Hiring the right consultant for your next construction project

By Eleesha Jensen Photos Eleesha Jensen and Christan Barker Photography

Ahome or business is one of an individual’s biggest financial investments that they will undertake in their lifetime. This means that general building maintenance and potential renovations are often an overwhelming task for property owners, so ensuring that you have hired the appropriate professional to carry out your project is an important endeavor.

Professional Associations

Does the consultant that you are hiring belong to any municipal, provincial, or national associations?

If hiring an Architect or Registered Interior Designer, you can check that they are registered within the province. The Saskatchewan Association of Architects and the Interior Design Association of Saskatchewan are two examples of provincial associations that require members to be within good standing in their profession, carry applicable liability insurance and require continued education requirements on a regular basis.

Regulated provincial and national associations ensure applicants meet education and experience requirements prior to obtaining their membership.

References + Credibility

Does the consultant have a website, google listing or other social media applications?

It is important to complete your due diligence and ensure that the consultant you are hiring has a portfolio with samples of work similar to the upcoming project along with a list of client references or referrals. In the design industry, word of mouth is one of the biggest sellers for professionals.

Services

What services does the consultant provide and are they permitted to provide these services?

The first step is identifying the services and consultants you require based on your project scope.

Are you removing load bearing walls? If so, you will need a technologist or designer to create a design and drawing set then have a structural engineer review and stamp the project and applicable drawings.

Is the occupancy and/or use of your commercial space changing? You may need an Architect to complete a thorough code review since there is a change in occupancy.

Most municipalities provide a list of requirements for construction projects. These documents are a great reference for clients who are unsure of what services they may need in order to obtain a building permit.

Interior Decorator

There are currently no qualifications requirements for an individual to become an interior decorator. There is also no governing body that regulates the title of Interior Decorator.

Registered Interior Designer

In Canada the title ‘Interior Designer’ is regulated by the provincial governments. Interior Designers must be apart of their local association, carry liability insurance and meet the experience and education requirements to practice within their province. Interior Designers have the ability to work on commercial and institutional projects while collaborating with other consultants such as engineers, architects and project managers.

Construction Projects

Below are some examples of who might be involved in a traditional construction project

• Client

• Consultants – Architect, Registered Interior Designer, Engineers (structural, mechanical, electrical), Building Code Consultant

• Project Manager

• Contractor + Other Trades (plumber, electrician, drywaller, painter, carpenter, etc)

• Municipality Representatives + Building Officials

I often compare the relationship between an Interior Decorator and a Registered Interior Designer to hiring a Bookkeeper or a Chartered Accountant. They each have their niche and provide important services but sometimes you need to invest in the service that the latter can provide.” jensenco.ca

Eleesha is a local Registered Interior Designer and Architectural Technologist and owner of Jensen + Co. They have an office in Weyburn and Estevan. Eleesha resides just outside of Weyburn with her husband, two children and their golden retriever.