4 Tips for Interviewing an Interior Designer Online

There are many reasons to hire an interior designer. Maybe you need someone with the knowledge, skills, and experience to turn your space into a functional and aesthetically pleasing space that increases property value. Or maybe you want someone to alleviate the stress of designing an interior space by taking over the design process from the initial concept to the final installation. Whatever your goals may be, finding the right interior designer is crucial to accomplishing them. Luckily, technological advancement means deciding among multiple interior designers has never been easier. You can find out where a potential designer gets inspiration for their interior design work and check out their communication style, all remotely. 

So if you’ve reached the interview portion of the hiring process, here are some tips for interviewing potential designers online. 

Choose a Video Conferencing Platform  

The video conferencing platform you choose is important as it’s how you’ll show a designer your space as well as get a look at their own space to gauge their sense of style for example. 

Here’s what to prioritize:

  • Accessibility for both you and the designer depending on things like geographic location, internet connectivity, and device compatibility 
  • High video and audio quality 
  • Screen sharing capabilities to allow for sharing of design concepts, portfolios, and other visual materials 
  • Ease of use 

Prepare a List of Questions 

If you’re thinking about freestyling the interview, reconsider. Having a list of questions is the easiest way to stay focused and get the information you need.

Here’s what your list should include: 

  • What is your design philosophy?
  • Do you specialize in a particular style or aesthetic?
  • How do you incorporate a client’s preferences into your work?
  • How do you work with other professionals like architects or contractors?
  • Can you provide references or examples of your past work?
  • What is your fee structure and how do you handle billing and payments?
  • What is your availability for starting and completing my project?

Test Your Technology 

You don’t want to spend valuable interview time troubleshooting technical issues; it’s unlikely that a designer will have all day to chat and you wouldn’t want to spend hours on a single interview. 

So it’s a good idea to test out your technology beforehand. Here’s how:

  • Use an online speed test tool to check your internet speed 
  • Make a test call on your video conferencing platform to check your camera, microphone, and speakers 
  • Create a mock presentation or document to test out screen sharing 

Take Notes or Record 

Especially if you’ll be interviewing multiple candidates, taking notes or recording so that you can refer later will help you remember important details about each one and better compare. 

If you go with the latter, keep in mind that it’s important to respect the privacy of the designers and obtain their consent before recording the interview.

After the interviews, create a comparison chart to compare the designers based on their experience, design approach, budget, specialty, and other factors that are important to you in order to evaluate each designer more objectively.

Interviewing an interior designer online can be simple. Just be sure to choose the right platform, test your technology, prepare questions, and take notes. 

Factors to consider when choosing an aircon repair service

Air conditioners are essential if you want to maintain a comfortable temperature in your home and gain some relief from the oppressive heat and humidity that exists outside. However, air conditioners have a propensity to fail over time, necessitating the need for AC repair or maintenance services in order to get them back to working effectively. Even if there may be a large number of organisations or providers in your location who specialise in AC repair, you cannot entrust your unit to just anyone. You can find the best aircon servicing in Singapore here. We have compiled a list of several vital considerations that, when given the appropriate amount of attention, can assist you in selecting the most qualified air conditioner repair service provider in your city.

Professionalism

It says a lot about a company’s work ethic and dedication to their field if they treat potential consumers the way they would like to be treated themselves. Because of this, it is absolutely necessary to work with just a reputable company that employs skilled specialists that are familiar with the processes necessary to address the concerns of a customer.

Experience & Expertise

A company that has been servicing or repairing air conditioners for a long time and has a lot of experience will almost certainly provide superior service than a technician or agency that is just starting out. Because they have dealt with problems similar to yours for years, they have the experience necessary to repair your air conditioner in a timely and effective manner. Their credibility as a repair firm is further enhanced by the fact that they have been in the industry for such a long time.

Location

Checking the distance between your property and the AC repair firm is something else that you absolutely must do. In the event that you need to pay them a visit, this will put your mind at ease. The closer they are to one another, the quicker and simpler the process of repairing something will be.

The Replacement Components

The quality of the replacement parts is one of the most important factors in determining how well and for how long your repaired air conditioner will perform. Therefore, you need to be sure that you ask the company whether they utilise original parts or not. If you want to save some money, you shouldn’t choose spare parts of poor quality or fake ones. This choice could wind up costing you more money in the long run because low-quality components are more likely to break down quickly and could even reduce the efficiency of your air conditioner.

5 Ways To Build Equity In Your Home

Once you’re at a place in life where you can buy a house, you want that house to be a good investment.  You can make a property purchase more lucrative as you enjoy the space by upgrading and refining the space along the way.  

If you’re looking for ideas on how to start the process, you’re in the right place.  Read on to learn a little more about a few ways you can start to build equity in your home today.  

Kitchen renovation is always lucrative

If you really want to stack value in your home, renovating your home adds value fast.  The kitchen is the most desired space in a property, so kitchen remodels will give you the most bang for your buck in terms of ROI (return on investment).  

New countertops, a new island, and plenty of seating will change the whole feel of your kitchen space.  Give everyone a place in the busiest room of the house, and set the stage for future memories to be made. 

Invest in a little landscaping

Not all equity investments happen inside of your home.  You can build more equity in your home by upgrading the surrounding areas outside of your house as well.  

Depending on how fancy you want to go with your landscaping activities, there are tons of ways to spruce up a boring old yard and make it enjoyable for everyone.  Adding a water feature is one of the easiest ways to really take your landscaping to the next level.  

Pour more money into your mortgage

When you purchase a house, your monthly mortgage payment is calculated based on your loan term.  If you take the opportunity to pay more than the minimum monthly payment, you’ll pay your house off quicker.  

Not only will you pay your house off quicker, but you will build equity in your property along the way.  Take a good look at your finances, and consider paying more on your home to minimize your debt faster.  

Wait for time to pass

Time can sometimes be a big helper when you’re working to build equity in your home.  The housing market fluctuates constantly, and simply waiting for the right time in the market to roll around will help you build some equity in your property.  

Refinance with a shortened term

Finally, refinancing your mortgage loan can sometimes be a good solution for boosting your equity.  A shorter repayment plan will not only let you pay your mortgage off faster, but more of your payment will hit the principal each month.  

Paying money on the principal of your home is converted into pure equity.  This isn’t the best method for everyone, so make sure you are sure before you choose this route.