What you will learn in this episode:

• Why vague, image-heavy proposals are costing interior designers projects, profit, and credibility
  
• How to write clear, specific scopes of work that prevent scope creep and protect your bottom line
  
• What architects and contractors do differently—and how designers can mirror that professionalism to earn equal respect on the job site

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The Proposal Mistake Costing Interior Designers Projects and Profit

When it comes to winning projects, protecting your fees, and earning respect on the job site, there’s one mistake many interior designers are making—and it’s costing them dearly. The issue lies not in talent or creativity, but in how proposals are written and presented.

Too often, designers spend hours creating glossy, image-heavy, adjective-filled proposals that look like magazine spreads. While they may be beautiful, they often lack the clarity needed to serve as a working document. And this vagueness is where profitability, credibility, and client relationships start to unravel.

Why Pretty Proposals Don’t Win Projects

Designers want to inspire clients, so they include polished images, testimonials, and flowery descriptions. But here’s the problem: when your proposal lands next to the architect’s seven-page list of deliverables or the contractor’s line-item breakdown of labor and materials, yours can look more like a marketing brochure than a professional agreement.

The result? Clients may question your value. Contractors may see you as disorganized. And worst of all, you leave yourself wide open to scope creep—the silent profit killer of design businesses.

Vague Language Leads to Scope Creep

Consider this example from a real design proposal:

“We will approach this project with regards to coming up with the best schematic plans, navigating the layers of detail from cabinetry to plumbing and electrical, conceptualizing the interior design with 3D images to help visualize the project, and more.”

It sounds inspiring, but it leaves critical questions unanswered. How many schematic plans? How many revisions? Who is responsible for cabinetry drawings or purchasing plumbing fixtures? How many 3D images are included—and of which rooms?

Without clear boundaries, clients are justified in asking for more, and designers often end up either doing unpaid work or straining client relationships when pushing back.

What Architects and Contractors Do Differently

Compare that with an architect’s proposal:

“Phase One: Pre-Design. Photographs and field measurements will be taken of the existing residence to facilitate a set of existing condition drawings in CAD format. These drawings will serve as the basis for schematic design, design development, and final construction drawings.”

No adjectives. No fluff. Just clarity. Everyone knows what’s included, what’s not, and what the client is paying for. That level of precision protects profitability and credibility.

Why This Matters for Designers

Your client is reading your proposal alongside your teammates’ proposals. If the architect presents clarity, the contractor presents numbers, and you present adjectives and inspiration, you risk being perceived as less professional. Worse, it feeds an old stereotype—that designers are only about the pretty and not essential to the project’s success.

That’s not how you win projects, earn respect, or run profitable jobs.

The Fix: Clear, Specific, Professional Proposals

Instead of creating 25-page glossy decks, focus on writing proposals that:

• Define exactly what is included (and what is not).
• Specify quantities and deliverables (e.g., “two to three 3D images of the living room, dining room, and primary bedroom”).
• Remove unnecessary adjectives and focus on facts.
• Mirror the straightforward approach architects and contractors use.

Marketing materials like welcome packets, testimonials, and inspirational presentations have their place. But proposals and scopes of work are not marketing—they’re contracts that protect your business.

Protect Your Work

One final note: never share your full proposal with an architect or contractor before you’re hired. Your scope of work is for you and your client only. Sharing it risks exposing your pricing and deliverables to industry partners who may undercut you.

The Challenge

Take a look at your last proposal. Strip out the images and the adjectives, and read only the words. Would your client know exactly what’s included, what’s excluded, and what they’re paying for? If not, it’s time to make a change.

Because clarity is what gets you hired. Clarity is what keeps projects profitable. And clarity is what earns you the respect you deserve on the job site.

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Key Takeaways:

• Beautiful proposals are inspiring, but vague language costs money, credibility, and respect.
• Clear, specific scopes of work prevent scope creep and protect profitability.
• Present proposals like an equal to architects and contractors—factual, precise, and professional.

If you’re ready to step into projects with confidence, protect your bottom line, and be seen as an essential partner in construction, start with your proposals. They’re not just paperwork—they’re the backbone of your business success.

Like this Episode?

• Be sure to check out Episode #188: Your Scope of Work is the Key to Profitability
• Be sure to check out Episode #120: Designer’s Questions Answered – How to Protect Boundaries, Designs & Other Critical Jobsite Questions
• Be sure to check out Episode #231: The One Question That Will Transform Your Proposals