Scope of work in an interior design contract

Most people who hire interior designers know that they help clients to furnish homes and businesses and receive some sort of mark-up above the cost of the items purchased, as their fee for that service. However, interior designers also do much more for their clients-and charge for those services. They may observe the work being done by the trades, coordinate their work with the architect, assist the architect in selecting finishes and details and visit clients for projects in locations far from their offices. This is why defining the scope of services is so important. Once you define what the designer is being hired to do and how he/she will be paid, you will know when and if the designer is entitled to fees for additional services. All too often a distraught interior designer will come to me for advice and tell me about being "overworked and under paid" by a client; however, when we look at the contract between them, it may not say anything about being paid for those services. Distraught clients working with interior designers also come to my office and complain that they are frustrated, if not ready to sue, because they feel they are being "overcharged" and "double billed." Clients need to understand all the different services the interior designer will be providing and how they will be charged for them. There must be a meeting of the minds. If you are being charged for time spent shopping and you are not finding things that you want to purchase, then you might consider that the interior designer you are working with is not a good "match" for you. Be sure that there is contract language allowing you to terminate. Do not underestimate the importance of having a good contract and knowledgeable legal counsel to review it for you before you sign. C. Jaye Berger, Esq. is the principal of Law Offices C. Jaye Berger, New York, N.Y.