People think I’m a rock star when I send them an Instagram voice message, but guess what? It’s super easy and even faster than writing out a text!
(But don’t tell anyone that it’s super easy, I like people calling me a Rock star 🙂 )
If you aren’t using voice messages on Instagram yet, there’s no excuse now because I’m sharing a tutorial that is less than 2 minutes to show you exactly how to do this.
Don’t start any interior design work without a signed contract and retainer payment.
It’s your business:
You make the rules
You set the boundaries
You are in control
And guess what? The good clients love that you run an organized business with streamlined processes!
If you missed my previous video, ‘What is a Retainer Agreement’, please watch that first. You can find it here. In that post, I go into more detail about the purpose of the Letter of Agreement itself.
In today’s video, I focus on the retainer fee amount and how to work the retainer with your clients.
If you have ever chased clients for outstanding payments or had to reissue invoices & reminders time and again, then you know what a lousy feeling that is. It’s a terrible place to be.
Since the beginning of my career, I have been successfully reviewing my contracts and collecting retainer payments from clients at the end of the initial consultation meeting, before moving ahead with design services.
You can too!
Need A Contract? Get mine!
Exude the confidence to take control & manage clients’ expectations on your various processes with my Letter of Agreement.
But my most popular offering for designers when it comes to these all important interior design documents is my Contract Bundle.
If your business has evolved over the years you may find yourself needing more than an LOA.
Having these contracts – each of which includes an easily editable Services Outline to use for your marketing – are powerful tools that shows clients you are organized and on top of your game.
When you invest in any of my contracts you’ll also receive a link to a walk through video where I explain in more detail why you need a contract; when to use it & how to walk your client effortlessly through it.
Let me help make your life easier and give you Claire-ity in your business processes.
Want Total Confidence in Your Consultation Process? Let’s ROCK this!
An unbeatable value for 3 incredibly helpful resources for your interior design business, bundle and save! Link here to purchase.
Whether you are just starting out in the business or are a well seasoned interior design professional, don’t waste any more of your precious time trying to refine your initial consultation process, because I’ve already done it all here for you.
Gain the confidence to charge your worth and impress your clients from the very first phone call. My simplified, yet super effective 3-in-1 bundle package includes:
More than 20 templates
Over 7 drafted emails
An easy to follow process flow chart – all from the discovery call to the end of the initial consultation meeting
My one-page Letter of Agreement (LOA) template with a walk-through video with details of how to present your LOA and how to communicate the terms confidently to your clients.
PLUS – NEVER DONE BEFORE!
I include videos showing you how I speak to a potential client on an initial phone call and another video on how to conduct an initial consultation. Be a fly on the wall and learn how to avoid the BIGGEST MISTAKE designers are making in this first meeting!
There are also 4 scenarios where I show you how to deal with awkward client situations such as:
Asking about your discount
Having friends & other family members give decorating advice
How to handle if a client who challenges your process
How to deal with the ‘other half’ who may not be fully on board with hiring your extremely helpful services
Why re-invent the wheel with every new client or fly by the seat of your pants creating new templates and forms with each consultation meeting? Gain more confidence & get organized NOW.
AND – you’ll also get my Interior Design Starter Pack that addresses branding your business; establishing relationships with trades and suppliers; must-have tools for your business and more.
The time and stress you will save yourself by getting super organized, super-fast, is invaluable.
The Colour of the Year is always a big talking point that everyone has an opinion on and I can’t say that I’m any different!
Colour of the Year 2020 for Sherwin Williams: Naval
If nothing else, I love that it gets people talking about colour, as everyone is so passionate when it comes to colour and how it makes them feel.
The Sherwin Williams Colour of the Year, Naval SW 6244, was announced last month and as a huge fan of Hale Navy by Benjamin Moore, I can’t help but love Naval too.
Earlier this month I was invited to the Benjamin Moore Colour of the Year event in Toronto. Although many speculated that the Benjamin Moore Colour this year would also be a dramatic, deep and moody tone, it was quite the opposite.
Benjamin Moore Colour of the Year:
First Light 2102-70
The Benjamin Moore Colour of the Year: First Light 2102-70
First Light 2102-70 Benjamin Moore
Andrea Magno, Benjamin Moore Director of Colour Marketing and Development, said “We selected First Light 2102-70 as our Colour of the Year 2020 to represent a new dawn of idealism, design and living. First Light 2102-70 reflects a new definition of the home – a shift in mindset from the material to satisfying the core needs in life: community, comfort, security, self-expression, authenticity and ultimately, optimism.”
Colour of the Year First Light 2102-70
We have actually been seeing this colour for a long time in interior design, but more in soft blush accessories, fabrics and other accents. Even if you don’t love the colour for your walls, it may be the perfect accent colour to complement the main colour within your chosen colour palette or design.
Along with the Colour of the Year, Benjamin Moore also announced: Ten harmonious hues have been selected to guide us into the next 10 years and beyond.
Benjamin Moore Colour Trends 2020 Colour Palette
Images from the Benjamin Moore Colour Trends 2020 palette can be seen below. All photos are courtesy of Benjamin Moore.
Benjamin Moore’s Colour of the year, First Light
First Light Benjamin Moore Colour of the Year
Walls First Light 2102-70 Ceiling is White Heron OC 57
First Light Benjamin Moore
First Light Benjamin Moore
First Light Benjamin Moore
Windmill Wings 2067-60
Windmill Wings on the walls and Oxford Gray on base of bench seat
Windmill Wings 2067-60 Benjamin Moore
Blue Danube 2062-30
Buxton Blue HC-149
2062-30 Blue Danube Benjamin Moore with Buxton Blue HC 149
Benjamin Moore Buxton Blue upper wall blue Danube on lower wall
Crystalline AF – 485
Benjamin Moore Crystalline AF 485 with White Heron OC 57
Cushing Green HC-145
Benjamin Moore Cushing Green HC 125 and White Heron OC 57 walls in the bathroom
Crystalline AF 485 Benjamin Moore on the top and Cushing Green HC 125 on the bottom
Oxford Gray 2128-40
Oxford Gray Benjamin Moore on the island with White Heron cabinets
White Heron OC -57
Benjamin Moore White Heron OC 57 walls and ceiling
Golden Straw 2152-50
Golden Straw 2152-50 Benjamin Moore walls
Thunder AF-685
Benjamin Moore Thunder AF 685 walls with First Light on the cabinetry
What do you think of these Colour Trends 2020 from Benjamin Moore?
I quite like them, even though I’m not a huge fan of pastel colours. When put together in a thoughtful way in interior design, they make for gorgeous colour palettes.
Convenience at your fingertips
Remember, it only takes one mistake to take your home decorating project from divine to disaster. Don’t let the paint be what stresses you out!
Choosing Paint Colours
If you struggle with choosing paint colours, be sure to check out my Perfect Colour Palettes.
I now have 40 individual guides to help inspire you.
Collections
I also offer 3 collections dedicated to Benjamin Moore paint colours, 2 collections showcase a group of 10 similar colours from Benjamin Moore,
Do you ever have outstanding invoices for services from clients? You need to make sure you are getting paid up front. In this post I’m going to tell you how to do just that with a Retainer Agreement.
If you don’t have a Letter of Agreement, here’s where you can get mine. But first, watch the video below to learn more about how and why this initial contract is imperative to have in place for your business.
I’ve set up my processes so that I am never out of pocket for services. I always have a signed retainer agreement before commencing design services and you should too.
What is a Retainer Agreement?
A retainer agreement is essentially a contract between you and your client. It states the terms of how you work, the scope of a project and services you will provide, as well as details of your fee schedule.
How elaborate and detailed the retainer agreement is, will depend on your business model. Either way, your Letter of Agreement is in place so that you receive a retainer fee up front for services and your clients understand the terms and conditions of working with you.
This structured way of working also shows clients that you are an organized professional with processes in place. The good interior design clients really like that and respect you more for it.
I have clients sign my retainer agreement at the end of the initial consultation meeting, before commencing further design services. I call my Retainer Agreement an LOA – Letter of Agreement and it’s a one-page document.
I actually have 2 that I use depending on whether clients are hiring us for hourly services or for flat-fee packages.
As we have done so many interior design 3D plans and that is one of our most popular offerings to clients, I already know how much plans are going to cost, based on the size of the project.
A Retainer Is Still Important Even For Complex Jobs
If the project is going to be more involved & more time is required to finalize the scope of work & determine pricing for service fees, then even in those circumstances, we still ask for a retainer to hold a space in our calendar for that client’s project.
A big mistake that a lot of designers make is that they either leave the document for clients to review on their own or they email it to clients after they’ve sent a proposal.
This is a big no-no in my book. One main reason people do that is because they are nervous about pulling out a contract and discussing it through with clients. Whereas I see it completely differently and encourage you to as well.
This is a fantastic opportunity to manage your client’s expectations! Sitting down to review any contract allows for an open conversation so the client can get a good grasp on what to expect moving forward .
It also provides the chance for clients to ask you any more questions & for you to further clarify how you will work together moving forward. Don’t miss this amazing opportunity! Hit it head on with confidence!
How Much Should You Ask For?
We ask for 50% of the estimated total cost for services. For example, if our 3D design concepts start at $3000, I will request $1500 at the end of our initial consultation meeting with the balance being due 5 days prior to a presentation meeting.
My business model is a hybrid model which means that we charge a flat fee for plans that take clients to the point of presentation and then an hourly fee for our services to implement our design ideas.
If a client wishes to continue with our design services and signs off on the ideas we presented, then phase two is the implementation stage. For that we have a separate purchasing agreement that covers all aspects of managing the design to the big reveal day and that includes the purchasing of the furniture and warranties etc.
If you want to save time in developing your own Agreement, I have mine for purchase here on my website. It’s the agreement that I use to move clients past the initial consultation and onto our first level of services.
I also include a coaching video where I do a walk through to show you exactly how I present my retainer agreement to clients. You will need to do some minor edits to suit your own business model and add your own logo and business details.
Please note that this is a one-page agreement, not a lengthy contract or for purchasing products. Find out more here.
Comment below to let me know if you use a Retainer Agreement in your business.
What type of home can you expect for a cool $4.8 million in Oakville, Ontario? How about this beauty that is the 2019 Princess Margaret Lottery Home?!
I had the pleasure of receiving an exclusive invitation from the Lixil Group to attend the open house recently before it went public and today I want to share my experience with you.
The house is on a corner lot and the photo above shows the ‘front’ of the home, while the image below is of the side entrance with a double garage.
In this week’s video, I share both my favourite interior decorating features inside the home and the ‘Design Disappointments’.
Hey, I appreciate that not everything in a residential interior design project is going to resonate with everybody and there will always be critics.
As an Interior Design Professional who works with clients on a daily basis to redesign and redecorate their homes, I wanted to share my perspective and thoughts. I welcome your feedback as well, please leave a comment here on my blog.
Also, what kind of Colour Expert would I be if I didn’t mention the Benjamin Moore paint colours?! Read on past the video to find out what paint colours were used in this home.
My Favourite Things
Mill Work & Trim
When you hear the expression, ‘It’s all in the details‘ you cannot argue that in this home, each room has substantial elements of beautiful, detailed custom millwork.
Princess Margaret lottery home hallway and doorways with bold, contrasting trim in Kendall Charcoal by Benjamin Moore
Walls & Wainscoting are Distant Gray OC 68 by Benjamin Moore
The tall doors with detailed mouldings and striking hardware. Doors and trim are Silver Satin OC 26 by Benjamin Moore.
Partial European columns in each corner of the dining room. Be sure to look up at the ceiling trim detail too!
Wallpaper and Drapery
Interior Designer Brian Gluckstein is well known for using subtle and sophisticated wallpaper and drapery in his projects. This Princess Margaret Lottery Showhome is no exception. Here are some of my favourite rooms with these exquisite decorative elements.
Tone on tone. Dark gray pleated draperies layered with dark gray wallpaper in the family room.
In the office, wonderful wallpaper in neutral tones with a linen look. Custom pleated draperies and area rug add more softness to this space.
Pink is everywhere in this nursery. Ceiling & trim are painted Odessa pink by Benjamin Moore.
Even the spa area had ripplefold drapery which added softness to the space. Walls are also wallpapered here!
Second floor bathroom with striking wallpaper in pretty blue hues.
Gallery Wall & Artwork
In terms of wall art for home decor, we have been seeing large prints either framed or on canvas for quite some time.
Here in the Princess Margaret Lottery Home, that trend was no exception. But first, you’ve got to see this gallery wall which is one of the most interesting I’ve ever seen!
The main reason it’s so unique is that it wraps around a curved wall in the stairway. All photos are in black and white with black frames. Quite the statement, wouldn’t you agree?
Very cool view looking down the stairs at the wall wrapped in black and white framed prints.
Here are two more art pieces that could be found on the second level of the Princess Margaret Lottery Home.
Abstract art in upper hallway. Wall is Silver Satin by Benjamin Moore
Design Disappointments
In the video, I am able to easily convey my feelings about why I feel the way that I do about some of the main areas within the home. (This is why I always promote video for your business as the best way to share your message!)
Please watch the video if you want to hear opinions straight from the ‘horse’s mouth’. -that’s me! I’ve made bullet points below to list elements of the design that I was deeply disappointed in for such a luxurious family home.
The Kitchen – Things that make you go ‘hmmm’
The bookcase murals that cover each fridge on both ends of the kitchen
Seating configuration at the island -are we in a hibachi restaurant?
Lack of counter space between the stove and the sink
The kitchen is open to the hallway, but not open to other rooms
The Laundry Room – Or Lack Thereof
No actual laundry ‘room’, but rather a walk through laundry area between the kitchen and the pathway to the garage & side door
No rod nor a dedicated area to hang delicate items to dry
Not enough space to place a laundry basket AND fold your laundry at the same time
Second floor laundry is in an awkward location, at top of the stairs in the middle of the main hallway (see below, second image)
With the ‘all in one washer & dryer’, the linen closet doesn’t leave much room for linens, pillows, or duvets
Main laundry area that is also the main walkway through to the kitchen from the garage and side door
Main linen closet at the top of the stairs, in the hallway
Custom Vanities Fall Short
I absolutely appreciate that these two vanities were likely built to look like furniture – and there is no denying they are absolutely GORGEOUS!
But why not have them custom-built wall to wall? The gaps between the walls on either side are not practical & you run the risk of having toiletries that will inevitably be placed here, likely falling to the floor.
These ‘gaps’ also become a dust trap, especially with the area underneath being open. I mean, can you imagine how many dust bunnies would be playing under there at any given time? Hopefully, the eventual owners will be able to employ a daily cleaner.
The fluted detail of the cupboard fronts are lovely, as are the black DXV faucets
While I LOVE the wallpaper on the vanity, the gaps at each end would drive me crazy -especially for what is meant to be a girls washroom!
A Basement Fit for a….a…..Spinning instructor and Masseuse
Most families I know, including my own, love to spend time playing board games, cards, darts or watching movies. Often, these activities take place in the basement -especially for us since we live in a small 3 bedroom bungalow.
I also understand that every year there is added pressure to come up with a design that has an incredible ‘Wow’ factor. Last year the home had this 2 lane bowling alley. Now that was fun!
From the 2018 Princess Margaret Lottery Home
This year it was all about wellness, with a Spinning room and large spa area. There is no denying that the space is absolutely worthy of a jaw drop when you first enter but is it the best use of space for a family basement?
In my opinion, no. Here’s a summary of what I felt the basement was lacking:
A games area with storage -where is all the storage for board games, video games, DVD’s?
The TV/Movie space was small with seating arranged in a way that did not look like everyone could adequately and easily view the TV
A wet bar…there is no bar! Nowhere to make popcorn, no mini fridge to grab a pop. Must I walk all the way upstairs to get the wine?
Privacy in the open tub, sauna and shower area.
As you get to the bottom of the stairs you have 2 options. Turn right for the TV or left for the spa.
This is it for the designated area to watch movies. I did love the 80’s framed movie posters though.
The cabinet beneath the t.v is the only place for storage in this entire side of the basement
This is referred to as the ‘Relaxation Lounge’. I had a nice massage here, but who is massaging you after the open house event?
One cannot argue that this looks pretty darn impressive though!
Alright, so there you have it. I told you what I thought and now it’s your turn! Comment below to let me know what you think about this Lottery Showhome?
Regardless of whether you feel the same as me, the event the Princess Margaret Lottery Home stands for is worthy of support.
If you get frustrated looking at the thousands of different paint colours, wondering which hue is best for you, I’m here to help!
In this colour review video of Wickham Gray by Benjamin Moore, I share:
The undertone of my featured colour
Colour comparisons in order to easily see the different colour tones
Best white paint colours for the trim and ceilings
Beautiful colour combinations to inspire you for your decorating project
If you’d like all of this information conveniently laid out for you in one place and see even more paint colour combinations to inspire you for your interior decorating project, grab my Wickham Gray Perfect Colour Palette.
As a Certified True Colour Expert and an award-winning interior design professional, I’ve worked with many homeowners on various residential design projects. I want to give you the confidence to make educated decisions about your own paint choices. Let’s do this!
Watch the video below -Wickham Gray Review
We designed this living room below and selected Wickham Gray by Benjamin Moore for the walls. Such a soft and pretty colour, eh?!
Design by Claire Jefford
Undertones: Blue/Green
This blue-green gray may appear more one colour than the other, depending on the lighting and what other decorative elements you pair with it in your interior decorating project.
Notice from this graphic above that all 3 colours are called gray, but they are each very different from one another? When you compare paint colours you can get a better reading of each tone. I tell clients that ‘Fifty Shades of Gray’ really is a thing! HAHA!
Speaking of that, did you grab my Free Fifteen Shades of Gray paint guide yet? It’s one of the three free downloads all about paint colours that I created with you in mind.
Best Whites To Pair With Wickham Gray
Cloud White CC-40 by Benjamin Moore
Wickham Gray walls. Built-ins are Cloud White. Design by Claire Jefford.
Chantilly Lace OC-65 by Benjamin Moore
Simply White OC-117 by Benjamin Moore
You may have noticed that my best whites for trim and ceilings are always from the same 6 – 8 white paint colours. (Did you notice that or did I just let the cat outta the bag?)
The reason for this and similarly for many neutral tones is that we don’t need all of the colours in a fan deck to get the right one.
There is a small percentage of paint colours that work time and time again and when you know what they are, you don’t need to continually try to introduce new neutrals or whites.
When I see people doing that or hear designers say ‘I never pick the same colour twice because I want my clients to always have a unique paint colour and design.’, it means that they actually don’t understand colour.
Think of all the other elements of a space that can be custom or one of a kind. Why do you think Revere Pewter is so popular? Because most people are not creative or boring? No!
It simply works with so many fixed elements such as stone and tile, as well as coordinating beautifully with many fabrics.
Accent Wall With Wallpaper. Walls Painted Pashmina. Design By Claire Jefford.
Kensington Blue 840, Tissue Pink 1163 & Woodlawn Blue HC-147
All of these colour combinations shown above are included in my Perfect Colour Palette of Wickham Gray. There are two additional colours in the guide, for a total of ten options to pair with Wickham Gray!
Interiors By Claire Jefford With Wickham Gray Paint
Photo credit for all professional photography to Stephani Buchman
Which room would be your favourite to use Wickham Gray in? Comment below, I always love hearing from you!
Convenience At Your Fingertips
Click here to see all my Perfect Colour Palettes. The library is expanding with more popular colours from Benjamin Moore, Sherwin Williams and Farrow & Ball.
If you want to get all my Benjamin Moore colour guides in one place, look no further than my Benjamin Moore Ultimate Collection. All 20 of my Benjamin Moore guides in one handy collection.
Remember, it only takes one mistake to take your home decorating project from divine to disaster. Don’t let the paint be what stresses you out!
Perfect For Planning
Take my Colour Quiz to discover your Perfect Colour Palette.
These interior design mood boards are unbelievable, you guys are killing it!
If you feel overwhelmed and unsure of which mood board app to use for your interior design presentations, then you won’t want to miss this video. Here you’ll learn what some of the best programs are, including the programs that my team uses, as well as what other talented designers are using for their client projects.
You’ll see examples of incredible mood boards created in various programs which will help you to make an informed decision on which mood board app would work best for your interior design business.
After you watch the video, scroll to the bottom of this post to find out how I can further help you to easily create beautiful client presentation packages that can equate to further design services. After all, that is always the goal, right?!
Power Point
The first mood board app I’m featuring is the one that I use the most for my business and that’s Power Point.
Power Point is free and simple to use. You can easily change the size of an image and move the images around to exactly where you want them placed on your board. You can also add text in the same way.
Here are some examples of not only my own client mood boards, but other designers who use Powerpoint in their business as well.
Mood Boards by Claire Jefford
Interior Design Mood Board by Claire Jefford using Power Point.
While I personally do not use apple or mac products, my senior designer recently used this program for our client’s beautiful condo presentation. Here are a few examples of the interior design mood boards created for the project.
Mood Boards by Claire Jefford
Next up are 3 more interior design mood board apps available. Even though I have not tried these programs myself, I felt it was important to give you a range of options, so you can make an informed decision on which is best for you.
I reached out to my private Facebook group peeps and here are other programs & gorgeous mood board examples they kindly shared with me.
By the way, if you already use mood boards for your interior design presentations, comment below to let me know which program you prefer and why you like it!
Pages
This next software is also by Apple and is called ‘Pages’. Take a look at these wonderful mood boards created in the Pages program.
Last but not least, the final interior design mood board program I’m featuring here is from Design Files.
Design Files is an online design platform that appears to be geared towards designers looking to run an e-design business. Below are 2 pretty design mood boards from Maria Bowers from Bdesign’D.
The package includes templates of 3 different types of design packages you can offer to clients, a client checklist to keep you on track, an easy to follow process flow chart, drafted emails to send to your client, information on how to measure a space and a video where I walk you through my process explaining everything step by step.
Whether you are looking to add 3D designs to your mood board services or not, these detailed presentation packages are already done for you with and will better organise your process. Go here to find our more or to get it now.
Thank you again to my fellow friends and talented designers who were kind enough to share their mood boards with me so I could share their fabulous work with you!
I’m reviewing eight different gray paint colours today that are all from Benjamin Moore.
You’ll learn: 1) the differences between each gray paint colour 2)what the undertones are and 3) how I’ve used some of them in different interior decorating projects.
Grays are still a very popular neutral that we’re seeing a lot of in Interior Design. This tone works great with pops of colour. I know we hear that all the time, but it really is so true.
I’m starting with Titanium by Benjamin Moore. This gray paint colour has a blue-green undertone and is quite light in terms of the actual intensity of the colour.
TITANIUM OC-49 by Benjamin Moore
Wickham Gray is up next. This gray paint colour has a blue-green undertone but can often look more green. Remember, the undertone that comes out and is more predominant is going to greatly depend upon the lighting that you have in your space & other decorative accessories you pair with it.
Wickham Gray HC 171 by Benjamin Moore
Below you can see where I used Wickham Gray in a fabulous living room design of my client’s. We used Cloud White by Benjamin Moore on the built-ins. Cloud White goes well with most of these grays I’m sharing with you in this post. See more of my client’s custom living and dining rooms in my portfolio here.
This is a blue-gray, so we’re not seeing any green undertones here. Below you can see where we used Stonington Gray in a clients kitchen with orange accents. Boy, how I still love this eat-in kitchen design with the pillows and isn’t the base of that table we sourced for our clients super cute?!
Stonington Gray HC-170 Benjamin Moore
In the same client’s home, we also used Stonington Gray for the front foyer paint colour with Cloud White on the custom wainscoting.
Front Foyer painted Stonington Gray HC-170 by Benjamin Moore
Same client entry, but the opposite side. You can see this entire interior design project in my portfolio here.
I often refer to Stonington Gray and this next gray paint colour, Coventry Gray, as the two true grays. Obviously, we’re always going to get undertones in neutrals, but when I’m comparing colour to show clients the differences in tones, I like to show these two colours as comparisons to other grays.
Coventry Gray HC-169 Benjamin Moore
The next gray paint colour from Benjamin Moore I’m highlighting is HC 165, Boothbay Gray. This gray is much bluer than a lot of the other ones.
Boothbay Gray HC-165
I used this Benjamin Moore paint colour in one of my favourite rooms that I’ve done to date, which is a secret Xbox room! We pulled this colour from the super cool graffiti tile which we used on one of the walls. See more of that secret room here.
Now we’re getting a little darker and we have this color here, which is Storm, AF-700 from the Benjamin Moore Affinity line.
Storm AF 700 Benjamin Moore
And lastly, we have HC – 166 Kendall Charcoal. This is really deep in tone, it’s intense and has more of a green undertone to it. This gray is great for exteriors like a bold front door or garage doors. It’s also a wonderful way to add drama to any interior design space.
Kendall Charcoal HC-166 by Benjamin Moore
Kendall Charcoal was used for the cabinets in my sister’s main floor bathroom.
Do you live in my area and want help choosing the right paint colours for your home? Professional design services are just a click away. Contact me here and let me help you to Live Beautifully.
We are located in Burlington Ontario in Canada & service the following areas: Burlington, Oakville, Milton, Stoney Creek, Grimsby and the surrounding Greater Toronto Area.
Which is your favourite gray paint colour? Comment below to let me know!
Convenience at your fingertips
Remember, it only takes one mistake to take your home decorating project from divine to disaster. Don’t let the paint be what stresses you out!
Choosing Paint Colours
If you struggle with choosing paint colours, be sure to check out my Perfect Colour Palettes.
I now have over 50 individual guides to help inspire you.
Collections
I also offer 3 collections dedicated to Benjamin Moore paint colours, 2 collections showcase a group of 10 similar colours from Benjamin Moore,
What’s one of the first things you do before booking a holiday or trying out a new local restaurant? Do you look at reviews? A lot of people look at reviews!
Consumers are heavily swayed one way or the other based on the feedback from these written testimonies.
I can confidently attest to this, as for more than 4 years I have ranked as the #1 Interior Design professional in the Greater Toronto Area with 100 reviews and let me tell you, this has been HUGE for booking clients.
If you know me, you know that I am always eager to see others succeed in this industry. For this reason I want to share with you my proven tips for getting client reviews, as well as the exact wording that I use when requesting a testimonial.
Please feel free to copy and paste my verbiage when sending your own review requests. Some minor edits on your part will be required in order to personalize the wording specific to your business and your clients, but at least you don’t have to start from scratch.
First, You Can’t Get There Without This
Before we move too far ahead, it’s important to know that in order for anyone to willingly take time out of their busy day to write you a 5 Star review, you need to have provided them with an incredible overall experience and built a strong working relationship based on trust.
You must have confidence in your processes & the ability to handle client projects in a way that makes the experience of working with you, an extremely pleasing one.
PLEASE, don’t let this be your game plan…
THREE-IN-ONE BUNDLE – BEST SELLER FOR A REASON!
My comprehensive 3-in-1 BUNDLE is everything you need from the very first discovery call with a client, all the way through to the end of the initial consultation meeting.
If you don’t have a clearly defined & organized intake process and you lack the ability to confidently ROCK YOUR CONSULTATION, then you will never get the opportunity to work on incredible interior design projects with wonderful clients who are eager to review you when all is said and done.
Click here or on the image below to see a video to find out more.
Designer Testimonial: “I purchased the bundle and I am so thrilled with it! It gave me everything I needed…and more…to be organized and prepared in so many ways. There were forms I didn’t even know I needed…that’s how thorough Claire Jefford’s information was! I highly recommend her products.’
Now you’ve got the confidence, let’s get the reviews!
Copy for the exact wording is below, as well as my step by step process and further helpful tips to successfully get clients to review you.
First, I like to mention to clients in person if they would be happy to review me.
In a similar way that it’s important to review your Letter Of Agreement with clients to encourage open dialogue about how you work, it’s also necessary to explain why you would really appreciate them writing a review for you.
You can mention it to them either be at the end of the consultation if it was just a one off appointment they hired you for or at the end of a project when they are crying with tears of joy over their newly decorated space!
For this client, we met for a consultation & she then hired my ‘Day service’ to assist her in choosing finishes for her kitchen renovation
NOTE – In the past, some designers have questioned how I am able to ask for a testimonial if I have only met with them one time for an interior design or colour consultation meeting. Let me tell you, at these one off appointments I am giving as much valuable advice as I can!
My ultimate goal is to help home owners in any way that I can, bringing as much value as I can, no matter what type of interior design or decorating services they need.
To learn more about how I work the initial consultation, including whether to charge a client & what I bring, watch my YouTube playlist here.
Ok, back to the process of getting those 5 star reviews!
Let your clients know that you would really appreciate a review and ask if it’s okay for you to send them a request or a link, depending on where you want them to post the review.
I used to do this on Houzz, but if you are familiar with that platform you probably are aware that they are not overly supportive of Interior Design professionals now and only seem to be out for themselves.
Therefore, I’ve also included my copy to show you how I am now reaching out to past clients who previously reviewed me and asking them to provide me with a Google review.
We’ll get to that in a minute.
COPY FOR INITIAL REVIEW REQUEST – FEEL FREE TO COPY/PASTE, JUST EDIT AS NEEDED
“Hi ENTER CLIENT’S FIRST NAME,
As discussed, I would really appreciate it if you could take a few moments to write a review for me. If you would be so kind to provide feedback on the level of service I provided and how you benefited by hiring me to assist with your project, I would be very grateful.
You will also be asked to rate my services, with 5 stars being the highest ranking.
Thank you so much ENTER FIRST NAME, it’s been a pleasure working with you and ENTER PARTNER’S NAME IF APPLICABLE on this fabulous project.
If you need any assistance with your home decor or a re-design in the future, please know that I would welcome the opportunity to work with you again.
Please let me know if you have any problems in accessing this site. Thank you!”
Custom kitchen design by Claire Jefford. Photography by Stephani Buchman.
Notice how both reviews mention my previous excellent reviews that they read on line? I’m telling you, this works!
COPY REQUEST FOR CLIENTS TO PUT THEIR HOUZZ REVIEW ONTO GOOGLE
Google is ultimately the best place to ask for reviews. It’s the top search engine and your website is the only thing you can really control and own on line, so I recommend this for building up your SEO -Search Engine Optimization.
In the past, I always asked for reviews on houzz because that’s where 50% of my inquiries were coming from. This was before houzz changed their algorithms and the way in which people search for professionals.
By the way, I NEVER paid houzz a dime for advertising. This is how I know that reviews are a big part of what home owners take into consideration when choosing a professional.
Here’s the copy I created recently to send to clients who previously reviewed me on houzz, but whom I would now like to have their testimonial on Google.
By copying their previous review & including it in the email, you will make it super easy for them to do this. Although it’s an extra step, it’s worth it in order to stress how easy you’ve made it for them to do.
“Hello ENTER CLIENT’S FIRST NAME,
I hope you and your family are still enjoying your ENTER PROJECT YOU DID WITH THEM HERE! (ie- beautiful kitchen remodel that we designed for you!)
Previously, you kindly reviewed me on houzz with a 5 star rating and I really appreciated that. Reviews are one of the things that people look to most when searching any type of service.
I’d like to build up my reviews on Google and am asking if you wouldn’t mind taking 40 seconds to add that same review to Google. (Honestly, it takes less than a minute!)
To make it easy for you, I’ve included your original testimonial below. All that you need to do, is copy and paste this into a Google review. Here are 5 easy steps to do this:
) Copy your review listed below by right clicking on your mouse and clicking over the word ‘copy’.
) Click here (link to your own google search result for your site here) and on the right side of the screen, you should see my listing pop up.
) Click on the ‘Write a Review’ on the bottom right of that box.
) A window will pop up where you can hover over the stars to enter your 5 star rating, then underneath, right click your mouse and hit ‘paste’. Your previously copied testimonial should appear.
) Hit the ‘post’ button on the bottom right of that window and you’re done!
Here’s Your Original Review: ‘We hired Claire to remodel our bedroom and we couldn’t be happier with the results. We had no previous experience working with a professional designer prior to working with Claire but instantly she made us feel at ease with our decision. Claire did an excellent job understanding what we were looking and bringing it to life. She was very organized and made sure that no small detail was being overlooked. Her network of professionals that contributed to the job were all top notch as well. We highly recommend Claire and will not hesitate to work with her again the future.’
Thanks Tim, I really appreciate you taking a minute out of your busy day to do this for me. I hope to work with you and Marie again soon!”
Custom bedroom design by Claire Jefford. Photography by Stephani Buchman.
IMPORTANT PLEASE READ
Google Gets Suspicious
I’ve been told that Google apparently gets suspicious if you receive too many reviews at once. Therefore, aim to ask for requests no more than once or twice a week.
Also, someone did tell me that when you copy and paste, Google knows this and it’s frowned upon, but that has not been confirmed. I’m giving you this heads up so you can decide if it’s something you feel is worth doing. Google reviews should help your SEO and have you rank higher when a search for Interior Design or Decorating services occurs in your local area.
What if client’s don’t respond to my request?
While you can’t force anyone to write a review for you, you can follow up within a couple of weeks of sending the initial request. Note – Houzz will automatically resend the request within a week or so if the recipient has not replied.
If you are asking for reviews on another platform, consider logging in your calendar for one week’s time to do a follow up on the review request. People get busy, don’t take it personally, but don’t hound them either.
Should I ask all past clients to review me?
Obviously you want glowing reviews. Use your judgement to decide which clients you feel would be happy to review you and who were thrilled with the overall experience of hiring your services. If things did not end well on a project for whatever reason or you know that you were not on your ‘A’ game, then I would not recommend you ask in those instances.
Once I get a review, what should I do?
The first thing you should do is write a response to say thank you for the review. Most platforms allow you the opportunity to reply, as well as to add photos of the project.
Below is an example of what I have written in the past:
Share it to your social media, announcing that you have another happy client from a recent project. Below are a couple examples of how I’ve done this on my Facebook Business page.
I created this graphic in Canva. This is my old branding, but you get the point!
Also create graphics to share milestones, such as this one where I shared when we hit 90 reviews.
Who Else Should I Ask To Review Me?
In addition to your happy clients, ask your trades and local suppliers to review you. Let them know that you will be happy to return the favour and review them as well. You can also ask employees or colleagues.
I like to sprinkle those reviews in with the client reviews, don’t go gang busters on asking a slew of other professionals all at once. While getting suppliers and trades to review you is great to support your other testimonials, the client reviews are the most compelling and convincing for potential clients to see.
Do you have something you want to ask or wish to add on this topic? Comment below.
Please don’t forget about hitting up my shop page. Remember, you can’t get rave reviews and build your credibility without being well organized in your business.
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