An interior designer's year: what to do month by month
The year of an interior designer or architecture firm follows the rhythm of the seasons: you plan in winter, build in the good weather and deliver in the fall. This calendar covers five periods, with what happens, why and what to do. Iris, the Orvel agent, prepares the reminders and follow-ups; your team decides.
January to March: planning the year's projects
This is when many homeowners plan their renovations. Design and orders take time before construction, so it is better to start early.
The recommended action is a campaign to past clients and dormant inquiries, offering an initial consultation and signing mandates for spring and summer projects. The template message "A project for the nice season? Let's plan it now" does exactly this: it reminds people that the best projects are planned early, because design, material selection and orders take time.
Iris prepares the send, but your team chooses the list. Messages only go to consenting clients, with an unsubscribe link.
- Pull up inquiries left without follow-up and past clients.
- Approve the campaign message before sending.
- Prepare the phased proposal template and the consultation checklist.
- Schedule the season's initial consultations.
April to June: construction gets under way
Residential construction is concentrated in the good season; site follow-ups and orders multiply. The main risk is cascading delay: a late approval or a forgotten order holds up the contractors.
The action is close tracking of supplier orders and site visits, with approval reminders so contractors are not delayed. Iris reviews orders (received, late, to be confirmed), notifies the client of any change in lead time and follows up on approvals when five days pass without a reply.
For your team, this is also the period to record in the file the quick decisions made with the client and contractors, before they get lost in emails.
- Keep each project's materials and suppliers table up to date.
- Record site visits and photos in the file.
- Respond quickly to pending approvals.
July and August: construction in progress and holidays
Holidays slow down approvals and replies, and some procurement lead times may get longer. A client away for a week can be enough to push a stage back.
The action is to schedule approval reminders before the time off and to inform the client of any change in lead time. It is also wise to know who on your team covers files during the holidays, so that cases Iris hands off to a person (complaint, construction problem, technical question) have someone to take them.
- Send approval requests before clients leave.
- Confirm the status of orders before your team's time off.
- Name an on-call person for handed-off cases.
September and October: finishing before the holidays
Clients who want a space ready for the holiday season must launch or approve their projects in the fall. This is the time to move forward whatever is pending.
The action is to follow up on pending proposals and confirm realistic timelines with suppliers. Iris follows up on each proposal about three days after it is sent, then creates a task for your team if ten days go by without a reply. Your team can then call, adjust the scope or close the file. Iris never announces a timeline without your proposal: it is confirmed against suppliers' real lead times.
- Review proposals without a reply.
- Validate lead times with each supplier before promising a date.
- Prioritize projects aimed at the holiday season.
November and December: deliveries, reviews and portfolio
Completed projects are ready to be photographed, and reviews are fresh in clients' minds. This is the best time to gather what will feed your practice next year.
The action is to ask for reviews and photo permission, then prepare portfolio posts with the clients' agreement. Iris sends the request about a week after delivery, to every client, and offers a simple YES or NO for photos. Only photos authorized in writing are used.
- Send the review request to every client whose project has been delivered.
- Keep the dated photo authorization in the file.
- Schedule photo shoots with the clients who said yes.
One tip for the whole year
Whatever the season, one habit helps: review pending proposals and approvals every week. Iris's indicators point that way: consultations of the week, proposal acceptance rate, pending proposals, pending approvals, projects under construction, reviews and photos obtained. They work as a dashboard and promise nothing about results.
This calendar is a practical guide, not legal advice. For the rules that frame your practice, consult your professional order or your legal adviser.
Plan in winter, track construction in spring, prevent delays in summer, follow up in the fall and collect reviews and photos at year-end: that is the thread of your year. Iris keeps the reminders current so your team keeps its time for design.
General information, not legal advice. Check with your professional order or the official source.
Questions
When should the planning campaign go out?
According to the calendar, from January to March, when many homeowners plan their renovations. Iris prepares the send, and your team approves the list and the message.
What should I do when clients go on vacation?
Send approval reminders before the time off and inform each client of any change in lead time. Also decide who on your team covers the files.
When should I ask for reviews and photos?
After delivery, with a request sent to every client. November and December are a good period, because reviews are fresh in memory. Photos are only used with the client's agreement.
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