# 91 | 3 Things I Obsess Over with Interior Design Clients

Interior design BusinessMindsetAttracting Client2-Establishing1-Launching

Sep 12

finding the right interior design clients

"Becoming obsessive over right fit clients, clear and timely communications and asking for client feedback throughout their experience is a sure fire way to improve your client's experience and your business overall."

In today's episode, I am sharing the top 3 things that I OBSESS over when it comes to my interior design clients. These are the things that I truly believe make your business sustainable and keep it fun and enjoyable without all of the overwhelm and frustration. So what are the 3 things I obsess over?

#1 - Making sure my clients are the right fit

I believe that you must vet your clients to ensure they are the right fit and you have what it takes to support them. A part of this is also ensuring they are the right clients for the direction you want to take your business. So how do you do this? Here are a few things I look for.

What are their project goals?

For my business, I am looking for clients who are in their long-term homes and want to make long-standing changes. I will usually pass if they are more interested in improving resale value.

What attracted them to me specifically?

I want to know why they chose to book a consultation with me specifically Have they seen my portfolio and like my design style? Were they a referral? This is important to gauge not only if they are a good fit but how much they know about my business and my processes as well as how excited they may be to work with me.

Do they have a realistic budget and timeline?

I use the discovery call to lay out a typical timeline for working with me, which is 6+ weeks for design depending on the scope of work. I want my clients to be prepared to take the time it takes to do a project right and within my processes. I also want to know a potential client's feelings on their budget. Not having a realistic budget can be a dealbreaker when it comes to working with an interior design client. I aim to find out if their budget is strict or if they have some flexibility.

Are we a good personality match?

This is so important when it comes to interior design work! I try to find out as much as I can about a client's personality throughout my discovery call and consultation. I try to get a feeling for if they are more relaxed and easygoing, seem trustworthy (this one is vital!), and if they seem genuinely excited about the process and being able to work with me!

Do I see any red flags?

This one is so important that I have a whole episode dedicated it that you can find here!

Ultimately, don't try to fit a square peg into a round hole when it comes to clients. These are long-term relationships and working together is a very personal experience.

#2 Communications

Communication is KEY when it comes to ensuring that your client has the right information at the right team and helps a client feel supported and develop a deep sense of trust in you! There are a few ways that I make sure I am communicating well with my clients.

Timing Communication Well

I try not to front-load clients with massive amounts of information at the start of the project because by the time the information is relevant to them they will have forgotten

Instead, I share high-level information at the start and drip out the details at the right time.

ALWAYS Set Expectations (and keep setting them!)

Do not allow any dead ends in your communications. You should always let your client know what to expect next. As an example,

Here's what to expect at the site survey, at the design presentation, after the presentation, over the coming weeks, at the installation, after the installation, etc.

Anticipate your client's questions and concerns and get in front of them. When you can do this, your client will feel like you can see into their minds, and that develops a sense of trust in you

Example: Renovation Reality Client Guide

Reflecting Back

Over the years, I have built a habit of repeating my client's own words back to them to ensure that I heard it correctly and am validating what I heard. I do this in all of my client conversations (discovery calls, proposals, and everyday conversations).

Just say No to Default language

I love automation and we use plenty of software to automate our processes, but programs like Quickbooks, Honeybook, Dubsado, scheduling software, etc. often have template emails used for things like "pay this invoice, confirm your appointment" and they don't feel personal at all. I like to customize this language to match my brand's tone of voice and improve the messaging in any way that I can. (You can fast-track this with our Email Template Suite with over 90 professionally written emails to cover every stage of communications including automated emails for anything from sending an invoice to conveying that they are not a right fit for you)

#3 - Getting Client Feedback

Gathering client feedback is the absolute best resource when it comes to improving your client experience. Clients can help you identify blind spots and ensure that what you have communicated is easily understood. I get feedback all the time, not just at an end-of-project survey. I ask for feedback at the end of the discovery call, design presentation, mid-way through the project, and at the end at a bare minimum.

To build a business that you truly enjoy and work with the best clients for you, you have to become obsessive over finding your right fit clients, having clear and timely communication, and asking for client feedback. These 3 things are surefire ways to improve your client experience and business overall.

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