5 Must-ask questions before engaging an interior designer
My BTO is coming, and over the past few months, I have met my fair share of interior designers (IDs).
You need to vibe. Your budgets need to match. Communication matters. And just when you think you have found “the one”, something small starts to feel off and you are back to square one, scrolling through Instagram and wondering if everyone else has figured this out except you.
After going through this process (and making a few mistakes), I realised most of the stress comes from not knowing what to ask in the early stages. So, I tested my key questions with two experienced IDs — Jeslyn Neo from Yang’s Inspiration Design and Lewis Ling from Home4U — and their answers sharpened my list even more.
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Now, besides sharing a moodboard, these are the five questions I would always ask.
This tests: style alignment and execution experience.
What I really want to know is not just “Can you do Muji / Japandi / hotel vibes?” but: have you actually delivered something similar in a house like mine, with its fixed pipes, tight rooms, and awkward columns. Pretty 3D visuals are one thing; how it looks and functions in real life is another.
These are the follow-up questions I ask:
Neo shares that it is “understandable that homeowners would like to see real life examples to feel assured”, especially when renovation involves such a big financial commitment.
“After all, it’s a huge sum for renovation works, any homeowner would want to know they are getting what they paid for,” she says.
She adds that real-life projects also allow IDs to explain which scopes of work are realistic and what are not, as well as to highlight challenges that may not be obvious at the design stage. This helps manage expectations early on.
This tests: planning and experience.
I used to ask how fast a renovation could be done. Now, I ask what a realistic timeline looks like.
Anyone can promise speed. What I want to understand is whether the designer has thought through the process properly, from design development to handover, and whether they are honest about what usually causes delays.
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These are the follow-up questions I ask:
An experienced ID will usually talk about things like material lead times, coordination between trades and inspection schedules. If the answer is simply “about two to three months”, that is usually a sign they are glossing over details.
Neo agrees that a vague “two to three months” with no breakdown is a red flag, adding that it is the ID’s responsibility to understand the homeowner’s expectations around timeline, even before a project is confirmed.
“We usually confirm a start and handover date with homeowners and provide a conservative timeline, then explain the duration we’ve set before finalising,” she shares.
In general, IDs should also factor in challenging periods like year-end and Chinese New Year. They need to be able to justify their proposed schedule and be upfront about subcontractor availability and the likelihood of delays.
“The last thing an ID wants is to under-promise timeline,” she says, noting that in extreme cases, delays can even lead to IDs compensating homeowners for rental costs.
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This tests: ID knowledge of renovation rules.
I do not ask IDs if they know HDB or condo renovation rules. Everyone will say yes.
Instead, I bring up a very specific scenario and watch how they react.
For example, I will casually say something like: “I want to change the kitchen and toilet floors in my BTO” or “I want to remove the bomb shelter’s ventilation sleeve (the round metal disc) because it’s ugly”.
A designer who understands renovation rules will almost never jump straight into “sure, no problem”. They will explain the constraints, especially for BTO flats.
For BTOs, hacking kitchen and toilet tiles within the first three years is not allowed because it voids the waterproofing warranty. Doing so risks water leakage to lower floors, which is exactly what HDB is trying to prevent.
When it comes to the bomb shelter, the rules are strict. You cannot hack, drill, or alter the internal or external walls in any way.
What I expect to hear from the ID is something along the lines of:
Usually, that means suggesting tile overlaying, where new tiles are laid over the existing ones, or advising to wait until after the three-year period to apply for a permit for full tile replacement.
Bomb shelter-wise, one of the few ways you can make it look aesthetically pleasing is installing a thin ‘second’ door to cover it up.
What immediately raises a red flag for me is an answer like, “By right, cannot. By left, can”. True story.
The designer was young, enthusiastic, and unfortunately, too new — anyone getting a new BTO knows that you cannot modify the bomb shelter however you like, even though the chances of using it in an actual emergency is pretty low.
From Neo’s perspective, IDs who are overly eager to please and say yes to everything are often inexperienced. In situations where they are unsure, she feels they should be saying, “Let me check and double confirm whether we can commit to this scope for you,” instead of overpromising.
Home4U’s Ling, on the other hand, feels there is no real need to “set a trap” on purpose. He points out that reputable IDs generally have no interest in taking the risk of illegal works, because they themselves can be fined, and both the firm and homeowners can be forced to reinstate any unauthorised renovations.
He also highlights a less obvious consequence: illegal works can come back to haunt you when you are selling your house.
“If there were any illegal renovations done, future buyers and HDB have the right to request that the homeowners reinstate the property to its original, legal state,” Ling says. “This will definitely cause delays when you are selling the house and you, as the homeowner, will still be liable for the payment of fixing any illegal renovation works even after the sale of the flat”.
This tests: responsibility and boundaries.
Early on, I assumed that certain things were “obviously included” when engaging an ID — things like site supervision, coordination with contractors, or fixing small issues after handover. But after hearing so many ID nightmares, it is best not to assume.
These are the follow-up questions I usually ask:
Personal example: We thought HDB permit submissions were part of the ID’s job. It felt logical. You need permits to renovate, so surely that would be covered. It was not until we looked closely at the quotation that we realised permit applications were listed as a separate charge of $200.
We were taken aback, because HDB does not charge for renovation permits.
When we asked about it, the explanation was that this covered paperwork, submissions, and coordination. Which is fair, but it was never made clear upfront.
Neo from Yang’s Inspiration Design shares that some designers work with a dedicated project manager to run sites and manage logistics, while others handle everything themselves.
“If you’re engaging someone under an ID firm, all scopes should be clearly stated, whether managed by an individual or a team,” she says, stressing that the terms and conditions of the contract should spell out what is and is not included.
She also points out that homeowners need to know what kind of service they are actually engaging — some IDs only provide design, while others act more like main contractors who focus on coordination and logistics based on your requests.
Home4U’s Ling adds that job scopes differ across companies, but every designer at his firm is expected to handle interior design and space planning, material and finish selection, decorative advice, 3D visuals and VR walk-throughs, coordination of all in-house works, site supervision, regular updates on ongoing and completed works, plus on-site visits during the warranty period to check workmanship.
Most importantly, he emphasises the need for a “clear and transparent initial quotation” based on your requested works.
This tests: transparency, attention to detail, and how problems will be handled later.
Most IDs are more than happy to prepare a customised quotation early on. When I receive it, I am less focused on the final number and more on how the quotation is put together. The way costs are broken down usually tells me a lot about how the renovation will be handled later.
When I look at a sample quotation, there are a few things I pay close attention to.
First, the payment structure.
I prefer quotations that break payments into multiple tranches rather than large lump sums. More stages usually mean better accountability along the way.
Generally, a structure that keeps around 10% as final payment after completion is a green flag. It shows confidence in their work and gives homeowners some protection if touch-ups are needed.
Second, how detailed the line items are.
This matters more than most people realise. I look for quotations that break down work clearly, instead of vague one-liners.
For example, instead of a single line that says:
I expect to see something more detailed, such as:
This level of detail tells me exactly what I am paying for and makes it much harder for misunderstandings to happen later.
Third, clarity around materials and measurements.
Good quotations usually specify materials, dimensions, and finishes. If everything is lumped together without explanation, it becomes difficult to tell what changes will affect cost later on.
From experience, a detailed quotation often reflects how organised the renovation process will be. If pricing is vague at this stage, it rarely becomes clearer once work begins.
At this point, I am not looking for the cheapest quote. I am looking for clarity. And requesting a quotation alone eliminates quite a number of designers.
Neo shares that when it comes to quotations, “the clearer, the better”. She feels the industry has moved past vague “package” deals with fine print designed to be confusing, and encourages homeowners to request that every agreed scope be clearly stated in black and white before signing.
That way, the quotation becomes a concrete document to fall back on if any miscommunication or disputes arise.
“This is advantageous not just for homeowners, but for IDs as well, so they are not bullied into providing services at no cost due to vagueness,” she adds.