Consider the costs involved for that makeover Getting your home decorated by a professional or by yourself? Understand the financial implications before going forward

Consider the costs involved for that makeover

Getting your home decorated by a professional or by yourself? Understand the financial implications before going forward

We would all love to have a gorgeous looking home that draws appreciation from visitors and (occasionally) envy from the neighbours. However, do keep in mind that that there are various steps involved in a home decorating project and the costs do tend to escalate as the project moves ahead. As you proceed onwards, new ideas will emerge; better materials will be found and needs also tend to change... so it is advisable to factor in an increase of at least 40-50% in the total project cost at the planning stage itself. Then comes the crucial decision; will you manage the home decoration project by yourself or hire a professional? Both options have their pluses and minus points also. A professional will have a better idea on how to ensure quality materials and source them at a lower price, since this requires the sort of experience and expertise most of us do not have. The flip side is that when the costs begin to rise, you will have a better idea on what can be eliminated to reduce expenses given your family’s tastes and requirements, while a professional would stick to aesthetics and base decisions on that. There are several factors that will play a role in determining the overall price of a hiring a decorating services firm for your project. According to Dartford, cost is determined by so many different variables that obtaining estimates from several different painters and decorators is advisable. However, this is easier said than done and can be a lengthier task than the decorating process itself. Ensuring that each competitor is quoting rates for the same quality materials and trained manpower is easier said than done. A decision taken without an ‘apples to apples’ comparison would be flawed and there would be endless sessions of the ‘if only’ nature later on. According to Dartford, as a client one should ask all the necessary questions during the planning phase and receive expert feedback and recommendations from the qualified professionals they are considering hiring for the project. It may be necessary for the company being consulted to send an estimator to the project site in order to get a more accurate description of what is going to be required in order to ensure a satisfactory result. Cost considerations typically begin with the size of the project being proposed. Larger projects require more materials and more man hours therefore they are likely to cost more financially to complete. Most painters and decorators have labour rates established according to the amount of square footage or duration required. Do keep in mind that there are a few service providers that have implemented other methods of calculating their prices which can result in significant savings or higher prices depending on the specifications and requirements of the project. Most of the rates charged by the professional decorating services should be fairly competitive across the industry so getting a couple of estimates should result in similar if not identical pricing situations. The quality of the materials being requested by the project manager will play a significant role in determining the cost issued by the decorating services firm. Higher quality materials will result in a higher overall cost. If you feel there is a huge gap between estimates of two different firms, it is possible that one is looking for cost cutting opportunities in terms of untrained labour or lower cost products that look similar to their higher priced counterparts. Time constraints and project deadlines might also be a significant factor that has an impact on the process of hiring painters and decorators. Therefore, it is necessary to plan out the process systematically and ensure that the project does not get stalled due to occasions like religious functions or family gatherings, etc.