The thing about renovating homes is that, unless you’re in the industry, everyone’s a novice. Admit it – you can count all your renovations with only one hand. With that little experience, with a dash of inattentiveness, you are ripe for the picking by scammers.

So how would you know if someone’s trying to pull a fast one on you? Fortunately, if you know to look for, most scammers have pretty obvious red flags. Without further ado, here are the top 7 red flags you should watch out for before you get scammed by an “interior designer”.

1. They sound good... almost too good...

… then it’s most likely a scam. Just like all good things in life. There are two ways how an ID scammer would go about after sweet talking you into a “great” offer:

1)    They’ll ask for a larger than usual deposit (usually over 30%). When you pay it, POOF! They’re gone.

2)    They’ll actually do the job but they’ll a) use cheap materials unless you “upgrade” them b) slide in hidden charges, and/or c) charge for “unexpected” material costs. 

Whatever they do, it’ll snowball into a larger bill. 

What to do?

Get many quotes. The more quotes you get, the better the idea you get of what is a reasonable price to pay for your renovation. And always insist on a tiered payment for deliverables achieved.

2. They don't visit the site

There’s no regulation that says interior designers HAVE to visit the renovation site. That said, it’s still industry practice to do so. If the ID shows no interest in the site, chances are, they’re after a quick cash grab. Proper firms WILL be interested in hearing concerns and understanding the floor plan before showing their ideas to you.

What to do?

Ask firms about their processes and ensure that there’s a site visit prior to committing a deposit. Of course, unless you have not collected your keys. 

3. They give vague quotations

If getting a detailed quotation is harder than getting a confession from a money-laundering politician, give the “interior designer” a pass. Quotations should include:

•    Cost by rooms or scope of works

•    Itemised material and service cost estimates

•    Payment schedule (see #1)

•    Timeline with key milestones (see #1 again)

•    Exclusions

What do to?

Insist on a detailed quotation and quiz the firm about difficult or vague terms for clarification.

4. They don't have a portfolio

Would you see a doc without credentials? Same thing applies to interior designers. Their portfolio is their proof of work. It pretty much gives you an idea if the interior designer you’re talking to has the chops to turn your ideas into reality. If their sense of style jives with yours, great! 

What to do?

Ask for their portfolio. If it’s a firm’s portfolio, ask for the interior designer(s) responsible for the work shown in it. 

To be extra sure, do a Google Image search of the images to see if the photos hasn’t been stolen from somewhere else.

5. They over-promise on timelines

Everybody wants everything yesterday. However, perfection cannot be rushed. Even more so with renovations. Everything is a process; from the planning to the building to the finishing. Skipping or rushing any of these steps is a recipe for disaster. If a supposed interior designer too eagerly promises quick turnaround, you probably should turn around and look for a new one.

What to do?

Get quotations and timelines from multiple agencies. Don’t be shy. These timelines will allow you to make comparisons so you know what counts as a reasonable renovation period.

6. There's no documentation

It ain’t a promise ’til it’s in black and white, AND signed off. Verbal agreements are only as good as hot air and even less useful in court if things take a turn for the worse. 

What do to?

Because documentation involves legal matters, there’s a lot to do: 

1.    Get a contract for every little promise that the interior designer makes.

2.    Get itemised billing with a list of materials and services used/to be used.

3.    Take photos of defects and ensure they’re fixed before making full payment.

4.    Be positively clear on termination clauses.

7. They have lots of bad reviews

Reviews are the end-all be-all to any business. It’s fine if they’ve got a couple of bad reviews. But, if it makes up the majority of the whole lot, buyers beware! 

What to do?

Always check interior design firm reviews from MULTIPLE sources. Just because they’ve got glowing reviews on Facebook, doesn’t mean it’ll be the same on Google Reviews. 

Be alert and detailed

It’s a little harsh to tell you to distrust every interior designer you meet. And you shouldn’t. However, you’ll need to be very detailed and insistent about information so you don’t fell prey to opportunistic scammers out there looking for a quick buck. Stay safe, be alert, and be mindful. 

Posted on 24 February 2023

Kenny Tan,

SIXiDES Editorial Team