Hiring a Remote Professional
In 2022, working remotely has become a way of life for so many people and companies but what about hiring a remote professional for your building or renovation project?
Whether you are building a new home in Montana or renovating a home in California, a remote design professional can work just as well, if not better, than a local one. To ensure a successful project: the trifecta of beautiful, within budget and timeframe and with minimal stress, there are a couple of key items for consideration:
CMD worked with the client’s Austin-based architect on selection of exterior materials including the reclaimed wood and Indiana Limestone, which were also utilized on several key interior details.
Identify scope and roles.
A clear scope of who is doing what at the onset of the project is critical, especially if the architect or designer is remote. The lines between architecture, interior architecture, and interior design can get blurry in a hurry.
While an architect might select an exterior light fixture from a handful they have used in the past, a designer will select an exterior light that will complement the exterior as well as the light fixtures selected for the interiors.
The same is true for exterior materials. A designer having some input in the roof, brick and siding colors will ensure that those materials and colors coordinate with paint, tile, flooring colors, etc. When you want an indoor-outdoor vibe, those elements need to be coordinated early on to create flow. Getting the designer on board as early as possible in the project can save you money and headaches down the road.
A keynote deck is created for every project by room and shared in Dropbox. Finishes and fixtures are noted with links to products if applicable.
Adaptability and organization is key.
The remote professional needs to be adaptable and highly organized. Regular zoom meetings are a given. Using technologies like Dropbox, Slack, G Suite, drones, FaceTime etc. keep everyone on the same page, even if they aren’t in the same state. During the pandemic, I renovated an entire home in Southern California without ever being there. Other than adjusting my office hours to accommodate a different time zone and acquiring two full sets of samples so I could FedEx the client a set before our meetings, it was business as usual.One thing we’ve learned the past couple of years is that remote working isn’t going anywhere. Teaming up with design professionals that you feel a connection to is the best way to create your unique, made-just-for-you home. It really doesn’t matter where those professionals are based – we aren’t called creatives for nothing!