If you’re thinking of sprucing up your home, hiring an interior designer can be a great option. However, it’s important to do your due diligence before engaging anyone.

One of the best ways to evaluate an interior designer is? By looking at their reviews.

Why are reviews so important? Well, they give you an idea of what it’s like to work with the designer from the perspective of past clients.

By reading reviews, you can learn about the designer’s strengths and weaknesses, their communication style, and their overall professionalism. Reviews can also give you a sense of the designer’s aesthetic and whether it aligns with your own.

When it comes to reviews, there are a few things to keep in mind.

First, don’t just look at the overall rating. Read the reviews themselves to get a sense of what people liked and didn’t like about working with the designer.

Second, pay attention to any recurring themes. If multiple people mention that the designer was difficult to reach or didn’t listen to their needs, that’s a red flag.

Finally, consider the source of the reviews. If the designer has only a handful of reviews from friends and family, that’s not as meaningful as dozens of reviews from real clients.

While positive reviews or neutral reviews may be helpful, we find that negative reviews are even more so. This is because negative reviews give you insight into potential red flags and issues you may encounter if you choose to work with a particular designer.

When looking at negative reviews, pay attention to the specific complaints that clients have raised.

Is there a recurring issue that multiple people have mentioned? For example, if several clients mention that the designer was unresponsive or difficult to work with, it’s a sign that you may encounter similar issues.

It’s also important to consider the context of negative reviews. Are the complaints isolated incidents or do they reflect a larger pattern of behavior?

If the designer has mostly positive reviews with a few negative ones scattered throughout, it may not be a cause for concern. However, if the majority of the reviews are negative, it’s a sign that you should approach with caution.

Of course, when evaluating negative reviews, try to be objective and consider the designer’s perspective as well. Some negative reviews may be the result of misunderstandings or miscommunications.

Now, we’ll list out a few examples of Hometrust reviews, and give you some insight into what each reviews tell you:

Review 1:

This review raised several issues, including bad design, lack of transparency, poor materials, and the fact that the designers did not seek to understand the customer’s lifestyle before proposing the design.

When clicking through to see the firm’s other reviews, we see that the firm has consistently scored high reviews (9 or higher) and that this negative review is a one-off.

Bearing this in mind, we wouldn’t totally write off the company – it’s possible that they typically provide good service but encountered certain issues with this specific client.

What to learn from this review:

• The client mentioned that the designer suggested a design without thinking about what works for the customer. As a customer, you need to exercise your own judgment and figure out if this is a dealbreaker for you. If you feel that the ID is too swamped with work to really put much thought into your design and project, then cut your losses early and switch to a different ID instead of continuing to work with this same person or company.
• The client mentioned that the designer promised to refund them verbally, but eventually didn’t do so. Verbal agreements and promises cannot be enforced, so always make sure that you document any verbal communications and put these into writing.

Review 2:

This review raised several issues, including a lack of updates, delays in the renovation process, poor workmanship.

When clicking through to this firm, we see that this is the only review that the firm has.

If you’re engaging a firm that has no online reviews, this will always be a risky move. It might be tempting to do so, especially if the firm is enticing you with cheap deals and promotions… but we feel that the hassle incurred (should things go wrong) is really not worth saving that extra bit of money.

What to learn from this review:

• The client mentioned that they received less than 5 updates throughout the entire project. Before signing a contract, talk to your ID about how often you expect updates, and have this documented in black and white.
• The client mentioned that both the tiling and carpentry work was completed much later than expected. Unfortunately, delays are common in this industry – you’d be hard-pressed to find a project where every item was completed according to schedule. To save yourself some anxiety, give yourself some buffer when planning, so that you’re not caught in the situation where you urgently need to move in, but your home isn’t ready.

Review 3:

This review raised several issues, including a lack of updates, delays in the renovation process, poor workmanship and more.

After clicking through to the firm, we can see that the firm has several good reviews between 2020 and 2021, but that the recent reviews are all negative.

Since several recent customers have had a bad experience, we can safely assume that the company isn’t maintaining the same standard that it had started out with. With this in mind, potential customers should look for other options.

What to learn from this review:

• The client mentioned that their final quotation was 50% more expensive than the initial quotation, as the ID forgot to add certain materials and works to the initial quotation. This is somewhat of a red flag – if your final quotation is more expensive because you opted for more expensive materials such as marble instead of vinyl, that’s fine, but if it’s because your ID forgot to add items into the initial quotation, that shouldn’t be happening. This might be a sign that your ID is careless and/or not detail-oriented at best, or that they’re trying to inflate the price and charge you more at worst.
• The client mentioned that after 4 months of living in their new home, they are still discovering mistakes which the ID need not rectify, although it’s meant to be covered as part of the 1-year guarantee. It’s common for homeowners to continue to discover mistakes and errors as they live in their new home – regardless of how eagle-eyed you are, it’ll be tough for you to spot all the defects at the point of handover (and request for them to be amended on the spot). Because homeowners are at an innate disadvantage (due to the lack of information) and have to rely on IDs for their expertise, this makes it all the more important to read reviews and do your due diligence before hiring an ID.

Moral of the story?

If you want to renovate your home and are looking for an ID, reviews are key!

Even if someone comes recommended by your friend or family, you should still do a quick Google search, and see what their other clients have to say about working with them.

In today’s digital age, it’s easier than ever to research potential interior designers and get a sense of their track record before engaging them.

By taking the time to read reviews and evaluate their strengths and weaknesses, you can avoid potential pitfalls and ensure that you find the right designer for your needs.

Want to check out home renovation reviews for your research? Browse the latest interior designer reviews on Hometrust, or click the button below to get connected with expert designers.