTURE, looking for Mr. Right.

[daepp]

Are you a purchaser for the builder?

[Porsche-O-Phile]

"Interior design" is pretty much worthless. Hire an architect. I know that sounds self-serving, but it's true in my experience.

FWIW CA is one of the only states that does not require licensing or certification of "interior designers". How the folks in Sacramento have allowed this little potential for new regulation, fee-demanding and government expansion to go unnoticed is beyond me, but that's the way it is.

I've seen some I.D. people that are great and really sharp, but in general it's a bunch of art-school gobbleygook that puts people out on the street with foo-foo portfolios and not a flippin' clue how to get things built or manage projects (or even portions of projects).

[turbo6bar]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

Cling to the good ones, fire the bad ones. There's a lot of opportunity out there for those willing to go the extra mile, because most service is BAD.

Yeah. My problem is I'm always worried about what other people think of me. I cling to what I've got, because I'm too concerned about hurting feelings. That changed earlier this year.

Still baffles me how some businesses stay alive when they work so hard to drive customers away.

I'm in the lovely state of Tennessee.

ruf, spot on about looking for Mr. Right.

daepp, I am actually just a lowly RE investor. I bought a burned out house and have been rebuilding it part-time over the past year and a half. It is about 90% complete. After this project is over, I will move in and enjoy it before starting construction on a new house that's a lot smaller and flows over with style, energy efficiency, and thoughtful design. I'm trying to build a network of professionals and suppliers I can trust.

PoP and ruf, should I focus on local architects, or should I consider out-of-state architects? I was planning to buy Chief Architect software and create plans before seeking outside consultation. Am I treading in the wrong direction? I want to put forth as much effort as I can, and then use an architect to smooth out the rough edges. Wrong approach?

[Porsche-O-Phile]

There's the legal issue of what you're hiring them to do. In CA, anyone can be an interior designer. No special training or certification required. So no problem using either in-state or out-of-state people there. Just be certain that the scope of work is for "interior design" services only, not architectural services. If you're considering this in a state that requires special certification of interior designers, then obviously it's a different ball game and you need to get someone who is (may or may not also be an architect in that state or others too).

I don't meant to needlessly knock ID people, I just see too much emphasis on trendy color-matching and not enough on project management skills in the folks in that industry - not to mention "real world" issues that sometimes come up (e.g. slip coefficients, flame spread ratings, health dep't requirements, etc.) As a check, you can contract your architect to review the ID work for code compliance, or you could (if the project warrants it) hire an architect and build the ID portion of the work into his/her contract as a scope of service. Alternatively you can hire an architect for, say, TI work and a separate ID person (whose work you like, for example) to do the interior design parts, with their work reviewed by the architect for code compliance and compatibility with the overall design scheme. Again, you just have to tailor the contracts that way.

It is typically (with a few specific exceptions) ILLEGAL for a person to hold onesself out as an architect, use the term "architect" in their title or on their web site or in their contracts, etc. unless they're licensed to practice architecture IN THAT STATE. It's just like a lawyer or engineer. A person absolutely may not stamp drawings or certify anything that requires an architect's stamp or certification without a license in that state. But there's nothing stopping you from using an unlicensed person or out-of-state licensed person for interior design work unless you're in a jurisdiction that requires it. Hope that's clear enough.

Shop around. There are a lot of architectural offices out there that specialize in high-end interiors. They typically have some ID people on staff and can sort out any issues with respect to what qualifies as "ID only" and/or what qualifies as "TI" for you and get the entire thing done for you in-house with no muss, no fuss.

[911Rob]

Here we go again? Ha, ha.

My wife is an interior designer/decorator.
I sent her to school in Calgary about 20 years ago and she's worked for me "exclusively" since; saves me alot of time, communication and money and "we" stay in control of our projects with proper material selections in accordance to budget restraints.

I'm a RE investor, developer, builder, consultant, lender and realtor. RE baby, that's where it's at! RE from cow $hit to bull $hit, we do it all.

I get along with people really well as long as they do it my way.

Good luck finding your replacement!
Everything else you posted I'd say is spot on.

[turbo6bar]

Thanks, 911Rob.

I'm slowly adopting the "my way or the highway" philosophy. Business is about business and not making and keeping friends. 100% easy-going, pushover Jurgen is dead.

PoP, I was under the impression architects can be out-of-state physically, yet still be licensed in my state. Pain in the butt or worth considering? I want to incorporate higher levels of energy efficient design in future projects and may have to look outside for consultation.

This thread reminds me of another deal gone wrong. I bought and paid for hardwood flooring the 5th of last month. The flooring company never mentioned inventory problems. Still haven't received the stair nosing, and numerous phone calls and emails have netted zero results. Time for heads to roll.
jurgen

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Yes they can. It's done all the time. You just need to hold a valid license in the state you're doing the work in in order to practice in that state - just like a lawyer would.

There are a lot of good resources out there for sustainability considerations (I personally hate the term "green building" - it's cliche and most people who use it don't know WTF they're talking about). As a general rule talk to your ID person about materials that are:
- locally produced (low transportation costs)
- made with high recycled content
- recyclable themselves
- low embodied energy of production (smelting, refining, etc.)
- life-cycle costing (probably the most important from an owner perspective unless you're one of these jokers that wants to flip the building in 2 years, in which case you're just spec-ing the cheap crap that'll fall apart in 3 years anyway).

Sustainable design initiatives are a growth area and an exciting one where there's a lot of real opportunity for people to shine, make beautiful and interesting buildings/spaces and go a long way towards helping our planet.

Something like 40% of the world's total energy is tied up in buildings - either in the production of materials for them, construction of them, maintenance of them or operation of them. So the potential to make a real difference here is quite real.

[turbo6bar]

I concur with your thoughts, but I will readily admit my goal is resale potential. That said, I want to push the envelope WRT energy efficiency and designed efficiency. Basically, I seek quality space that's energy efficient, while withstanding the test of time--thoughtful combination of durability and aesthetics. There is so much crap being produced today. It can be done better.

[911Rob]

Interesting? I like your train of thought and could be good for marketing too?

I'm big on "value added"; and I like to look for things where we can ADD value. Although I do market some very high end homes; my real interest has been in the low end markets for development. I've been building affordable housing for years now, and studying the cause and effects of different systems.

I market homes for about 5 builders; so I get some valuable input into what systems they utilize and I can review if I think an upgrade 'adds value' to a home or not. I have one builder who is consistently able to charge more for his homes because he knows where to add value and where not to. He'll put in a $4000 front door, a $800 kitchen faucet, lots of fancy tile work, etc. and then he's able to sell for a very top dollar. He's been successful at it for years now; and he likes what he does.

I've tried to provide a "very" affordable home with some added value features such as maple cabinets, 9 ft ceilings, hardwood, tile, etc. There's a definate science to the program. I'd love to hear some of your concepts and systems?

[911Rob]

Originally Posted by turbo6bar

I concur with your thoughts, but I will readily admit my goal is resale potential. That said, I want to push the envelope WRT energy efficiency and designed efficiency. Basically, I seek quality space that's energy efficient, while withstanding the test of time--thoughtful combination of durability and aesthetics. There is so much crap being produced today. It can be done better.

I'd love for you to expand on this more?
Specifics?

Energy efficiency:
Design efficiency:
Durability:
Aesthetics:

[turbo6bar]

Originally Posted by 911Rob

I'd love for you to expand on this more?
Specifics?

Alright. I was planning to send you a PM, but I'll throw some things out here.

Energy efficiency:

Been researching Passivhaus design standards. Homes in Germany and Scandinavia built to this standard are heated with simple 1000 watt electric heaters. I would like to incorporate some of this into newer homes (insulated slabs, triple pane windows, construction techniques addressing thermal bridging). The trick is finding the happy line between cost and return. Given the choice, most folks would choose more square feet over greater energy efficiency. How do you convince buyers to pay more for energy efficient designs? I've heard some builders have been offering utility bill guarantees. When things are condensed into dollars and cents, it's easy to see the advantages.

Other considerations: 1) cellulose vs spray foam insulation. It is mostly a cost vs return issue, but there are distinct advantages to each material. 2) solar water heating. With US federal tax credits (30% of system cost), this could provide excellent returns.

Design efficiency:

I admit I'm weak here. Here's where I need to find an architect. How do we create durable, functional, aesthetically pleasing homes? Lately, the slant has been towards aesthetics: soaring ceilings, multiple levels, and exteriors with numerous gables and roofs littered with valleys and multiple pitches. These are maintenance headaches and multiple stories are not friendly to aging Baby Boomers.

Durability:

Termites are an issue down here. Light gauge steel framing should be considered. Walls and ceilings are straighter, and the greater dimensional stability of steel leads to fewer drywall problems. Electrical, plumbing, and mechanical installation is easier. Drawback to steel is thermal conductivity, but there are ways around this, but there go some of your cost savings.

Aesthetics:

That's the architect/ID's forte. It's there job to incorporate my ideas and limitations into an aesthetically pleasing structure that won't look outdated in 8 years. Sucks to be them, ya know.

Ultimately, my ideas don't matter if buyers aren't interested. I won't know until I try. I do believe there is demand for moderate size homes. In my neck of the woods, there is no construction under 4500 square feet. Why not 1800-3000SF with low ongoing costs (utilities and maintenance) on one floor instead of two? Are Americans ready to sacrifice image for a better home? I think so.

Where am I going wrong? My thinking is opposite from what has worked in the last 5 years, but what worked the last 5 years won't work going forward.

[911Rob]

Thanks! I really appreciate your feedback.

I've been building all my life, but I can sincerely say that the economic challenges of the industry seem to be the prevailing sail? Things have gotten alot better as I've matured and gotten older; less banker money and more cash makes for less economics.

I love your train of thought and it is provoking and helpful, so thanks again.

I made a move towards "affordable housing" a few years ago, but now with the economic turn (correction) it becomes more financially challenging without building crap? I'd definately say you're onto something if your area offers 4500 sqft homes and your planning say 3000 sqft; there's gotta be some more efficient ways of tackling that challenge and producing a more economic design that can incorporate some of your efficiency ideas.

Many years ago, a buddy of mine started building homes with only plywood, no chip board. Chip board was new then and most of the old timers didn't like the fact that builders were using chip board (OSB); so my buddy used it as a marketing tool and sold a ton of homes. None of his competition caught on; things got so busy he eventually dropped it and used chip himself too, but it did give him an edge at the time.

Thought? What are the mainstream buyers gonna want?
I know alot of europeans are disgusted with our buidling standards here. Over there they build a home to last 100 years! Even East vs: West has some serious differences due to the quality of tradesmen available. Brick and mortar is very popular out East, but rare here because we can't meet the economic challenges of utilizing the trade.

I'm usually building 10 homes at one time, so attrition rate is a factor and I'm planning to stay in the "affordable" starter or retirement home range, but I love to think about the opportunities, trends and markets.

I've also built 6 senior home centers and I've been intrigued with that industry.... with the baby boomers, there has to be the demand. I know an Architect in Calgary (old timer) and he's got some great ideas..... I've got some thoughts about going into this business, my single greatest challenge is that the "Government" would be my competitor and they offer so many subsidies that make it tough for me to compete in my Province/location?

Cheers,

PS: I've always been a subscriber to your concept; Figure out what everyone else is doing, then do the opposite. That's always worked for me......

[turbo6bar]

Originally Posted by 911Rob

PS: I've always been a subscriber to your concept; Figure out what everyone else is doing, then do the opposite. That's always worked for me......

Against the grain

The article is about a businessman adapting with the changing economic climate. He zigs when others zag. Very smart is this man.

With two North American recessions under his belt since arriving in Canada from his native Vietnam more than 30 years ago, "I can say that [recessions] do me good. We can take advantage of many things."

Despite this, he dismisses the idea of trying harder, especially now, to angle after consumers beyond Hong Kong in mainland China, a theme currently popular especially among academics and other advisers.

Said On: "They all say that China is the future market for U.S. and Canadian goods. But they are not on the ground the way I am. It is still only a very small percentage of buyers in [China's major cities] who can afford our goods."

My mother is Vietnamese, and I naturally inherited a stubborn work ethic. It's refreshing to see a Vietnamese person, Dan On, utilize hard work AND business savvy to excel. Think hard, work hard, play hard.

I may have found a great interior designer. She has loads of experience and has shown great enthusiasm. Going to meet with her next week. Fingers crossed.
Jurgen

[911Rob]

Very Interesting Success Story; thanks!
....and right in my backyard to boot.

I've been working on some things myself.... this message is inspiring to say the least.
Good luck with your new prospect, I like the word "enthusiasm"! Good word.

Ha, ha.

[look 171]

We do work for designers all the time. I think if you are in the middle of a project, you should keep her and finish it up and never call her again. new designers just means you have re-learn each other and she has to deal with the subs. How much time do you have? I have not read through all the post, how far along are you and what is it that you need the interior designer to do for you that others in the design field can't do for you?

P-O-P,

From my experience, Interior designers are great with colors, and other things such as window treatments that architects often over look. I worked with an architect out of west hollwood name John. This guy is so detail that all aspect are covered on ever job. I really like that. I don't have do their thinking for them. I am usualy the glue that push the architects, interior people and the owner for all the miner details at around 75% before the job's finish.

Jeff