The Dreaded ‘B’ Word

The dreaded B word. The one I always raise at my first consultation that no one likes to talk about. The Budget.

If you’re about to embark on a new build or renovation, talking budget can be an area of huge uncertainty for most people. At the point of engaging an interior designer, many of my clients have no idea what to expect or budget with regards to both overall costs, or more specific parts of the project. They are very much still in the planning stages, and are yet to be able to start compiling detailed quotes or pricing.

There is also often an element of fear or embarrassment in sharing what their budget is - in case they are way off with regards to what things actually cost.

Part of my job as an interior designer, and a hugely important part I might add, is to guide my clients on what to expect or budget throughout the build process, and to develop a clear understanding of what my clients are comfortable spending. Balancing up the design of your dream kitchen, and sourcing your perfect sofa, with it coming in at a cost that’s not going to keep you awake at night for months to come.

My advice? Be as transparent as possible with your designer when it comes to talking money, to ensure your dream home aligns with the funds you have available to execute your vision. There are always going to be more or less expensive options that can be specified, according to what’s going to work for YOU. Even if you are unsure what things are going to cost, I suggest starting with how much are you comfortable spending, or how much you have set aside for the project.

From here we can start to offer feedback, prioritise your wish list, and have a plan for areas where we can scale back if needed, if costs start to escalate. With almost every building project, there are going to be unexpected costs that arise, that can’t be avoided, and having a plan in place of areas we can save, will help to minimise the stress throughout the process.

I have been fortunate enough to be able to wear two hats - one as an interior designer, and the other as co-director of a building company, where for the last 8 years I have been heavily involved in tendering for build projects, compiling quotes, managing subcontractors, and keeping a close eye on all the costs throughout the entire project. In addition to this, my partner and I have built and renovated several of our own homes, which has given me invaluable insight into the true costs of building.

Engaging an interior designer early, is one excellent way to avoid budget blow outs, and save you money. An example of this, is when I recently met with some prospective clients to discuss their concept plans, which they were wanting some assistance on before committing to working drawings. It was quickly apparent to myself, that their build budget did not align with the house they were building, and my gut feeling was that they ran the risk of spending significantly more than what they were anticipating. The clients were then able to take this advice back to their architect, who was in agreement with my feedback, and at this stage they decided to scale back their plans in order to avoid costly budget blowouts. For the cost of a consultation fee, they were able to avoid spending thousands on working drawings, for a house that would never get built.

If you’re about to embark on a building project, and the dreaded B word is keeping you up at night, don’t hesitate to reach out for a confidential chat, and some expert guidance on what to expect - we love sharing our experience and knowledge in order to help minimise your stress, and ensure you end up with a home you can afford to keep at the end of the project.