Interior design is a 5-year decision — and one of the few transactions you pay ₹4-25 lakh for without seeing the final product. These 14 questions, with expected answers and red flags, separate the firms that deliver from the firms that disappear after the booking advance.
Ask these questions in the first meeting. The answers (and how confidently they're answered) tell you more than any portfolio. Each question has a "good answer" benchmark and a "red flag" to watch for.
The answer determines whether your kitchen lasts 5 years or 20. Chennai's humidity needs BWP IS:303 grade (Boiling Water Proof) at minimum. Marine BWP IS:710 is even better for sink/dishwasher zones.
Cheap unbranded Chinese hardware fails in 18-24 months in Chennai humidity. German brands (Hettich, Hafele, Blum) carry manufacturer warranties and operate smoothly through tropical conditions.
Lump-sum quotes hide downgrades. Insist on a written itemised quote that specifies every cabinet size, every hardware brand, every paint code. This becomes your protection if anything is substituted later.
Industry-healthy range is 10-15%. Demands above 30% are risky — you lose leverage if the firm under-performs. Milestone-linked balance payments (25/25/25/15 typical) protect both parties.
Verbal warranties are worthless. Look for tiered written warranty: structural (RCC), MEP, finishes. The contract should specify what's covered and what's excluded.
Delivery dates without consequences are wishes. A penalty clause (₹/day or % per week) shows the firm takes the timeline seriously. Most Chennai projects slip 20-40% without enforcement.
For any structural change, demolition, or building approval, you need a Council of Architecture-registered architect's signed drawings. Otherwise CMDA/DTCP rejects the filing.
Daily contractor presence + scheduled senior designer visits at milestones (foundation, RCC, plastering, finishing) is industry standard. Verify visit frequency in writing, not verbal promise.
Project portal with daily photo + video updates is the 2026 standard. WhatsApp group is acceptable. Verbal updates only is a red flag — you have no audit trail.
Named brands in writing — Asian Paints Royale Premium, Jaquar / Cera / Kohler sanitaryware, Saint-Gobain glass, Polycab / Havells wiring. Brand swaps mid-execution are common with generic spec.
Confident firms arrange this gladly. Past-client references are worth more than portfolio photos. Site visits to in-progress / completed projects are the best validation.
Should be in scope. Some firms quote excluding 'civil debris removal' (₹15-30k extra) and 'final cleaning' (₹5-10k extra). Confirm before signing.
Manufacturer warranties (Hettich, Jaquar etc.) require retailer invoices. Some firms 'save GST' by not invoicing properly — you lose your right to claim manufacturer warranty.
60-90 day snag-clearance window for minor adjustments is industry standard. Without this, every small fix becomes a paid call-out.
Interior design is one of the few transactions in India where you pay ₹4-25+ lakh without seeing the final product. The contract, the materials, the warranty terms — these are your only protection if anything goes wrong. The 14 questions above test all three.
From 312+ Chennai projects we've delivered, the projects that went smoothly always had: (1) itemised contract, (2) named-brand materials in writing, (3) milestone-linked payment, (4) tiered written warranty, (5) daily site updates. The projects we've heard horror stories about (from clients who came to us after a bad experience with another firm) always lacked at least three of these.
1. Visit a completed project. Photos lie. Real homes after 18 months of living show how the firm actually builds. Look at hinge alignment, door fit, edge bands, paint at corners, water-damaged areas around sink. These tell the truth.
2. Check Google reviews + Justdial. Recent reviews (last 6 months) are most revealing. Read negative reviews carefully — how the firm responds tells you about their accountability culture. Defensive responses = problem. Constructive resolution = good firm.
3. Run a Google search for the firm name + "complaints" or "lawsuit". Five minutes. Catches the worst.
Don't compare lump-sum quotes. Compare line-by-line itemised quotes for the same scope. The cheapest itemised quote usually wins — and you'll spot inconsistencies between firms immediately (one firm spec'ing BWP, another spec'ing MR; one firm including snag period, another excluding it).
Homeli is happy to be one of the 2-3 firms you compare. We share an itemised quote within 7-10 days of the free site visit. No aggressive follow-up. No pressure tactics. If we're the right fit, we win on the quote; if another firm fits better, we'd rather you choose them than be unhappy with us.
We'll honestly tell you whether you need an interior designer, an architect, or both — even if we're not the right fit for your project. No sales pressure.
Common follow-up questions from Chennai homeowners researching interior firms.