Questions I’ll ask you during our first chat
Whenever I get the opportunity to talk to a potential new client, I’m excited. It’s thrilling to speak with someone who is looking for support in managing their home, and making positive changes to it and I am the one you chose to speak to about it. It’s an absolute honour. And this exciting first part of the design process is where the “discovery call” comes in (That’s Designer speak for the first chat or catch up we have with each other).
It’s for both you and I to figure each other out and will help me briefly gauge your style and what your project is about.
Kind of like a date… without the romance.
And with all projects I work on, I aim to please and want to make sure that you feel supported throughout the process and the outcome is a celebration of who YOU are, not us. Because while it might have a Laura Deane stamp on it, it’s your home.
So to give you a bit more of an idea of the early stage of my process, these are some of the questions I might ask you:
Q: What about my work caught your attention?
I ask this to get a sense of what aspect you are looking for. Was there a particular photograph of my work you have seen? Or an interview I have done?
Q: Have you ever worked with a design or renovation professional?
If not, I’ll help educate you in the process so you know what I can bring to the table.
Q: How long have you owned your home and what’s your timeline for the project?
In general, customers who recently purchased a home are more apt to pull the trigger on a renovation project.
Q: What's your preferred method of initial meetings?
Having a first meeting in person or via video definitely helps understanding a client's needs and desires. It also creates a foundation of trust which strengthens the relationship.
Q: Do you trust me to execute your initial vision?
Some people prefer to take the back seat to allow us to fully realise their concept and are happy to be pushed into new comfort zones. But others want to be more involved and like to be kept in the loop for every decision. It’s up to you and how involved you want to be.
Q: Tell me about your lifestyle and family.
With this question I look for clues about your life story to find out if we have things in common. My goal is to build trust with you and the better we understand each other and the stronger our relationship is, the better the end result will be.
Q: Do you plan on staying in the home for a while?
Generally, investors want the process to be more streamlined and homeowners want to be more involved.
Ready to chat?
Because this first interaction is so important, I like to plan it and make sure that I am fully present for the call. So please contact me here to set an appointment at a time that suits you. If you call directly without making that booking in advance, I will organise an appointment at a later time where I can focus wholeheartedly on our conversation. I want to make sure that I am listening intently and taking detailed notes about the things we cover.