State of the Industry: What Designers & Remodelers Are Saying as 2025 Ends

Insights from Designers Show #162 by Chief Experts

As 2025 winds down, how are designers, architects, and remodelers really feeling about the year ahead?

In Episode #162 of the Chief Experts Designers Show, Dan, Renee, John, and a crew of professionals took a deep dive into the results of a live survey with over 50 industry voices. What followed was an open, honest, and insightful conversation on the state of the residential design and remodeling industry—and how to thrive in uncertain times.

Let’s unpack the key highlights, takeaways, and actionable tips from the show.

Survey Results: What the Data Revealed

The episode’s centerpiece was a community survey conducted via Google Forms. It asked architects, designers, and builders to share how their business is doing and what they’re concerned about most.

Here are the key stats:

• Age Group: 62% of respondents are aged 61+, showing a veteran-heavy audience.

• Roles: The majority identified as designers and architects, though builders and contractors were represented as well.

• Market Size: Respondents were spread across small towns, suburbs, and large cities.

• Business Confidence: On a scale of 1 to 5, most rated their local market between 3 and 4, signaling cautious optimism.

• Lead Volume: Mixed responses — some firms saw increases, others saw a drop, indicating regional variability.

• Top Concerns:

  • Clients hesitating due to interest rates and economic fear

  • Rising material costs

  • Burnout from difficult clients and poor-fit leads

👉 Takeaway: The industry is no longer booming like it was post-2020, but many professionals are adapting—some better than others.

The Big Conversations

1. Design as a Profit Center — Not a Freebie

A recurring theme was the importance of charging for design work, especially in firms that offer both design and construction services.

Historically, many remodelers bundled design into build costs or offered it “for free” to land the bigger job. But that mindset is changing fast.

“If you’re doing great design work, it should be making money—not just leading to a job.” — Dan Baumann

The panel discussed the pros and cons of:

• Hourly billing

• Flat-rate packages

• Retainers with built-in hours

Several noted that retainers work well because clients understand the value up front, without worrying about “running clocks.”

2. Marketing in 2025: What Still Works (and What Doesn’t)

Marketing remains one of the biggest challenges for design professionals, especially those in smaller or rural markets.

What’s working:

• Consistent email newsletters to past and prospective clients

• Educational content (webinars, workshops, simple guides)

• Clean job sites and branded trucks in the neighborhood

• Personal connections with neighbors during projects

What’s not:

• Relying solely on Angi, Yelp, Houzz, or other pay-per-lead services (results vary wildly by region)

• Doing nothing and expecting word-of-mouth alone to fill the pipeline

“Clean job sites and friendly conversations with the neighbors still get you more work than anything else.” — John

Especially with younger homeowners, quick attention-grabbing content and trust-building conversations are essential.

3. Contracts & Clarity: Avoiding Risky Clients

One of the show’s most lively segments was about protecting yourself with proper contracts and communication.

Several designers shared horror stories of:

• Clients demanding more work than agreed to

• Payment delays

• Scope creep without compensation

The key takeaway: Have a clear, written agreement. Always.

They shared tools like:

• FreshBooks (for invoicing and retainer tracking)

• Cursor AI (for dynamically editing contract clauses based on project complexity, allergies, or jobsite constraints)

Some designers even do live contract walk-throughs with clients to build trust and ensure understanding.

“If your client has white carpet and dust allergies, that should be reflected in your agreement.” — Renee

 

Workflow, Systems & Tech

One of the most actionable insights came from discussions on standardizing your design and business workflow.

Whether you’re solo or managing a team, repeatable systems help:

• Onboard clients faster

• Deliver consistent results

• Avoid mistakes and miscommunication

Some suggestions:

• Build a template system inside Chief Architect

• Create reusable detail libraries

• Set up a clear as-built and design phase process

• Track hours and job costs using digital tools

“Even if you think you’re not following a system, you probably are. The key is to document it, refine it, and stick to it.” — Dan

 

Regional Permitting: A Mixed Bag

From Indiana to Minnesota to San Francisco, permit approval processes were all over the map.

For example:

• Some designers need to submit 25+ page applications just to get approval to apply for a permit.

• Others in rural areas report no permits needed at all, just septic checks.

This disparity affects project timelines, client communication, and business overhead. The takeaway? Know your local rules inside and out, and help your clients understand them too.

Final Thoughts

This episode wasn’t just about the numbers. It was about what they reveal—and what professionals can do to stay ahead.

Here’s the bottom line:

• Keep your branding and client relationships active
• Treat your design work like the valuable service it is
• Have strong contracts and clear scopes
• Never stop improving your process

And most of all: lean into your community. Share ideas. Ask questions. Teach and learn. Whether you’re a design veteran or just getting started, this show reminded us all that the industry is evolving—and there’s room for everyone to grow.

Watch the Episode & Get the Resources

▶️ Watch the full episode:

💬 What stood out to you most in this discussion? How’s your business feeling as 2025 wraps up? Leave a comment or message us—we’d love to keep the conversation going.