Only Girl On The Jobsite

Renee Biery
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Welcome to Only Girl On The Jobsite, the podcast for designers ready to step up their project management game and make confident decisions on the jobsite. I'm your host, Renée Biery, an interior designer with 30 years of experience navigating the world of construction. This podcast is your go-to resource for navigating the ups and downs of jobsite management, working with contractors, and overcoming common pitfalls that can derail a project. Each episode will empower you with actionable advice and real-world lessons to make your projects run smoothly. Ready to elevate your jobsite skills? Start listening, and discover how you can make every project a success. Learn more at www.deVignierdesign.com.

  1. 2d ago

    What a Good Contract Can't Save You From — with Wendy Estela

    A good contract is essential. But what happens when you've done everything right and the project still goes sideways? My friend Wendy Estela, an attorney specializing in construction and design law, is back for part two of our conversation about protecting your interior design business. Wendy is the founder of Estela Law and Designed Counsel™, a contract template and subscription service created specifically for interior designers. With 25 years of experience in business law, she works with designers at every stage of their careers, from those just starting out to AD100 and Elle Decor A-List professionals. What I appreciate about Wendy is that she understands our industry. She doesn't just look at the legal language. She understands the relationships, financial realities, and everyday decisions that can make or break a design business. Today, we're talking about difficult client relationships, unclear expectations, scope creep, payment disputes, and why the way you run your business every day matters just as much as what's written in your agreement. Wendy also shares why she doesn't believe in the idea of a bulletproof contract, how designers can better explain their terms to clients, and why sometimes the smartest business decision is to walk away from a dispute. And I'm sharing some of my own experiences, including mistakes I've made with contracts, the way I walk clients through my agreements, and a payment situation that taught me a very expensive lesson. You'll Learn: Why a strong contract alone can't prevent every client dispute How to explain your contract so clients understand what they're agreeing to Why clear scopes of work and consistent business practices matter How payment terms can help protect your design business When pursuing a dispute may cost more than it's worth Why setting expectations during discovery is just as important as the contract itself If you haven't listened to Episode 276 with Wendy, I encourage you to go back and listen to that conversation too. These two episodes really belong together. Connect with Wendy Estela Wendy Estela is the founder of Estela Law and Designed Counsel™, where she helps interior designers navigate contracts, business transactions, and risk management with practical legal guidance. Website: www.estelalaw.com Contract templates and resources: www.designedcounsel.com Instagram: @estelalaw | @designed_counsel   Mentioned in this episode: Grab Your Free Script Guide here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/push-back-script-handout Access the full video interview with Elana Steele of Steele Appliance here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/appliance   Find the full shownotes at: https://devignierdesign.com/interior-design-contract-protection

  2. Oct 27

    Your Client Wants It Done by the Holidays. Here's What You Need to Know.

    Have you ever promised a client their project would be finished by Christmas, only to realize there were a dozen things outside your control? I've been there. In fact, I once found myself crawling underneath a fully decorated Christmas tree on Christmas Eve, trying to finish a curtain installation before my client's guests arrived. That experience changed how I handle holiday deadlines forever. In this episode, I'm talking about what interior designers need to consider as Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, and Christmas approach. We'll look at the very different challenges of decorating and construction projects, why you need to understand exactly what your client means by "the holidays," and how to communicate realistic expectations without making promises you can't keep. I'm also sharing how I approach decision deadlines, construction sequencing, trade availability, winter weather, and planning for time away. Plus, I'll talk about the year-end gestures I make for clients and contractors to show my appreciation. Because your projects don't have to be finished before the holidays, but your clients should absolutely know what to expect.   In this episode, you'll learn: Why I stopped guaranteeing holiday completion dates How to uncover what your client's holiday deadline actually means How to explain the impact of delayed decisions on construction schedules When changing the construction sequence might be worth the additional cost How to prepare your clients, contractors, and trades for the holiday break   Mentioned in this episode: Grab Your Free Script Guide here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/push-back-script-handout Access the full video interview with Elana Steele of Steele Appliance here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/appliance Find the full shownotes at: https://devignierdesign.com/holiday-project-deadlines

  3. Oct 20

    Your Project Is Behind Schedule. Now What?

    I'm currently working on a beautiful historic renovation and addition that's running almost seven months behind schedule. And while that certainly wasn't the plan, it's also been a really valuable reminder of what matters most when construction doesn't go the way we expected. In this episode, I'm talking about construction delays, what they actually mean for your project, and how to manage them without damaging your client relationships. Because here's something I think designers need to understand: just because an activity is delayed doesn't necessarily mean your entire project is behind schedule. And before you start giving your client new completion dates, you need to understand the difference. We're also talking about those uncomfortable conversations with contractors, why consistent communication matters so much, and what an extended construction schedule can mean for your own business and profitability. You'll Learn: Why a delayed task doesn't always mean a delayed completion date What to ask your contractor when a project falls behind How to communicate delays without making promises you can't keep Why a new completion date isn't the same as a recovery plan How extended construction schedules can affect your fees, capacity, and other projects   Mentioned in this episode: Grab Your Free Script Guide here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/push-back-script-handout Access the full video interview with Elana Steele of Steele Appliance here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/appliance   Find the full shownotes at: https://devignierdesign.com/how-to-handle-construction-delays

  4. Oct 13

    Before You Plan for 2027, Ask Yourself These 5 Questions

    For years, I thought the answer to making more money in my design business was simple: more projects. More clients, more opportunities, more work. But when I finally stopped and looked at what those projects were actually costing me, I realized how wrong I'd been. As we head toward 2027, I want you to look at what your business is already telling you before you start making plans for next year. In this episode, I'm walking you through five things I believe every interior designer should review, whether you're managing your first construction projects or you've been running your firm for decades. We're talking about profitability, the projects you'd actually want to repeat, your calendar and capacity, referral relationships, and how to figure out what kind of help your business really needs.   You'll Learn: Why more projects don't necessarily mean more profit How to recognize patterns in your fees, scope, and project profitability What your calendar reveals about your capacity and personal life How to attract better-fitting projects through your referral relationships How to identify the support your business actually needs before hiring   Mentioned in this episode: Grab Your Free Script Guide here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/push-back-script-handout Access the full video interview with Elana Steele of Steele Appliance here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/appliance   Find the full shownotes at: https://devignierdesign.com/interior-design-business-planning-2027

  5. Oct 6

    Communicating Your Value Before the Discovery Call Even Starts with Deb Mitchell

    My guest today has a background that's genuinely unusual in this space, and it's exactly what makes her perspective so useful. Deb Mitchell is a brand strategist and messaging expert who has worked with interior designers for more than a decade. She helps designers clarify their positioning, find their voice and attract the clients they actually want to work with. But here's what makes Deb different from most people talking about branding and marketing. Before launching her own business, she worked in-house at a luxury interior design firm, shaping the firm's brand identity and managing client communications. She saw firsthand what attracts premium clients and what helps them trust a designer before that first conversation ever happens. In this episode, we're talking about the gap between the quality of your work and what your brand may actually be communicating. We get into discovery calls, why your portfolio can't do all the talking for you, the pink flags you shouldn't ignore and the trust signals that help potential clients understand your value. And yes, we also get into something I will preach all day long: you're interviewing the client just as much as they're interviewing you. You'll Learn: Why attracting the right client starts before the discovery call What your website and messaging need to communicate that your portfolio can't How to recognize pink, red and green flags when talking with potential clients Why your discovery call should be a two-way interview How trust signals help clients understand your value and feel confident hiring you   Connect with Deb here: Deb's Freebie mentioned in today's episode: https://debmitchellco.kit.com/34e40aabe1 Website: https://debmitchellco.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/debmitchellco/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DebMitchellCo/     YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@debmitchellco    Mentioned in this episode: Grab Your Free Script Guide here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/push-back-script-handout Access the full video interview with Elana Steele of Steele Appliance here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/appliance Find the full shownotes at: https://devignierdesign.com/communicate-value-interior-designer

  6. Sep 29

    What Experienced Interior Designers Actually Do on a Jobsite

    Two designers can walk onto the exact same construction project, look at the exact same room, talk to the exact same contractor or trade, and leave noticing completely different things.  So today I want to take you onto a jobsite with me. This is not a checklist or 10 things you should inspect. I want to show you how I actually think when I walk through that door. Because after 32 years, a lot of it is now automatic, and I want to make it less automatic so that you can start doing it on your next site visit.   You'll Learn: What experienced designers look for during each phase of construction Why arriving early and building relationships with trades makes you a better project manager How to spot potential issues and ask questions without putting anyone on the defensive   Mentioned in this episode: Join The Designer's Edge here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/construction-management-interior-designers Grab Your Free Script Guide here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/push-back-script-handout Access the full video interview with Elana Steele of Steele Appliance here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/appliance Find the full shownotes at: https://devignierdesign.com/jobsite-tips-for-interior-designers

  7. Sep 22

    "I Have to Look Into That" — What Confident Designers Actually Say on a Jobsite

    What happens when you're standing on a jobsite, and someone asks you a question you don't know how to answer? Construction confidence isn't about knowing everything; it's knowing what to do next. Today I share the four-step process I use when construction hands me something new, how to find the right answers, and how to recognize when a question isn't yours to answer at all. You'll Learn: The 4 steps to follow when you don't know the answer on a jobsite. How to know who to turn to for the right answer—and when the decision isn't yours to make. The difference between a healthy professional stretch and truly being in over your head.   Mentioned in this episode: Join The Designer's Edge here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/construction-management-interior-designers Grab Your Free Script Guide here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/push-back-script-handout Access the full video interview with Elana Steele of Steele Appliance here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/appliance   Find the full shownotes at: https://devignierdesign.com/interior-designers-jobsite-confidence

  8. Sep 15

    Why Interior Designers Lose Money on Construction Projects

    There's a quiet assumption in the interior design industry that if you spend enough time around construction projects, eventually you'll just "figure it out." And honestly? Most designers do. Project by project. Mistake by mistake. Usually while undercharging, overextending themselves, and absorbing responsibilities they never intentionally agreed to manage. In this episode, I want to talk about something I wish every interior designer understood much earlier in their career: Construction management is not simply an extension of design work. It is a completely different body of work entirely.   We're talking about: the difference between consulting and managing why construction responsibilities quietly "creep in" how profitability disappears project by project why hourly billing often hurts designers more than it protects them the importance of a true scope of work and how better process leads to better pricing, confidence, and projects I also share the idea of "pink flags" — the subtle client behaviors that often tell you far more about how a construction project will unfold than obvious red flags ever will. If you've ever found yourself managing far more than you priced for, questioning your fees, or feeling exhausted by construction projects you thought you understood, this episode is for you.   Mentioned in this episode: Join The Designer's Edge waitlist here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/construction-management-interior-designers Grab Your Free Script Guide here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/push-back-script-handout Access the full video interview with Elana Steele of Steele Appliance here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/appliance   Find the full shownotes at:  https://devignierdesign.com/interior-designers-lose-money-construction-projects

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About

Welcome to Only Girl On The Jobsite, the podcast for designers ready to step up their project management game and make confident decisions on the jobsite. I'm your host, Renée Biery, an interior designer with 30 years of experience navigating the world of construction. This podcast is your go-to resource for navigating the ups and downs of jobsite management, working with contractors, and overcoming common pitfalls that can derail a project. Each episode will empower you with actionable advice and real-world lessons to make your projects run smoothly. Ready to elevate your jobsite skills? Start listening, and discover how you can make every project a success. Learn more at www.deVignierdesign.com.

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