Jenny Slingerland
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jennyslingerlandParticipant@sherri.vandiest Hi Sherri, It will depend on who you are purchasing through. I don’t purchase the plumbing because the profit margin is so small for designers, less than 5% in my experience, so I have the GC purchase it. I would research showrooms, find out who your rep is and discuss what their trade discounts are for designers if you want to be the purchaser.
*Disclaimer: The only time I will purchase plumbing is if it’s a smaller remodel and we don’t have a GC on the project and we’re running it. So a powder bath for example, I’d buy the faucet and sink. I’m comfortable with that. However, when it comes to larger remodels and new builds with multiple bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms, showers, valves, etc., etc., I don’t want any part of that. lol 😉
I talk about liability issues in the first class (the GC talking to me about being dragged into a lawsuit because of a leaky faucet) and the second class (my designer friend’s debacle with the shower valves) and my fear of being dragged into a lawsuit with plumbing issues.
Don’t want to talk you out of purchasing, just make sure it’s 1. Okay with GC 2. You have carefully considered the potential profitability compared to the time and energy spent if items come in damaged, walk off the job site, cause flooding issues in the home (lawsuit), etc. etc. For me less than 5% is not worth it, I asked my husband and he said it’s more like 3% with the showroom we use.
Hope that helps! Feel free to respond with your thoughts on purchasing.
jennyslingerlandParticipant@destini.harris @melanie.lybra We use AutoCAD, but I have heard great things about Chief Architect too. Most architects work in CAD, so as long as you are able to import their work into your program and export your drawings back to the architect in CAD, I would say you can use whatever program you are comfortable with. 🙂
jennyslingerlandParticipant@catherine.cole Yes, find a plan and set a budget. If you’re working on a fictional project for your design/spec book you can determine any budget you want. If you are using a real-time project for your design/spec book, then stick to that budget. However works best for you to track the items in the budget is up to you, a spreadsheet is fine. In week 3 I will show you how to put your selections into finish schedules, so if you do a spreadsheet, I would keep it with very basic information as you will be adding the detailed information into the finish schedule. Hopefully that helps!
jennyslingerlandParticipant@allison.demarte You just need the floor plan in a format that you can edit in CAD or another drawing platform. You can choose whatever project/size you want for your class spec book. 🙂
jennyslingerlandParticipantHi Gina,
I would discuss any purchasing you want to do the with GC and see if they’re open to it. If he wants to handle the procurement, you could always ask the supplier if they would give you a, “finders fee,” of sorts so you make something off it. I haven’t done that before so I’m not well versed on how that would work. Good Luck!
jennyslingerlandParticipant@glenda.evers I don’t, but I emailed Lu’s team. 🙂
jennyslingerlandParticipant@karen.mcmillan Hi Karen. We use AutoCad, which produces files in .dwg format. I don’t believe AutoCad has different programs. I know some designers use SketchUp and I believe from that they can export them in .dwg files, but I’m not 100% certain on that. I got my degree 20 yrs ago and don’t remember a lick of cad so I hire it out. She is a contract employee and I bill her out at a rate higher than I pay her, so I am making money on the time she is working on the project. I would see if there is anyone in class or in a design forum online who may be more familiar with SketchUp and the version you’re working on.
I would definitely say that if you’re spending a lot of time doing drawings, you should hire it out. It will allow you to use your time on the designs. It will also make your projects move along faster, allowing you to move on to the next project = more money. Hope that helps!
jennyslingerlandParticipant@glenda.evers Did you have any luck getting the .dwg files?
jennyslingerlandParticipantYes, one is for all the homework, one is for this week’s clarification.
**I want to note that when it comes to the selections and budgets for the spec book you’re creating, if you have a job you’re currently working on, use that! I’m not trying to give you more work. 🙂
jennyslingerlandParticipant@glenda.evers Thank you! I’ll make sure Lu’s team has your IDCEC number. 🙂
jennyslingerlandParticipant@lisa.hatley The .dwg files you need are the architects. You’ll use his/her files to create your drawings. So you just need those, nothing additional! 🙂
jennyslingerlandParticipantI reached out and it’s uploaded now with the slides from class! 🙂
jennyslingerlandParticipant@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. 🙂
jennyslingerlandParticipant@audra Great question! I try to have as many samples as I can, wood, paint, hardware, lighting and plumbing finishes, carpet samples, etc.. Some showrooms will allow you to borrow a faucet or two for a presentation. This won’t be for every faucet in the whole house obviously but maybe pick your two favorites. Maybe have one in one finish and the other style in a different finish you’re using. Then they can see and touch it and know they quality is good and then they can trust the other plumbing selections you’ve made. This goes back to developing a great relationship with your reps. The more they know you the more likely they are to help you borrow samples if that is not something they typically do. Also, I have borrowed tile boards from a tile showroom as some of they don’t always have samples of everything in stock. If you know what cabinet company the builder is using, you can call ahead and explain you have a presentation and would like to have a few cabinet samples to show the homeowner, they will likely let you borrow a few. The cabinet doors they have on display might not be the exact style and color you want, but if there is a door sample you love, explain that you love the style of the door but that you would change the stain color or show them the paint color you would paint it. If you are doing custom cabinetry, the exact style and color selections will be made finalized at your cabinetry meeting with the cabinet company you are working with. Yes, you showed the homeowner inspiration images or sample doors as inspiration, but you will sit down with the cabinet maker to finalize everything. Sometimes the homeowner wants to go to that meeting, which to me is totally fine.
jennyslingerlandParticipant@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!
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