Interior design project management balances three main factors: cost, time, and quality. As a project manager, you strive to find balance between these three elements for the entire project in addition to maintaining a positive rapport with your client.
Project management is a complex and multifaceted job. We’ve consulted with the pros to identify a few key ways you can level up your projects.
Defining Clear and Measurable Objectives
Clients often dream big without having a lot of clarity around the specifications of their project. Part of interior design project management is to help the client identify the scope of a project in a way that is clear and can be communicated to contractors.
Accurately identifying the scope of the project includes goals, tasks, costs and deadlines. Your job as project manager is to outline all of their options and then navigate communication between all parties involved.
Clients see unrealistic timelines and budgets all the time on TV and in magazines. It’s your job to educate them on what’s realistic and within their budget.
Budget and Bidding: Room for Change Orders
Good communication will mitigate many budgeting issues. Most homeowners don’t know how much home improvement products actually cost, especially with the unpredictable inflation we have been facing lately.
Once you have a clear idea of their vision and budget, do your research to determine if their dream is affordable. Make sure they are specific about what they want, and if there are any places in which they are willing to make allowances.
By helping your client budget and plan ahead, you will help keep the budget on track by preventing delays in material acquisition due to changing plans, wasted work hours and other inconveniences.
As much as we’d all love that million dollar paycheck, your client will appreciate you keeping the project within their budget by appropriately sourcing materials and being clear about labor costs.
Remember to leave at least 10% of your budget in case materials break or you make a mistake. It’s also important to be upfront about the possibility of making change orders in case the contractor needs to change course.
So many clients are caught off guard about unexpected costs and feel like they are being taken advantage of by surprises in cost. Being upfront about this possibility (and even better, budgeting for it) will help facilitate those tough conversations.
In the era of online reviews, having good rapport with your client is SO important!
Maintaining Alignment and Close Contact with the Client
Communication is key! Big projects with a lot of moving parts are complicated. It’s easy for details to get lost in the mix. What may not seem like a big deal to you could be really upsetting to your client.
Maintaining constant communication about the phases of the project and the specifics will help prevent expensive and emotional mistakes.
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Modernize your Tools
You can’t level up your interior design project management without improving your tool set.
These days, that looks like enhancing your social media presence. In lieu of portfolios on websites, your clients will likely want to see pictures on your Instagram.
You’ll also want to make sure your finished product winds up on Pinterest so folks who are in the dreaming phase of their project can find you.
An active online presence ensures that you are relevant and more importantly, show up more frequently on the algorithm.
Debrief Each Project
The best way to improve your next project is to learn from mistakes from past projects. No two projects are the same, however the processes to get you through them are.
Upon completion of each project, coupled with feedback from your client, you can reflect upon your past experience to improve your workflow. Be honest about what worked and what didn’t so you know exactly where you need to improve.
Know When to Delegate
Being an independent project manager requires you to wear several different hats. It’s easy to get overwhelmed with projects, not to mention all of the behind the scene work required to make it happen.
After all, interior design and running a business are two totally different skill sets.
It’s a good idea to outsource administrative tasks to professionals who are far more efficient than you. Your time is valuable, if you can find someone who is faster at bookkeeping than you, it is a way better use of your time/money to contract a professional.
If designing is your main priority, you should focus most of your time and energy on that. That way you can focus on meeting your client’s needs without sacrificing quality.
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