No matter the industry, client trouble seems to always arise. But, like other problems you might face day-to-day, they must be overcome. The old saying goes, “the customer is always right,” but what happens when they aren’t? In the design world the notion of the customer always being right has longer lasting implications, as they are the ones that will have to see the final project day in and day out until a new renovation is made.

No matter the industry, client trouble seems to always arise. But, like other problems you might face day-to-day, they must be overcome. The old saying goes, “the customer is always right,” but what happens when they aren’t? In the design world the notion of the customer always being right has longer lasting implications, as they are the ones that will have to see the final project day in and day out until a new renovation is made.

Build Trust

If you think your client is going to be troublesome, the first thing you need to do is gain their trust as much as possible. Ask them if they’ve ever had a designer work for them before, and what they did and didn’t like about the work that was completed. If they haven’t had any design work done prior, this is your chance to cement that trust by asking them about their fears or how they’d prefer certain aspects to look. For those that are first timers, try taking it one step at a time, finishing one complete room or area before moving onto the next.

Provide Visuals

William Arthur Ward once said, “If you can imagine it, you can achieve it.” Visuals provide your clients with the best ideas on how their space will turn out. Begin with sketches of the room(s) for them before creating any digital designs. Visuals must also include paint, fabric and carpet swatches, as this will give them the best idea of what will be appearing in their desired space.

Budgets and Deadlines

One of the most important aspects of keeping a client happy is keeping your word. To help deal with this, underpromise and overdeliver. In order to do this, set a budget that exceeds what actual costs and overestimate how long the project will take. This may seem like a crazy notion to follow, but if you can deliver your final project ahead of schedule and under cost, the chances of them recommending you to another customer increases greatly. You can use this tactic while still in the design process by giving the client updates once smaller parts of the project are finished. This will help build their trust in your work and designs throughout the entire project.

Have any other tips that you’ve used to deal with difficult clients? Leave us a comment below to help others who may be stuck in similar situations!