Are you thinking that if you find a good designer, the rest of your renovating or new build project will go smoothly?

This can be a big mistake – but it’s a belief many design professionals promote that it’s all that’s required for project success.

And it’s one that I hear many homeowners believe is all that’s necessary too.

This is episode 246, and in it, I’m going to be talking about a comment I REGULARLY receive on my social media, and a few months ago, it was even typed into the comments of a free online workshop I ran.

It gets put in different ways, but the essence of it is this: You don’t need any of this information. Just find a good designer or architect.

So, in this episode, I’m going to talk about this claim that some make, why I don’t think it’s that easy, why I find this attitude can be challenging for projects, and why some colleagues of mine have this so wrong.

If you’re thinking a good designer or architect will be THE pathway to success in your project, a great experience and a fantastic home at the end of it, then this episode will be worth listening to.

IF YOU EMPLOY A GOOD DESIGNER OR ARCHITECT YOU DON’T NEED TO LISTEN TO ANY OF THIS.

That’s what someone typed in the comments of an online workshop I presented a few months ago. In all caps.

Ever since I started getting significantly more people on my workshops, I’ve found there’ll be a couple of attendees who, for some reason, hang around for the whole time, but add negative comments in the chat. Usually via an anonymous or un-named zoom profile.

It’s really interesting to me that they’ll spend an hour or more of their time hanging out online in a free workshop I’m offering, just to do that, but usually I’m so focussed on delivering the workshop that I don’t see the comments until afterwards. 

However, this comment did stand out to me because it was in all caps, and it came at a small pause point in my workshop flow.

And so, at the time, I took a moment to read it. And respond.

And I responded, because it’s a common thought I know many homeowners have. That they just need to find a good designer, or a good architect, and their project will be set. It can also extend to finding a good builder, but commonly, I find it’s about the designer or architect.

“IF YOU EMPLOY A GOOD DESIGNER OR ARCHITECT YOU DON’T NEED TO LISTEN TO ANY OF THIS.”

If only it was this easy.

Because … if it was this easy – then why do so many have such a horrible experience of their projects?

Why, if this is all it requires, do so many projects go pear-shaped? 

And why is there homeowner after homeowner, Facebook group after Facebook group, of project after project, having some stressful or poor quality or budget blowing issue or drama?

I see so many homeowners assuming that finding a good designer or architect is all they need to worry about – and the rest will get taken care of.

But it’s super hard for a ‘good’ designer / architect to mean the same ‘good’ to all people.

Having received SO many stories, and seen SO many designs and drawings, I know that there are a huge range of skills and abilities out there in the industry.

And I know there’s also loads of far-from-good designers, architects and builders wanting to (unfortunately) deliver the bare minimum in service and quality to their clients.

Unless you know …

• how to look for the right team members
• ways to decipher and interpret what you’re being told
• what it can and should look like to navigate your project journey
• what questions to ask to get the right info along the way
• how to find the best fit for you and your project

… You may miss out on finding YOUR ‘good’ designer to work with.

Please understand that, I’m not against finding a great professional team to work with on your project. Not all all. In fact the opposite is true.

I strongly believe that renovating and building are best done as a team sport. Teamwork makes the dream work! And the right team can and does make a massive difference to the quality of your experience, the design outcome in your home, the amount of stress you experience along your journey, and how much you enjoy it as well.

However, it’s because the industry has such a wide-ranging level of experience and expertise, and varying degrees of customer service and quality delivery, that things can go pear-shaped. 

I will say … the weirdest thing happens when I speak about this. I have colleagues who really resent that I talk about the varying degrees of professionalism, quality and performance in our industry. 

Who think I have ‘an odd approach’ to my own industry, as one put it. That it denigrates the hard work of great professionals.

However, because I work in this industry, and have done so for a long time, and know there are really great professionals working hard, I want to speak out about it when I see homeowners, who are bringing their trust and money and hopes and dreams to the industry, and asking for help and guidance, have terrible outcomes and experiences happen for homeowners. I want to help that be avoided.

And frankly, I’m sick of seeing those not-so-great professionals let the great ones down, and tarnish the industry overall.

Listen to the episode now.

RESOURCES:

Save your spot at the free online workshop “The Top 5 Home Design Mistakes (and how to avoid them) >>> Register here

How to create a design brief >>> Episode 196

How to choose the right designer for you >>> Listen to the episode here

The difference between an architect, a building designer and a draftsperson >>> Do you know the difference?

Access my free “Your Project Plan” online workshop and awesome bonuses now >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/projectplan

Access the support and guidance you need to be confident and empowered when renovating and building your family home inside my flagship online program >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/courses/the-home-method/