Most bad interior design experiences don't start with bad taste — they start with the wrong questions never being asked at the consultation stage. Here are the 10 we'd want answered if we were hiring a studio ourselves, based on what we consistently see go wrong when homeowners switch to us mid-project from another studio.
1. Is the quote itemised, material by material?
A single lump-sum number tells you nothing about what's inside it. Ask for a breakdown by room and by item — material, brand, and labour — so you can actually compare it against another quote.
2. Who supervises the site day to day?
Many studios that design beautifully hand execution to a subcontracted team with minimal oversight. Ask specifically who visits site, how often, and whether that person has construction experience or only design experience — the two require very different skill sets.
3. What happens if the quote changes after work starts?
Some scope creep is normal on any renovation — a wall opens up and reveals old wiring that needs replacing. What matters is whether the studio has a clear process for approving changes before billing you, or whether costs just appear on the final invoice.
4. What's the realistic timeline — and what happens if it slips?
Ask for a phase-by-phase timeline (design, procurement, execution, handover) rather than a single end date. Ask what typically causes delays on their projects and how they communicate when a phase runs long.
5. Which hardware and material brands are actually being used?
'Premium hardware' means nothing without a brand name attached. Get the specific brands in writing for hinges, channels, and any electrical/plumbing fittings.
6. Is there a warranty, and what does it actually cover?
Ask how long the warranty runs, whether it covers hardware, civil work, and finishes separately, and what the process is for reporting an issue after handover.
7. Can you see a completed project, not just renders?
3D renders can make any studio's work look identical. Ask to see (or visit) a completed project of similar scope — how a finish actually ages after a year tells you more than any render.
8. How is society/RWA coordination handled?
Especially relevant in Delhi NCR high-rises — NOCs, lift bookings, work-hour restrictions, and material movement all need coordination. Ask whether the studio handles this or leaves it to you.
9. Who do you call if something goes wrong after handover?
A single point of contact who was involved in your actual project — not a generic support line — makes a real difference when something needs fixing six months in.
10. Does the founder or a senior person actually visit your site?
This sounds like a small thing, but it's the single biggest predictor of execution quality we've seen across hundreds of Delhi NCR projects. Studios where a founder or senior partner is personally accountable for site quality consistently outperform those run entirely by junior site managers — ask directly whether that's the case for your project, not just in marketing material.
