Quick answer: The biggest red flags are a quote without a detailed BOQ, a large advance before design is final, no written timeline or warranty, no completed homes to visit, and vague answers about who does the actual work. Any one of these is worth a pause. Two or more, and it's worth walking away.
Most problems are visible before you sign
In our experience, the warning signs are usually there from the start. Here's what to watch for.
1. A lump-sum quote with no BOQ. "Full 3BHK – ₹35 lakh" tells you nothing. Without an itemised BOQ (materials, brands, grades, sizes), you can't compare quotes or hold anyone to what was promised.
2. A big advance before the design is final. Payments should follow progress. Be careful with anyone asking for a large chunk before you've even approved the 3D.
3. No written timeline. "It'll be done in 3–4 months" spoken in a meeting is not a timeline. Ask for the handover date in the agreement.
4. No completed homes you can see. Renders and stock photos are easy. A finished home with a family living in it is not. If a firm can't show you one, ask why.
5. "Design will be finalised on site." This sounds flexible. It usually means changes, delays and cost overruns. Good firms finish design in 3D before work starts.
6. Unclear who does the work. If the firm subcontracts all carpentry, quality depends on whoever is free that month. Ask directly: "Who will build my wardrobes, and who checks their work?"
7. No way to check materials. If you can't verify what's going into your walls, you're trusting blindly. A lower board grade looks identical on day one.
8. No warranty, or a warranty with no details. "We'll take care of it" is not a warranty. You want what's covered, for how long, and how to claim it — on paper.
What good looks like
At COZ Design Studio, these are simply how COZ Turnkey Solutions works: an itemised BOQ, milestone-based payments, a fixed timeline in writing, supervised carpentry matched to the quality each piece needs, material cross-check photos from site against your BOQ, regular site updates, and a written warranty. We don't think any of these should be special — they should be normal.
FAQ
How do I avoid being cheated by an interior designer? Insist on an itemised BOQ, milestone payments, a written timeline and warranty, and visit a completed project before signing.
Is it normal to pay an advance to an interior designer? Yes, a booking advance is normal. A very large advance before design approval is a warning sign.