Our design office is working on a new “New Client” Questionnaire that we can leave with them at the initial meeting. Does anyone have one they would consider sharing here?
We do new homes and remodeling, usually in the $200K to $800K range. A kitchen/master bathroom addition and whole-house facelift is a typical project.
Thanks,
Mike
Replies
Mike,
I don't have one, but here's a bump.
Other than the obvious contact information, what type of questions is your firm wanting to ask?
You cannot convey tone in an email.
Oh, things like what is your cooking style, how many dishwashers do you need, does each family member need their own bathroom, what kinds of activities do you do in your living spaces, do you need a living space that can be shut off from other spaces, do you want a living space adjacent to the kitchen....
All the things we eventually figure out with conversations with them. We're putting together a packet of information and questions we can leave with them at the initial meeting, to get them thinking and for the goodwill of leaving a "gift."
I like the concept. Don't know why- but I was envisioning more questions related to sales calls.
It sounds like you are looking more for a line of questioning to help determine and refine the design of the project once you have agreed to work with each other.
Do you think it will be one general questionnaire, or will you have individual ones for different projects? Or maybe just separate sections depending on if they want a kitchen redo vs. a family room addition.
One question I like to ask potential clients (if they don't already have a design) is, "What are your goals for this project, what do you want to accomplish, and why?"
Usually they are somewhat surprised that I ask, and it takes them a little while to process their answer.
It amazes me how many people call and say that they want to redo the kitchen or finish the basement, but they really haven't defined (to themselves) why they want to do it. You cannot convey tone in an email.
One question I like to ask potential clients (if they don't already have a design) is, "What are your goals for this project, what do you want to accomplish, and why?"
I like that one a lot. I've been trying to word questions as open-ended rather than "what size is your tv" but your question is the big one.
Our business model is design/build, bigger remodels and new custom homes. My boss does the initial sales call, chats them up, gets them excited, then passes smaller jobs off to one of us designer/pm's. We end up asking many of the same question the boss did. Also lately we've been have more contacts slip through our fingers so we want to leave something with the potential client to get them thinking, and thinking that we will listen to their needs better than the other guys.
Eventually I think we will have one very general questionnaire on the contact portion of our website, and more specific ones depending on the job. We might do fine with just "interior remodeling" and "new homes" since almost all our jobs include a new kitchen, most a new master bedroom suite, and only a few don't include those two.
I'd ask how they are going to finance the project right off the bat.J
That's a good idea. People are weird about money, and often won't even reveal their budget until we get into the design work. But it is an important question.
Mike,
I have a very short one on my website under the request for contact information. Something I am going to try as soon as it's ready (design & printing) is a take off of my do's & don'ts section. the advertising folks seem to think it will work well. I"m in a trade show next weekend where they will debut. I can pass the ffedback along if you like.
"this dog may be old but he ain't cold. And he still knows how to bury a bone."
Lattimore
http://www.rehmodeling.com
That is a short one! But I guess it provides the information you need? I like your do's and dont's section too--I would be interested to see how it's received.
What it does is provide a starting point for when we make contact. I do need to add the question "do you have na architecht or design engineer you are working with?" In this state you need a stamped set of drawings for commercial work. Also keep in mind, I don't do residential any more (ok maybe some times but rarely) so I have slightly differnet criteria. My hope and the purposful design of the site is they will read the do's & don'ts and ask or offer the questions they bring up."this dog may be old but he ain't cold. And he still knows how to bury a bone."
Lattimore
http://www.rehmodeling.com