Why Your ID Must Do Site Visits During Your Reno
The role of an ID isn’t just to design your house, give you nice pics and pangkang.
One ID boss recently told us he hired this new graduate who had aspirations to be a designer.
But the thing is - the person flat‑out, refused to go down to homeowners’ site during their reno.
When asked, the person said “lazy” (!!!)
The boss was furious: “You lazy to visit site, then you got lazy to collect money?”
Watch our tiktok if you lazy to read.
Why IDs Don’t Do Site Visits
Before sharing why IDs should go down to site, maybe let us share from the other angle why they don’t.
It’s pretty self-explanatory what the IDs are thinking.
Ans 1: “If I instructed my subcons properly, there’s no need for me to be there. Not as though the work is I do one”
Ans 2: “Waste time / lazy, I can be spending the time closing other sales”
Ans 3: “Homeowners ownself will go down, any issues they will tell me what”
Why IDs Should Do Site Visits
Because the truth is an ID’s role extends far beyond designing - they are a project manager.
And they need to be a very good one.
Lastly, no matter how experienced an ID you are, there will always be room to learn more and improve.
Even the most experienced IDs we know make it a point to go down cause every site teaches them something new.
Ans 1: It is their duty.
How else do you know the workmanship is good, and the delivery is as expected?
Site visits are the only way to ensure that what’s on paper is actually being translated on the ground.
You not going down to check is same as a manager not checking their employees’ work. Then what’s your value? Is it really just helicopter view?
Ans 2: It’s about showing face.
This is lame but real.
Imagine you are the homeowner, if your ID doesn’t come down to site, are they really in control? Are they really doing their job?
When doubts happen, it puts the relationship between you and the homeowner at risk.
What for? When going down takes maximum 2 hours.
Ans 3: It’s about learning.
Every house is different, and there’s alot to learn.
Even the senior ID bosses tell us that they still go down because nobody has seen it all.
But if you just stay in your office, you will always only know the theory, and never the practical.
And ofc the practical is more important.
How Often Should Your ID Visit Your Site?
Once a week.
Less than that, ask them what’s happening.
More than that, it’s a bonus.
But it cannot, and should not, be on a everyday basis.
You are not their only project - they still need to spend time to get new projects. This is why sales is a tough role.
Why We Help Homeowners Check Site?
It is precisely because we know not all IDs go down to site.
Our role is to make sure that homes are delivered, with standard.
By personally going down, we can see from an objective lens whether this project is up to par.
This is the best way to gauge if the ID is continuously good enough for us to refer them, or if standards have slipped.
Referring is easy af, but to do it properly, we need to be there from start to finish.
A bit of self praising la - but that’s why we dare say nobody tries as hard, not even CASE, to fix this renovation industry.
TLDR
Your ID must go down during your reno.
Once a week is reasonable - it will never be everyday.
The issue is a lot of them don’t even go down at all.
Lastly, if you need reliable IDs/contractors recommendations, enquire here. It’s free with no obligations.