Home Pros Share Their Goals for 2023
They aim to strengthen relationships with clients, promote greater sustainability and strike the right work-life balance
After asking home professionals on Houzz about their proudest achievements in 2022, we asked pros what their goals for 2023 were. In addition to improving marketing, increasing their networks, expanding their teams and pushing their boundaries, they also opened up about personal goals. Take a look to see if their goals inspire ideas for the coming year, and please keep the conversation going by sharing your own goals in the Comments.
Brooklyn, New York, interior designer Julia Mack aims to do a better job of vetting clients and ensuring that she’s the right fit for projects sooner rather than later.
“My No. 1 goal for 2023 is to ask strategic questions during a first ‘get to know you’ call,” she says. Here is some of what she plans to do in those calls.
“My No. 1 goal for 2023 is to ask strategic questions during a first ‘get to know you’ call,” she says. Here is some of what she plans to do in those calls.
- Finding out the time frame and letting them know whether it’s realistic.
- Asking who the primary decision maker will be and making sure everyone else in the home is OK with that. “I like when everyone is involved at least at our first in-person meeting, when we are discussing programming of the space and deciding upon a good design concept,” she says.
- Being more proactive in managing client expectations by saying something to the effect of: “Sometimes products purchased online do not look the same in person. This is not anyone’s fault, and the product may need to be returned. It’s disappointing, but it’s important to be aware of this and be flexible with your expectations.”
“I’m all about goal setting,” says interior designer Jena Bula of Delphinium Design, seen here on the right staging a holiday photo shoot. “I feel that I need to always be working toward something tangible to help myself stay motivated.” One of her goals includes expanding a specific side of her Charlotte, North Carolina-based business.
“We do a ton of renovations and over the last two years have been working on a few furnishing projects. We’ve really enjoyed this aspect of the business and would love to do more furnishing projects in 2023,” she says.
“On a personal note, I hope to find a bit more of a work-life balance,” Bula says. “We have some exciting trips that I’m looking forward to and I plan to do my very best to be fully present.”
“We do a ton of renovations and over the last two years have been working on a few furnishing projects. We’ve really enjoyed this aspect of the business and would love to do more furnishing projects in 2023,” she says.
“On a personal note, I hope to find a bit more of a work-life balance,” Bula says. “We have some exciting trips that I’m looking forward to and I plan to do my very best to be fully present.”
For architect Dan Nelson of Designs Northwest Architects, sustainable practices will continue to be a priority in 2022. And the firm’s plans include achieving sustainability in some ways it hasn’t before. “The Washington state energy code is going to be updated this summer, and our office will be learning how to incorporate the new code requirements into our projects,” Nelson says. “We are also starting to see more clients wanting to incorporate energy efficiency into their projects by incorporating new building technologies. We are currently working on a rammed-earth house, which is unusual for the Pacific Northwest, and a Passive House-certified home. One of our associates is becoming Passive House-certified this coming year.”
As for personal goals, Nelson is glad to be able to travel again. “Traveling is always a great way to take a break from the office and to recharge the creative energy,” he says. “This October my wife and I spent four weeks in Italy. When I travel, I usually take a sketchbook and like to do quick on-site sketches. Working from my sketchbook, I have produced about 20 small watercolor paintings,” he says.
The photo above shows one of his firm’s recently completed projects in Conway, Washington.
As for personal goals, Nelson is glad to be able to travel again. “Traveling is always a great way to take a break from the office and to recharge the creative energy,” he says. “This October my wife and I spent four weeks in Italy. When I travel, I usually take a sketchbook and like to do quick on-site sketches. Working from my sketchbook, I have produced about 20 small watercolor paintings,” he says.
The photo above shows one of his firm’s recently completed projects in Conway, Washington.
Architect John Conroy of Princeton Design Collaborative in New Jersey, says, “Our goal is making our projects even more sustainable than ever before. Not only environmentally, but also for our client’s wallet. These two things do not always go hand in hand, but it’s our goal to do so.”
The plan seen here is for a project that added sustainable elements to a green-minded couple’s compact yard. These included a vegetable garden and a compost area, eliminating off-site water runoff, reducing the need for mowing, installing a clothesline and collecting rainwater for irrigation.
The plan seen here is for a project that added sustainable elements to a green-minded couple’s compact yard. These included a vegetable garden and a compost area, eliminating off-site water runoff, reducing the need for mowing, installing a clothesline and collecting rainwater for irrigation.
Atlanta interior designer Reka Jemmott of Jemm Interiors aims to continue to build more lasting relationships with clients and to grow her business.
The pandemic has inspired a focus on health as well. “My personal goal will be to get in better shape, mentally and physically, and just take better care of myself,” Jemmott says.
The pandemic has inspired a focus on health as well. “My personal goal will be to get in better shape, mentally and physically, and just take better care of myself,” Jemmott says.
Designer Lucas Gray’s plans include a move and lots of professional goals. “I’m looking to continue to expand the products we offer on Modern ADU Plans and grow that business. I’ll also be working with a range of architectural offices around the country as a business consultant, helping them run more profitable firms,” he says. “It will be fun to balance the design work, Modern ADU Plans business and consulting services. I enjoy having a range of things to work on and think about.”
One of interior designer Diana Bastone’s accomplishments for 2022 was amping up her marketing, and she wants to keep the momentum going in 2023. “I am more prepared to allow the time commitment and upfront cost associated with marketing. My hope is with targeted marketing, I can be more selective with the projects that come my way,” she says.
The designer also realizes that sharing information through marketing can help her give back to homeowners. “As I market my design business, I would like to explore ways to share my knowledge of my 30 years’ experience in the industry, whether it’s from articles or interviews,” she says. “I would like to give back to the Houzz community by participating in any way possible. It’s my way of giving back to this platform since it has been so instrumental in propelling my interior design business.”
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The designer also realizes that sharing information through marketing can help her give back to homeowners. “As I market my design business, I would like to explore ways to share my knowledge of my 30 years’ experience in the industry, whether it’s from articles or interviews,” she says. “I would like to give back to the Houzz community by participating in any way possible. It’s my way of giving back to this platform since it has been so instrumental in propelling my interior design business.”
More for Pros on Houzz
Read more stories for pros
Learn about Houzz Pro software
Talk with your peers in pro-to-pro discussions
Join the Houzz Trade Program
Work-life balance is important to him too. “Personal goals for the upcoming year are to reconnect with friends and value the time we have together. And to be present in the moment,” he says.
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