Occasionally, I will post one of my friends work as a guest blog. Today, I’m doing so because I had an experience with a potential customer where I decided not to work with them. It was all done over the phone, but I didn’t feel right about it from the beginning. When they called, I just got a bad feeling about the whole experience. In the end, here is my conclusion; I’m grateful that my customers and I have a short feel-out period where we determine whether we can work together or not. In 20 years, it hasn’t happened very often, but I have walked away from potential business a few times. There have been a couple of times that I should have listened to my gut feeling and walked away before choosing to take a client. I spend a lot of time with my clients, and the only way it’s going to work out is if we get along. You should feel the same way about who you choose to work with. If you are the type that takes pride in your home, then you should be on the same page as your designer. If not, run away and find a better fit. Enjoy today’s guest blog by James A. Holloway:

Finding The Right Interior Decorator To Work With It has been said that finding the right interior decorator to work with is like finding the right pair of shoes. Of the hundreds of styles of shoes on the market, there are very few that will meet your personal taste, your needs, or your budget. You may not want to spend several hundred dollars on a pair of Jimmy Choo Slingback Pumps, but at the same time the combat boots from the Army-Navy store might not be what you are looking for either. Before going any further, it is important to note that (as we discussed previously) there is a difference between an interior decorator and an interior designer. But for the purposes of this discussion, let us assume that the two terms are interchangeable. No offense to any of the designers & decorators who read this blog. What do you look for when looking for someone to help decorate your home? Obviously you can ask friends or family for referrals – decorators LOVE referrals. But only ask if the results that your friends got matches something you think you might be comfortable with. It does you no good to get a referral for a decorator that has a “traditional” style if you love a more contemporary decor. Make sure that the decorator can work with your personal tastes and your personality. You are the one that has to live there after the decorator is long gone. Understand the money side of the equation before you commit to using their services. If possible have everything spelled out in advance. Does the decorator bill you incrementally as work progresses? Are you required to put a good faith deposit down first? Or is everything billed upon completion of the job? Nail down a completion date. It’s bad enough to have your home in disarray for a short amount of time but if you don’t know when it is likely to be returned to normal it can lead to an increased level of stress. Communicate. Communicate. Communicate with your decorator. You need to know what she is doing, but she needs to know what your thoughts are as well. Ask for references and then check them. This is just smart business. And you have to remember to think about it as a business transaction. Don’t get emotional during the process. You can fall in love with the finished product after everything is completed. Link to original article here.