That is the million-dollar question. And the answer is...now!
I can't tell you how many times in the last few years, I have been brought into a project too late. Not to say that the project can't be turned around, but bringing in a Designer too late in the construction process can be extremely costly.
Bringing a Designer in, early on in the design and construction process can help avoid these costly mistakes. A Designer understands the process from the ground-up and can visualize the end result. By being able to look through the lens of you, the client and end-user, we can help communicate your needs to the contractor and design team. A Designer can also help you through the contractor selection process. Many times, several bids and interviews are required in order find the right fit. Instead of being committed to a specific contractor, and then having buyers remorse, a Designer can pull from their resources of preferred and reliable professionals, to put together a strong team that can successfully execute your project.
I have had clients hire me, after hiring their contractor, and the contractor disappears or is not able to fulfill their obligations on the project. We can bring in our team to help right those wrongs. A recently completed project was undertaken by such a contractor in April of last year. The contractor, after haphazardly doing portions of the project, disappeared come the Fall and left the client high and dry. From there, we went to work - bringing in our team of licensed and insured professionals, and from time of permit approval, had the project completed in just 13 weeks!!
Other clients have hired me midway through the process after hitting a roadbloack with their contractor. Drawings were prepared by the Architect, but no details were specified and the project was dead in the water, partially constructed, with no clear direction. Although challenging to play catch-up and figure out what's been done and what is still needed, it is not impossible to accomplish. Through a series of organizational meetings with the team, we were able to create a clear design plan moving forward, for all related trades to follow.
Just like you would use an umbrella in the rain, a Designer can provide you with that added layer of protection, to weather the storm! The programming and design phases are the MOST IMPORTANT! Measure twice, install once. Putting the right pieces in place, with the right team of professionals in your corner early on in the process, will set you up for success!
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