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Protect your work, protect your passion: five essential tips for interior designers and architects.

Blog
12 October 2023

As a passionate interior designer, you know that success is not just about creativity and design skills. You also need to be able to deal with a range of business challenges, such as liability issues, payment problems and even unexpected situations like finding asbestos. At DGDM, we understand these obstacles and want to help you stand strong legally in your profession as well with these 5 powerful tips.

Five essential tips for interior designers

  1. Outline a clear path: ensure a crystal-clear description of all expected work in the contract to avoid confusion and discussions about the assignment. What is and isn’t included in the brief ? Without clear communication, builders expect everything to be included …
  2. Avoid permit issues: clearly state that permit-required works and architectural changes, stability, … are beyond your responsibility as an interior designer(e).
  3. Nurture your project portfolio: safeguard your portfolio by emphasizing that the interior designer agreement is personal and cannot be transferred without mutual written agreement, e.g. when selling a project. This way you maintain control over your clientele.
  4. Information is crucial: Focus in the agreement on the client’s obligation to provide all necessary information in a timely manner. If the client delays, you can provide for suspension, limitation of liability or even discontinuation of the project.
  5. Budgetary peace of mind: avoid discussions about the budget by providing transparency in the agreement. Make it clear that the total budget is only an estimated indication and not a final budget, making any variations understood.

Unique offer

At DGDM, we offer a customized agreement that protects you from these and other risks. All at an attractive rate. These are just 5 tips; we have even more valuable insights that we can offer customized.

Conclusion

Whether you are a seasoned professional or just graduated, these tips will help you stand strong legally in your profession. Sometimes things go wrong, technically or collaboratively, and that’s inevitable. Our job is to make sure the adverse consequences are limited. With a good agreement, we can limit or even eliminate these risks completely. Talk to us and let us draft a custom agreement together. Not only will this give you great peace of mind, but it also comes across as very professional.

 

Contact DGDM today to increase your contractual security and protect your creative vision.

Written by

Dieter Vanelverdinghe

Dieter Vanelverdinghe is advocaat Vastgoedrecht.