Note these tips to save yourself from fraudsters in interior designing

Image courtesy: Shutterstock/Yarygin

Entrusting a well-known designing firm to design the interiors, after completing the construction of the structure, has been a trend lately. Most such firms in Kerala are authentic and are committed to completing the project within the stipulated time, using quality materials. However, there is a minority that cheats by taking advantage of the ignorance of the customers. Non-resident Keralites who are unable to oversee the construction and the ordinary people who do not have in-depth knowledge in this matter are often the ones who fall prey to such fraudsters. However, you could save your money if you keep some of these points in mind while designing the interiors of your dream abode.

Quality of materials

Make sure that the materials suggested by you are being used while building the cupboards and shelves. Some companies might replace the already agreed materials with cheaper alternatives that look exactly like the original. You might not be able to spot the difference at a glance. However, you might realize that you have been tricked only a few years later, when the poor quality materials begin to cause problems. As they are of poor quality, these materials may soon wither and the owner has to spend more money to replace or repair them.

Replacement warranty scam

There are designer firms that promise ten year warranty for interior works and other service warranties too. Warranty scams happen mostly in the form of unit replacement warranty. Designing companies build a unit using different kinds of materials or products. Most customers think that the firm will replace the entire unit in case something goes wrong with a single element. They might sign the contract thinking that it is going to be financially lucrative too. However, the companies wouldn’t replace the entire unit if just a product in it is damaged. So, an agreement should be reached only after understanding the warranty and replacement policies properly.

Unnecessary materials

Everyone desires to decorate the interiors using quality materials, without overshooting the budget. Most people would have done research about the materials and furnishing items that suit their budget and preference. There are lots of companies that custom make such materials by staying within the limit of the estimated budget.

However, there are tricksters too who try to gain undue profit by misleading the customers. The company might convince the customer to purchase a cheap quality material, which is often used by the former, saying that it is better than the materials chosen by the customer. The customer, meanwhile, would believe the company thinking that the latter might be right as they have more experience in this field. This would lead to overshooting of budget that has been allocated for interior designing.

It is better not to blindly trust anyone when you are building your dream abode. If you are a commoner who wishes to build an ordinary house without breaking the bank, then it is smarter not to spend hefty amounts for interior design. Interior designing is a luxurious investment that do not warranty any returns. So, it would be wiser to concentrate on comfort and modern amenities rather than spending too much money on interior designing. 

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