Questions to Ask Before Hiring an Interior Designer
Ask about scope, documents, responsibility, fees, revisions, rights and termination before signing an agreement.
Direct answer
Before signing, ask who the contracting party is, who performs and approves the work, which services and deliverables are included, how fees and taxes work, how revisions and additions are controlled, who coordinates specialists, who owns design and image rights, and how work can pause or end. Important answers should be written into the agreement, not left only in conversation.
Identity, scope and team
Who is the contracting party, where is service available, who owns each stage, and which work requires an architect, engineer, contractor or other specialist?
Money, time and changes
Ask about fee basis, payment stages, tax, reimbursable costs, assumptions, issue dates, comment rounds and approval of additional work.
Documents, rights and ending the work
Define files, design and image-use rights, confidentiality, suspension, handover and dispute arrangements. This page is not legal advice. Review how to choose a company, design deliverables and change control.
Contact
Frequently asked questions
Is a quotation enough instead of a contract?
That depends on its content and applicable law; check that material terms are covered and seek legal advice when needed.
Do verbal assurances count?
Ask for important commitments to be recorded in the proposal, agreement or an accepted amendment.
Is this page legal advice?
No. It is a general question list; an appropriate professional should review the actual agreement.