The internet is awash with information on how and where to get the supplies and labour to execute the vision for your dream home. Technically (and this has been the trend over the past couple of years) homeowners could assemble a team of contractors on their own, from just contacts that they can scrape together online.
The cost savings are hard to ignore. Without fees for design and for project management, you may be able to save anywhere from 10 – 25% off your total renovation costs. Considering a home makeover costs well into the five digits, this is a not-insignificant sum of cash.
If that’s the case, then why Would I Engage an Interior Designer?
There’s a reason why the market for Interior Design services remains strong. Sure, cost savings can be enjoyed if you tackle your project independently. However, there are a few key risks in doing so.
Pinterest and Instagram may serve as great platforms for inspiration, but without the trained eye of a designer, you may not be able to recreate the look for your own space. Contractors, whilst skilled in their handy work, will almost always lack the ability to make subtle tweaks to your base design to make it work for your property.
Space optimisation from within your cabinets is also something that you need practical experience in to perfect. Again, contractors can (and often will) make suggestions on how you should go about proportioning the space. But only an Interior Designer can properly sit you down, understand your needs and adjust the cabinet internals to suit accordingly.
And leaving the decision in the hands of your contractors may also leave you vulnerable to being overcharged. They probably know that you are unfamiliar with the industry, so they may ask for more funds as the project progresses, on the pretext of initial errors in the quotation.
But There’s More
Most importantly, tackling your renovation DIY means having to liaise with multiple groups of contractors. As a home makeover is an intricate process that requires the cooperation of several parties, proper coordination is key. There’d be days where multiple groups of contractors will be on site together, all working on different parts of the house.
Without a project manager, you’d have to juggle scheduling all of these groups of people, ensuring nothing clashes to avoid project delays. And imagine having to do so whilst juggling the stresses of your day job!
Can you DIY Your Home Renovation?
Truth be told, the internet has made it fairly easy for homeowners to get the key contacts needed to renovate their space themselves. If you can swallow the stresses, and would like to be actively involved in your project, finding contractors yourself can save you quite a fair chunk of change.
However, if the risk of an unsatisfactory outcome worries you, or if you’d like to not have to deal with the coordination of large groups of strangers (looking at the introverts here), there’s definitely still a place for Interior Designers. Plus, it’s the subtle nuances in the spatial design that really ends up making a big difference in the end product. And that’s something only someone with formal training can execute!
You May Be Interested In: ID Project Feature: Waffl, by RE.design
