Try googling remodeling designer and you’ll get over 3 million listings—so many names, so little time.
To find a remodeling design consultant who is right for you, you’ve got to do your homework. Ask friends, relatives, or your real estate broker — there’s nothing like word-of-mouth from satisfied customers. If you’ve moved to a new state and don’t know anyone, then study websites of local remodeling designers and set appointments to make personal contact. Do you feel comfortable with the designer? If the rapport between you isn’t good, don’t expect your newly remodeled home to be either—go with gut instinct. If the budget for your project seems too good to be true, do NOT do business with him/her—in the long run you will wind up paying way too much for a substandard job. If you cannot understand your designer/contractor do NOT hire that person. Residential construction can easily be explained. Clear communication and interaction with the designer is crucial. Once your remodel is under way, the designer will effectively communicate with vendors, installers, contractors and, most importantly, you. Unless you’re a designer yourself, you may want to hire one.

Steps:

1. Take some time to educate yourself and refine your tastes.

2. Research magazines, books, and websites.

3. Learn as much as you can first. The more you know, the easier the process will be.

4. Ask for referrals from friends, contractors and craftspeople.

5. Hire someone you feel comfortable with. You’ll be spending time together for the next several months (at least), and not all of it will be fun. Like any relationship, it requires mutual respect.

6. Be prepared to pay well for a design, from several hundred dollars (for minimal plans and no follow-through) to several thousand dollars, depending on the scope of the project. As with anything else, you often get what you pay for.