Jenny Slingerland

@audra I forgot to tell you that yes, I have my presentation up on my computer for them to see any item I don’t have a sample for. 🙂

@iram Yes, you have access to the videos for 90 days. I think there was an option to pay more to have the videos for longer. If you aren’t sure if you paid for the extended period of time reach out to hello@luannnigara.com and they can let you know. We do move quickly, so don’t worry if you’re a little behind!

@sherry I am so sorry for the confusion! They were supposed to remove the workbook from the class downloads as it is a few years old and a lot of my processes have evolved and changed. I would focus on the slides for the most accurate information. 🙂

@natalie that is correct. All the same, just different formats 🙂

1. How do you handle changes to the spec book? Do you keep it all digital or print? If/ when changes occur I’m just always worried that everyone is going off the most recent plans.

A: We’ll cover this in the coming weeks, but short answer is DIGITAL it’s the only way I share our drawings and documents.

2. Do you specify sanded or epoxy grout? Or does the installer suggest what is best for each application?

A: Tile installer will select. If there’s a problem with your color selection and the type of grout they need to use, they will usually reach out and tell you what brand you need to reselect a grout from for that application. Hasn’t happened to me yet, but I’m sure one day it will.

3. Do you meet clients in showrooms such as plumbing and lighting and make selections together with a rep?

A: I never take clients to tile, lighting or plumbing showrooms, it’s like taking a kid to a candy shop, there are too many options and it’s overwhelming for them. I always make all the selections and present my selections during the presentation. If I take a client to a showroom it’s for two reasons: 1. they want to be involved in selecting the slabs 2. they want to go to the cabinet shop showroom, but that’s it. Also, if your client wants to be at all the showrooms and be involved in the selection process you need to charge hourly. It will take 3x longer with them involved.

4. How do you format the scope of work in your contract?

A: I hide the columns that show my hours and associated fees, only leaving my list of selections and then export it into a pdf and attach it to the contract as “Addendum A.”

5. In your Scope of Work list – do you also explain which items you will be responsible for Procurement, too? Or just the materials to get the house built?

A: If you’re procuring items (we talked about the general dangers of this in week 1 and I’ll probably mention it again next week) you can put in the “notes” column of the finish schedule “To be purchased by xyz design firm.” For wallpaper I put, “can be purchased through black ink interiors.” Builders usually always ask us to buy it because they don’t have and don’t want to waste time setting up accounts with Schumacher, Kravet, etc

6. Do you mind sharing your spreadsheet with hours per item? Or an example of?

A:I don’t share the spreadsheet with the class but the last pages of this week’s slides provide a list of the materials I have in my spreadsheet, so that will help you create yours. There may be things I’ve forgotten, so definitely add to it!

7. Is the template you use for scope and calculating something you share with us?
*answered in #6

8. Do you show the client the detail of # of hours and rates for each person on your team involved?

A: Nope, only the list of selections, a line item for the finish schedule and one for drawings (per room). Refer to the last few pages of this week’s slides, that is what the client sees.
If you’re doing hourly you can put an estimate range at the bottom of your scope of work that states “design fee estimate $60,000 – $75,000” or whatever yours adds up to. If you’re doing flat fee you would not include this.

Q: How can the designer ensure that the selections made align with the builder’s preferences?
A: We touched on this in class, but you may have asked before that. As long as you know the budget and any specific trade vendors/showrooms he prefers to work, with he builder doesn’t care about the selections you put in the home. Modern, Coastal, Traditional, he’ll put in whatever you specify.

Q: How do you ensure that the electrical plan aligns with the builder’s needs?
A: I will start by reiterating what I said in class, if you do not know how to do a reflected ceiling plan, do not do one. Tell the architect that you want “three pendants over the island instead of two,” or “two sconces instead of an overhead in the powder bathroom.” Keep it as simple as you can until you become more experienced and comfortable with lighting. Like the question above, the builder does not care what lights you put in, so there’s nothing really that you are “aligning” with. There are codes for lights on exterior doors, on stair landings, etc. things that he will know he needs to follow, but those lights will have been put in by the architect, so unless you are redoing every recessed light in the whole home, not just a few rooms, you’ll be okay.

Q: How often should a lighting expert be involved in creating a lighting plan?
A: We talked about lighting experts in class briefly, I personally don’t think they’re necessary unless the house is like an art gallery requiring specialty lighting throughout. Obviously they can be brought on to a project but remember your client would then be paying 1. the architect to do the lighting plan 2. You’ve been paid to review the lighting plan and now we’re bringing a 3rd person in to review the lighting plan. So that’s three people working on the same thing, most clients would say no, but like I said, if the house requires it, by all means have them hire one! But they should be paid directly by the homeowner, not you. If something goes sideways with them, they can come after you.

Q: What should be included in the finished schedule regarding specialty LED lighting?
A: We talked about this in class. I don’t put anything LED related in my finish schedule, I may put in the finish schedule a line item and in the NOTES section say, “Use diffuser on all LED lighting,” but that’s about it. I let the A/V guys, electricians or cabinet company specify what they know will work best. I do indicate in my floor plans and elevations the locations I want the LED lighting, I just don’t know enough about the latest and greatest in the world of LED lighting to tell the experts what they should be using.

How should the electrical plan be integrated with the architect’s drawings? See #2 answer above for more information. If in this case you are comfortable with editing the architects RCP, you can send him your cad file once you’ve made your edits and he can upload it into his plans.

**** I really want to make sure that everyone knows that 9 times out of 10 you will not need to edit the placement of the architect’s recessed lighting in the RCP. You may just need to let the architect know in an email to “switch from one overhead sconce to two sconces flanking the mirror in all bathrooms.” You could also say, “There isn’t a decorative lighting fixture in the laundry room, could you add one to the center of the room.” You’re done, you did your job, moving on to the next stage of the design. PLEASE DO NOT edit the plans unless you are 100% confident in what you are doing. I will also note here that if you are asking the architect to make edits, do it in ONE email. Gather all your redlines and list them in an email. Do not send an email to her/him every time you happen to think of something you want to change. 1. he/she will get overwhelmed and mad 2. things will get lost, they won’t get changed and then your plan view and elevations won’t match his. We will discuss elevations and drawings in week 4 so stay tuned for more info. ****

Great question! After the project is complete I print the finish schedule and the care and cleaning document we create for the materials in the home and the furnishings and give it to them with their house warming gift. This provides a way for them to be able to care for the things in the home and the finish schedule allows them to have a list all the selections, materials, paint colors, etc. that are in their home in case they need to get something replaced, paint touch-up, etc.

I don’t print a book for the builder, all files are via dropbox. We’ll talk more about that in Week 5. 🙂

@Natalie Thanks for the question! For material selections working of a PDF is fine. When we get to creating the elevations and tagging the elevations, you will want a .dwg (cad file) so that you can edit and tag the elevations. Some people use SketchUp, I’m not familiar with that program, but it may be an easier learning curve than cad if you are wanting to do them on your own. I hire out my cad so that I can spend my time on the designs and selections and let someone who is experienced and fast in cad do the elevations. I always account for their time when I charge a flat fee and I charge their fee + a mark up for their time if I’m charging hourly. For example the person that I work with for cad is $65/hr, I bill her out at $150. You can find people who are less, but I have worked with her for a couple years now and I’m happy to pay more for someone with the experience and speed that she brings to the table. Does that help?