When hiring your design / build team for your new home or renovation, open and transparent communication is extremely important. Not only should your team understand what you hope to achieve, but that you feel comfortable enough to discuss your lifestyle and financial situation with them. Just as you wouldn’t tell your therapist how to do their job or ask them to provide drugs without a prescription, there are some things your team prefer that you didn’t say.

A consulting and design client and member recently asked me “Why do professional’s prices vary so much? What is the right choice when making a hire?” If you’ve ever found yourself asking the same question, you’re not alone. Let’s talk about it.

If you're working with an Architect, Architectural Designer, General Contractor or Project Manager, but have never had ANY experience talking about specific parts of your home, the process, and the build, it can feel seriously overwhelming just to know how to speak! We have heard so many made up words to try to describe something on a house that we thought we’d try to help out and know what the heck your team is talking about.

Design feedback is a double-edged sword. On one hand, your team wants and needs feedback to improve your project and make it better. On the other hand, your feedback can be ambiguous and not provide enough direction to get to those solutions.

Here’s how you can provide them with effective feedback, so you can work more fluid and faster together.