Are You Designing for Ego or the Client? Why Overdesigning Might Be Costing Your Outdoor Living Business Big

Always provide clients with what they explicitly ask for first, ensuring their core needs are met and budgeted for.

Present a second design option that showcases additional possibilities and aspirational features, without making them integral to the initial design.

Deeply listen to your clients' specific desires and 'word fragments' to ensure your initial design accurately reflects their vision.

Understand your client's time horizon (e.g., short-term residency vs. 'forever home') as this impacts their willingness to invest more in a project.

Avoid overwhelming clients with overly complex or expensive designs that deviate too far from their initial request, as this can lead to alienation.

Recognize that clients often upsell themselves when presented with clear options, rather than feeling pressured by a single, expensive proposal.