12 Designer Tips for Working With Clients Remotely
Houzz design pros tell how they’re connecting and collaborating with clients virtually
Working remotely with clients has quickly become standard for many designers as they have eliminated or reduced in-person contact during the pandemic. While some pros already had experience collaborating with out-of-town clients, others are meeting and designing from afar for the first time. Here, Houzz architects, interior designers and other design pros share their tips for meeting virtually with clients.
3. Create a Checklist for Yourself
“I would suggest creating a checklist for different project types to make sure you ask all the important questions during the consultation. We like to have a second person take notes off camera so that we can remain engaged in the conversation the whole time. This has been very helpful,” Kelley Tomchik of Bearded Builders Baltimore in Towson, Maryland, says.
4. Practice Patience, and Clearly Describe the Process
“Be patient, prep clients ahead of time with meeting agenda and how-tos, practice describing intent clearly rather than relying on sketches,” Maggie Wylie of Point B Design Group in Austin, Texas, says.
5. Project Confidence and Professionalism
“Even through a monitor you can create a warm and welcoming ambiance if you are confident and comfortable with the way you are working and presenting,” Maite Granda of Interiors by Maite Granda in Key Biscayne, Florida, says.
“I would suggest creating a checklist for different project types to make sure you ask all the important questions during the consultation. We like to have a second person take notes off camera so that we can remain engaged in the conversation the whole time. This has been very helpful,” Kelley Tomchik of Bearded Builders Baltimore in Towson, Maryland, says.
4. Practice Patience, and Clearly Describe the Process
“Be patient, prep clients ahead of time with meeting agenda and how-tos, practice describing intent clearly rather than relying on sketches,” Maggie Wylie of Point B Design Group in Austin, Texas, says.
5. Project Confidence and Professionalism
“Even through a monitor you can create a warm and welcoming ambiance if you are confident and comfortable with the way you are working and presenting,” Maite Granda of Interiors by Maite Granda in Key Biscayne, Florida, says.
6. Take Time to Get to Know Your Clients
“The biggest challenge is creating the designer-client relationship that naturally forms when you are working with someone on such a personal project. It happens much more organically when you are working in person versus remotely, but I think it is very important to take the time to get to know your client and how they live and enjoy life,” Larisa Barton of Soeur Interiors in New York says.
7. Get Clients Involved in the Design Process
“The trick is getting them involved in the process. If they can put together inspiration files and share them, and if they can use their own sketch software to communicate on drawings during meetings, they feel they have more voice in the meetings,” Dana Webber of Dana Webber Design Group on Bainbridge Island, Washington, says.
8. Enlist the Help of Your Clients
“Have clients who are willing to roll up their sleeves and do a little work get involved with the process and fun of designing their homes. I have needed them to tape off sections of their rooms to indicate a rug we are interested in purchasing. The same exercise has been applied to a sofa and console we were eyeing for another client’s home. I have ordered paint samples and had them paint sample swatches and FaceTime me at different times of the day and night to see how these colors worked in the room,” Kim Ronemus of Kim Ronemus Design in Pacific Grove, California, says.
“The biggest challenge is creating the designer-client relationship that naturally forms when you are working with someone on such a personal project. It happens much more organically when you are working in person versus remotely, but I think it is very important to take the time to get to know your client and how they live and enjoy life,” Larisa Barton of Soeur Interiors in New York says.
7. Get Clients Involved in the Design Process
“The trick is getting them involved in the process. If they can put together inspiration files and share them, and if they can use their own sketch software to communicate on drawings during meetings, they feel they have more voice in the meetings,” Dana Webber of Dana Webber Design Group on Bainbridge Island, Washington, says.
8. Enlist the Help of Your Clients
“Have clients who are willing to roll up their sleeves and do a little work get involved with the process and fun of designing their homes. I have needed them to tape off sections of their rooms to indicate a rug we are interested in purchasing. The same exercise has been applied to a sofa and console we were eyeing for another client’s home. I have ordered paint samples and had them paint sample swatches and FaceTime me at different times of the day and night to see how these colors worked in the room,” Kim Ronemus of Kim Ronemus Design in Pacific Grove, California, says.
9. Control Your Screen Sharing
“Make sure to close any tabs or things you don’t want the client to accidentally see while screen sharing,” Kate Roos of Kate Roos Design in Minneapolis says.
10. Work Through Technical Details Ahead of Time
“When I first introduce [clients] to this approach, if it is something they are not already familiar with, I give them a heads-up about what to look for in their email to launch the meeting, and then I call them so I am there to walk them through any technical difficulties they might have. It is usually relatively smooth and straightforward,” Gianna Marzella of Gia Mar Interiors in New York says.
“Sometimes they are not sure how to turn on the audio. In that case, I just continue to conduct the audio portion on a cellphone, if I am unable to resolve it, and share my screen via the computer.”
“Make sure to close any tabs or things you don’t want the client to accidentally see while screen sharing,” Kate Roos of Kate Roos Design in Minneapolis says.
10. Work Through Technical Details Ahead of Time
“When I first introduce [clients] to this approach, if it is something they are not already familiar with, I give them a heads-up about what to look for in their email to launch the meeting, and then I call them so I am there to walk them through any technical difficulties they might have. It is usually relatively smooth and straightforward,” Gianna Marzella of Gia Mar Interiors in New York says.
“Sometimes they are not sure how to turn on the audio. In that case, I just continue to conduct the audio portion on a cellphone, if I am unable to resolve it, and share my screen via the computer.”
11. Let Clients See Materials in Person
“Materials can get challenging, but typically I will send pictures of palettes or we will drop off materials at the client’s home so they can see them in person,” Kaitlyn Stokes of Crystal Kitchen + Bath in Crystal, Minnesota, says.
12. Leverage Building Managers’ Expertise
“We are leaning on superintendents of buildings to answer questions and send photographs about apartments we are designing but cannot enter right now,” Lucy Harris of Lucy Harris Studio in New York says.
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“Materials can get challenging, but typically I will send pictures of palettes or we will drop off materials at the client’s home so they can see them in person,” Kaitlyn Stokes of Crystal Kitchen + Bath in Crystal, Minnesota, says.
12. Leverage Building Managers’ Expertise
“We are leaning on superintendents of buildings to answer questions and send photographs about apartments we are designing but cannot enter right now,” Lucy Harris of Lucy Harris Studio in New York says.
More for Pros on Houzz
Why Working Remotely With Clients May Become a Business Essential
See more from our Resilience series
Learn about Houzz Pro business software
Join the Houzz Trade Program
“The key is sending the client an agenda beforehand so that everyone is in the same headspace,” Mark English of Mark English Architects in San Francisco says.
2. Master the Presentation and Guide Clients Through It
“Have your entire presentation ready and up before the meeting, and be fully versed in how to switch screens to make off-the-cuff alterations and changes or [show] examples quickly to keep the client fully engaged and not waiting,” Carl Mattison of Carl Mattison Design in Atlanta says.
“My tip for prepping clients on remote work is to only share materials just before the meeting, unless they need a full review before. Treat it like a meeting you control in your office. You should not let them go down a path too far before you are able to fully engage and speak to them about each piece as you desire.”
Why Working Remotely With Clients May Become a Business Essential