Scope — the most important section
The agreement should define exactly what the designer will and won't do: which rooms or areas, which services (space planning, procurement, construction coordination, styling), how many design concepts and revision rounds are included, and — critically — where their responsibility ends and yours or the contractor's begins.
Ambiguous scope is the single largest source of disputes, because it's where 'I assumed you were handling that' lives. A specific scope, with an explicit list of what's excluded, is worth reading twice.
Fees, payments, and procurement
Confirm the fee structure (flat, hourly, cost-plus, percentage) and exactly what it covers; the payment schedule (retainer, phase payments, what's due when); how procurement is handled and paid (whether furnishing payments flow through the designer or you pay vendors directly, and whether and how markups apply); how reimbursables like travel, shipping, and freight are billed; and what triggers additional charges (revisions beyond the included rounds, scope changes, extra site visits, extended timelines).
This is the section where money surprises are prevented, and it deserves the most attention — procurement in particular, since it's where much of the total spend flows.
Timeline, responsibilities, and the exit
Look for the project timeline or phase schedule and what happens if it extends. Confirm the responsibilities on each side — the designer's deliverables and yours (timely decisions, approvals, access, payments) — because a project stalls as easily on client delay as on designer delay. Check how changes are handled (a written change-order process protects both parties).
Understand the terms if either party needs to end the engagement — notice, what's owed, what happens to the retainer and to work in progress. And confirm practical protections: insurance, liability, how disputes are resolved, and ownership of the design work. These aren't signs of a troubled relationship; they're the normal architecture of a professional agreement.
When to get help reviewing it
For a significant project — a whole-home design, a custom home, a large renovation — having an attorney review the agreement is reasonable and often wise, particularly on the liability, dispute-resolution, and termination terms. This isn't distrust; it's diligence proportionate to the size of the commitment, and any reputable designer understands a client having their contract reviewed. (Note: this is general information, not legal advice — an attorney licensed in your jurisdiction should review your specific agreement.)
