[Music playing]

Irwin: Welcome to Design to Share Q&A. I am Irwin.

Dawn Nicola: And I am Dawn Nicola.

Irwin: We have often we asked the question, how and when do I select a Profession Designer or Contractor?

Dawn Nicola: Well, I think in the same that you would choose a Lawyer or a Doctor. You want to receive do your research. Obviously Professionals and the same, you would approach this with a Professional Interior Designer or Contractor.

Irwin: And absolutely, professional is the key. The idea that you would do-it-yourself or try and do-it-yourself we do not approved off. The fact is doing a do-it-yourself project needs to be a short one. Doing construction or interior design is actually quite a length the process.

Dawn Nicola: Absolutely. It can also be extremely costly to get it wrong.

Irwin: There you go. So, as we always, if you want to do-it-yourself, knock yourself out.

Dawn Nicola: Knock yourself out.

Irwin: When we are speaking about the personal referrals or the references, I think some other resources would be of course the internet. Also approaching stores, some stores in Sharon’s are -- who sell tile for example, might be once who would be recommend a tile set up or plumbing supplies recommending a plan out.

Dawn Nicola: I think one of the key things also like you have said professional, and obviously has to be somebody who is licensed and in short can get into dye straights when things go wrong.

Irwin: Absolutely, as the insurance is a very important, especially if it is damage to other people’s property or to your own. Remember, if you are insured the property, you should also insure one selves. In terms of for having any liability or damage from the contractor, I knew you just made it up with something.

Dawn Nicola: (Laughs)

Irwin: Anyway, so, one of the other things (sorry about that) one of the other things are -- is to get written inspects. I think that we are all aware of getting plans and drawings and designs, but I think in addition to that summarizing whatever in those drawings would be a written specification of a entire project. This is very helpful because often times think are missing from some one’s perception, whether it is your perception, the contractor’s perception in terms of what is -- what the job is all about.

Dawn Nicola: Yes, something has to be very clearly layed-out. You know in layman’s terms you know the client knows exactly what they are expecting. We know what the client is expecting and it is right there in black and white and there is no re-course obviously when you have the contract there between the client and yourself.

Irwin: Exactly. I think that often times -- what happens is that a client will show a set of drawings from an Architect and I will turn out to the client and they will say well, do you realize that this is and this is what is in this room and I will say, no I have no idea.

Dawn Nicola: Right.

Irwin: And it is a document that they are actually signing away. We are signing their approval off.

Dawn Nicola: Yes.

Irwin: And they will find out later that it is not what they are anticipating. So I think that the more that is written and the more that is describe and the more that they understand.

Dawn Nicola: Yes.

Irwin: It was really (voice overlap)

Dawn Nicola: And it is a longer in process, so obviously it is not just you sign once and adopted one. I mean things change along the way and no one -- and you will have approval each step of the way from the client and yourself. You know, things change with construction. You might run into plans, you have anticipated and so it is going to cost you ex-amount of dollars to fix and you need that approval from the clients and everybody. Again, this is in tuned with what is happening and agreeing the cost.

Irwin: I think a good rule of thumb is a 10% for areas and the mission as it is called. Say that is an area of a designer or one area of even you at mind changing or in a mission something that has actually being made and in a bit you lift out. One should allow by 10% of the budget for that.

Dawn Nicola: Right, right. You know, I think it is very important to be a realistic with your expectations. What you are actually expecting the project. You know, whether it is the time but it is going on to take to a complete a project but I think it is just managing your expectations.

Irwin: What percentage do you think that one would if that comes out to set in?

Dawn Nicola: I would probably say 90% and you are looking for the good.

Irwin: I think so, I mean I think that to being a hand made item, being item that is takes a lot of you know, people work and hours and time. It is not like they order and then you coming with a conveyor belt,

Dawn Nicola: Absolutely.

Irwin: Where it is in the machine that is on a conveyor belt everything come at exactly the same.

Dawn Nicola: Right, it is custom, particularly to the clients specifications.

Irwin: And all hand made.

Dawn Nicola: Yes.

Irwin: And I think that that is the difference from getting a high interior versus getting a automobile.

Dawn Nicola: Absolutely. So, I think in summary what we would say is hire a professional, no doubt. Get written confirmation and also I think everything should be on writing.

Irwin: And say your prayer.

Dawn Nicola: (Laughs)

Irwin: I am Irwin.

Dawn Nicola: And I am Nicola. Thank you for watching Design to Share Q&A.

[Music playing]