A good interior designer will save you money. A bad one will quietly cost you a renovation's worth on top of the renovation. The difference is usually visible inside the first two meetings — if you know what to look for.
1. They quote without measuring
A trustworthy designer asks to see the unit before committing to a price. Anyone willing to quote from a floor plan alone is either inexperienced or planning to recover the unknowns through variation orders later.
2. The quote has no specifications
If the quote says 'kitchen cabinet — $7,500' without naming the material, thickness, edging, or hinge brand, you have no way to compare it to another firm. That ambiguity is rarely accidental.
3. They pressure you to decide fast
'Sign today and I'll waive the design fee' is a sales tactic, not a deal. A reputable firm has a pipeline; they don't need to close you in 48 hours.
4. Their reviews are all five stars and recent
Healthy review profiles have a mix of ratings stretching back years. Look for how they respond to the 3-star reviews — that tells you who you'll actually be dealing with when something goes wrong.
5. The contract is one page
A real renovation contract spells out payment milestones, variation order policy, defect rectification windows, and dispute procedures. If yours fits on a single A4, it isn't protecting you.
Where to go from here
If you're still in the planning phase, take a slow read through our Cost Guides — they cover the line items most homeowners only discover after signing. If you're already comparing designers, our concierge can hand-pick three trustworthy firms for your scope, free, in under 24 hours.
