- Divya Jain Interiors
- 02 December, 2025
Interior Design Checklist: Everything to Do Before, During & After Your Pune Project
You're about to invest ₹15-25 lakhs and
3-4 months into your home's interior design. One forgotten detail, one missed
decision, one overlooked step can cost thousands and weeks of delay.
After managing 450+ projects at Divya
Jain Interiors, we've created this comprehensive
checklist—everything you need to do before hiring a designer, during execution,
and after project completion.
Bookmark this page. You'll reference it
dozens of times over the next few months.
PHASE 1: Before Starting (2-3 Months Before)
Financial Planning
✅
Determine total budget
●
Include 10-15% contingency
(unexpected costs always arise)
●
Factor in: Interior + Civil work +
Appliances + Contingency
●
See realistic budgeting in our 3BHK
cost guide
✅
Understand financing options
●
Home improvement loan? (12-14% interest
typically)
●
Personal loan?
●
Savings?
●
Mix of above?
✅
Create budget allocation
●
Kitchen: 20-25% of interior budget
●
Master bedroom: 15-20%
●
Living areas: 15-20%
●
Other bedrooms: 15-20%
●
Bathrooms & doors: 10-15%
●
Electrical & false ceiling:
10-15%
✅
Confirm payment capacity
●
Can you make staged payments?
(typically 5 stages)
●
Initial deposit ready? (usually
10-15% to start design)
Timeline Planning
✅
Decide project start date
●
Avoid starting during: Diwali
(Oct-Nov), major festivals
●
Best months in Pune: Jan-May,
Sep-Dec
●
Consider: When can you vacate?
When do you need to move in?
✅
Plan accommodation
●
Full interior: Must vacate
completely (60-90 days)
●
Renovation: May live in apartment
(some areas at a time)
●
Where will you stay? (rental,
family, hotel?)
✅
Calculate total timeline
●
Design finalization: 4-6 weeks
●
Material procurement: 2-3 weeks
●
Execution: 60-90 days (3BHK
turnkey)
●
Buffer: Add 2-3 weeks for
unforeseen delays
●
Total: 4-5 months from first
meeting to move-in
See detailed timeline in our
week-by-week process guide.
Research & Planning
✅
Collect inspiration
●
Pinterest boards (create separate
boards: Kitchen, Bedrooms, Living, etc.)
●
Instagram saves
●
Magazine clippings
●
Photos from friends' homes
●
Note what you DON'T like (equally
important)
✅
Understand your home
●
Get architectural drawing (floor
plan with dimensions)
●
Note: Load-bearing walls (can't
remove)
●
Identify: Wet areas, electrical
panel location, water supply points
●
Check: Society rules and
restrictions
✅
List functional requirements
●
How many people's clothes in each
wardrobe?
●
Kitchen: How many utensils,
appliances, groceries to store?
●
Work from home? Need dedicated
office?
●
Exercise at home? Need space for
equipment?
●
Hobbies requiring space? (music,
art, reading)
✅
Decide on service model
●
Design Only? Design + Supervision?
Turnkey?
●
See comparison in our
service models guide
Designer Selection
✅
Shortlist 3-5 designers
●
Local Pune designers (understand
monsoon, local challenges)
●
Check Google reviews (minimum 20+
reviews, 4+ rating)
●
View Instagram/website portfolio
●
Verify: Years in business, number
of projects completed
✅
Schedule consultations
●
Meet at their office/studio (see
their setup)
●
Ask to visit 1-2 completed projects
(essential)
●
Bring: Floor plan, inspiration
images, budget range
✅
Questions to ask each designer
●
How many Pune projects completed?
●
Can we visit completed projects?
(Red flag if no)
●
What's your typical timeline?
(accountability)
●
Payment schedule? (tied to
milestones)
●
Warranty terms? (2 years
workmanship minimum)
●
What happens if you delay?
(penalty clause?)
●
Itemized quote or lump sum?
(itemized better)
✅
Compare quotes properly
●
Don't just look at total price
●
Compare: Plywood grade, hardware
brand, warranty terms
●
What's included vs excluded?
●
See common mistakes in our
mistakes guide
Legal & Documentation
✅
Review apartment documents
●
Ownership papers (clear title?)
●
Society rules (work timings,
permissions needed?)
●
Building age and condition
●
Any pending society dues?
✅
Check society requirements
●
Work hours allowed? (typically 9
AM - 6 PM)
●
Sundays allowed?
●
Deposit required? (₹5,000-15,000
typical, refundable)
●
Permissions needed for structural
work?
✅
Verify contractor requirements
●
Police verification needed for
workers?
●
Insurance requirements?
●
Safety deposit?
PHASE 2: Design Development (4-6 Weeks)
Initial Stage
✅
Finalize designer and sign contract
●
Review contract thoroughly (take
48 hours)
●
Clarify: Scope, timeline, payment,
warranties
●
Get everything in writing
✅
Pay initial deposit
●
Typically 10-15% to start design
work
●
Get proper receipt with GST
✅
Schedule site measurement
●
Be present during measurement
(point out specifics)
●
Discuss: Problem areas, structural
issues, concerns
✅
Share detailed requirements
●
Every bedroom: Whose room, storage
needs, work area needed?
●
Kitchen: Cooking style, appliances
owned, family size
●
Living areas: Entertaining
frequency, TV size, storage needs
●
Bathrooms: Tub or shower? Storage
requirements?
Design Review Stage
✅
Review 2D layouts (multiple options)
●
Does furniture placement feel right?
●
Is circulation smooth? (3 feet
minimum walkways)
●
Are doors obstructed?
●
Power points conveniently located?
✅
Mark furniture positions physically
●
Use tape on apartment floor
●
Sit in rooms, walk through
●
Visualize daily life
●
Adjust before finalizing
✅
Review 3D visualizations
●
Do colors work together?
●
Is lighting adequate?
●
Does aesthetic match your vision?
●
Will this look good in 5 years?
(avoid trendy over timeless)
✅
Approve technical drawings
●
Carpentry drawings (dimensions,
materials specified)
●
Electrical layout (point
locations, switch positions)
●
Plumbing layout (kitchen,
bathrooms)
●
False ceiling plan (lighting
positions)
Material Selection
✅
Visit showrooms with designer
●
See physical samples (colors look
different than screens)
●
Touch materials (laminate
textures, hardware weight)
●
Operate hardware (soft-close feel,
drawer smoothness)
✅
Finalize all materials
●
Plywood grade (BWR 710 minimum for
Pune)
●
Laminate/veneer selections (with
codes)
●
Hardware brand and finishes
●
Countertop material and color
●
Paint colors (in daylight and
artificial light)
●
Flooring (if changing)
●
See material considerations in our
monsoon-proof guide
✅
Get final itemized quote
●
Every item listed with
specifications
●
Material grades mentioned
●
Brand names specified
●
Warranties stated
●
Payment schedule clear
✅
Approve and sign off
●
This is the point of no return
●
Changes after this = additional
costs
●
Take time, be 100% sure
PHASE 3: Pre-Execution (2-3 Weeks)
Administrative Tasks
✅
Complete all payments as per schedule
●
First milestone (typically after
design approval)
●
Keep receipts organized
✅
Obtain society permissions
●
Submit required documents
●
Pay society deposit if needed
●
Get written approval for work
✅
Arrange temporary accommodation
●
If vacating: Book 3 months minimum
●
Keep some overlap (projects can
extend)
✅
Set up communication channels
●
WhatsApp group with
designer/project manager
●
Schedule: Weekly calls (day/time
fixed)
●
Emergency contact numbers
Site Preparation
✅
Clear apartment completely
●
Remove all furniture (if fresh
interior)
●
Store items safely
●
Remove curtains, wall decor,
everything
✅
Disconnect services temporarily
●
Gas connection (if kitchen
relocation)
●
Internet/cable (if point changes)
●
Keep electricity and water on
✅
Protect existing fixtures
●
Items not being replaced (tiles,
fixtures)
●
Windows and doors
●
Bathroom fittings staying
✅
Provide site access
●
Duplicate keys to contractor
●
Society gate pass arranged
●
Access timings coordinated
PHASE 4: During Execution (60-90 Days)
Weekly Tasks
✅
Attend weekly progress calls (15 minutes)
●
What was completed this week?
●
What's planned for next week?
●
Any issues or delays?
●
Any decisions needed from you?
✅
Review photo updates
●
Daily photos via WhatsApp (good
designers send these)
●
Compare against timeline
●
Note any concerns early
✅
Schedule site visits
●
Week 4: Mid-carpentry stage
●
Week 8: Before painting begins
●
Week 11: Pre-final inspection
●
More if you're in Pune and
available
Decision Points
✅
Material arrivals
●
Inspect quality when delivered
●
Match against specifications
●
Verify quantities
✅
Work stage approvals
●
Carpentry framework (before
shutters)
●
Electrical rough-in (before
plastering)
●
Paint primer (before final coats)
●
Hardware installation (before
final fixing)
✅
Change requests
●
Avoid mid-execution changes
(costly)
●
If absolutely necessary: Get
written quote first
●
Document reason (learning for
future)
Payment Milestones
✅
Stage payments as per contract
●
Typically: Material delivery
(50%), Hardware & finish (35%), Paint (10%), Final (5%)
●
Only pay after verifying work
completion
●
Keep 5-10% for final handover
✅
Keep payment records
●
All receipts and invoices
●
Track against contract
●
Note any additional charges
Quality Checks
✅
Monitor key quality points
●
Plywood edges sealed (moisture
protection)
●
Hardware operating smoothly
●
Paint finish even and smooth
●
Shutters aligned properly
●
No visible screws or joints
●
Drawers sliding smoothly
✅
Document issues immediately
●
Photos of problems
●
WhatsApp to project manager
●
Note date and location
●
Track resolution
PHASE 5: Completion (Week 12-13)
Pre-Final Inspection
✅
Room-by-room walkthrough
●
Test every drawer, shutter, door
●
Check all electrical points
●
Operate all hardware
●
Look for scratches, dents,
misalignment
●
Note: Even minor issues (they'll
compound)
✅
Create punch list
●
Document everything needing
fix/adjustment
●
Photos of each issue
●
Give timeline for fixes (48-72
hours typical)
✅
Verify against contract
●
Is everything delivered as
promised?
●
Any missing items?
●
Material grades correct?
Final Handover
✅
Final walkthrough after fixes
●
Verify punch list items completed
●
Check cleaning done thoroughly
●
Everything functioning?
✅
Collect documentation
●
Material warranties (plywood,
hardware)
●
Appliance manuals and warranties
●
Paint color codes (for future
touch-ups)
●
Vendor contact list (for future
purchases)
●
Maintenance instructions
●
Workmanship warranty certificate
✅
Make final payment
●
Only after 100% satisfaction
●
Get proper paid invoice
●
Get warranty certificate
✅
Take handover photos/videos
●
Document condition at handover
●
Useful for warranty claims later
●
Before-after comparison for social
media!
PHASE 6: Post-Handover (First 30 Days)
Immediate Actions
✅
Deep clean again (your standards)
●
Construction dust settles for 2-3
days
●
Clean all wardrobes inside
●
Wipe all surfaces
✅
Install remaining items
●
Curtains and blinds
●
Light fixtures (if not done)
●
Decorative items
●
Plants and accessories
✅
Arrange furniture and decor
●
Move in gradually (not all at
once)
●
Live in space before buying more
furniture
●
See what's actually needed vs
planned
First Week
✅
Test everything daily
●
Open every drawer multiple times
●
Operate all shutters
●
Use kitchen extensively
●
Check for any issues
✅
Note any problems
●
Sticky drawers
●
Misaligned shutters
●
Paint touch-ups needed
●
Hardware adjustments
✅
Report issues immediately
●
Within first week = easy fixes
●
After 30 days = may fall outside
warranty
First Month
✅
Schedule day 7, 15, and 30 check-ins
●
Good designers do this
automatically
●
Discuss any issues observed
●
Get maintenance tips
✅
Conduct post-monsoon check (if
applicable)
●
Any moisture issues?
●
Wood swelling?
●
Mold or odors?
●
Address immediately
✅
Leave online review
●
If satisfied: Help others find
good designer
●
If issues: Give designer chance to
fix first
●
Fair, honest review helps everyone
PHASE 7: Long-Term (Years 1-2)
Maintenance Checklist
✅
Monthly
●
Wipe down kitchen cabinets
(prevent buildup)
●
Clean hardware with dry cloth
●
Check for loose screws/fittings
✅
Every 6 Months
●
Deep clean all wardrobes (empty
and wipe)
●
Check hinges and channels
(lubricate if needed)
●
Touch up paint scratches
●
Check silicon sealing (kitchen,
bathrooms)
✅
Yearly
●
Professional anti-fungal treatment
(₹3,000-5,000)
●
Silicon re-sealing where needed
●
Hardware servicing (if operating
roughly)
●
Paint touch-ups (high-traffic
areas)
✅
After Each Monsoon
●
Inspect all woodwork near external
walls
●
Check for moisture damage early
●
Address issues before they spread
●
See prevention tips in our
monsoon guide
Warranty Management
✅
Keep warranty documents organized
●
Workmanship: 2 years (typically)
●
Plywood: 5-20 years (depending on
grade)
●
Hardware: 10-25 years (depending
on brand)
●
Paint: 5-7 years (manufacturer
warranty)
✅
Document any issues
●
Photos with dates
●
Description of problem
●
When it started
✅
Contact designer for warranty claims
●
Within warranty period
●
Provide documentation
●
Give reasonable time to address
✅
Annual maintenance visit (if
offered)
●
Some designers include one annual
visit
●
Inspection and minor adjustments
●
Builds long-term relationship
Special Considerations for Pune
Monsoon-Specific Checklist
✅
Before monsoon (May-June)
●
Check all window seals
●
Ensure exhaust fans working
●
Apply furniture wax/polish
●
Use silica gel packets in
wardrobes
✅
During monsoon (June-September)
●
Run exhaust fans daily (even if
not showering)
●
Open wardrobes weekly for
ventilation
●
Wipe kitchen surfaces daily
●
Check for black spots (early mold
signs)
✅
Post-monsoon (October)
●
Deep clean everything
●
Inspect for any damage
●
Air out all enclosed spaces
●
Address issues before they worsen
Society-Specific Checklist
✅
Before starting work
●
Verify work timings allowed
●
Confirm material delivery
logistics
●
Arrange parking for contractor
vehicles
●
Inform neighbors (courtesy)
✅
During work
●
Stick to allowed timings
●
Minimize common area disruption
●
Clean up daily
●
Address neighbor complaints
promptly
✅
After completion
●
Clean common areas used
●
Collect society deposit back
●
Get No Objection Certificate (if required)
●
Thank society office and security
Red Flags During Process
🚩 Stop and address if you
notice:
●
Designer not responding to
calls/messages (2+ days)
●
Work quality suddenly declining
●
Materials different from approved
samples
●
Timeline slipping with no
explanation
●
Hidden costs appearing
●
Contractor behavior unprofessional
●
Safety issues at site
Action:
Document issue, escalate to senior management, withhold payment if needed.
Your Master Checklist Summary
Before Starting (2-3 months):
●
Budget and financing sorted
●
Timeline planned
●
Designer selected and contracted
●
Materials and designs finalized
During Execution (60-90 days):
●
Weekly check-ins done
●
Quality monitored
●
Payments on schedule
●
Issues addressed promptly
After Completion (30+ days):
●
Thorough inspection done
●
Documentation collected
●
Issues within warranty reported
●
Regular maintenance followed
Print this checklist. Keep in project
folder. Check off as you go.
✓
Ready to Start Your Project Right?
This checklist represents 450+ projects
worth of learning—everything we wish every client knew before starting.
Have it with you during your
consultation, and we'll walk through it together.
Schedule Your Free Consultation:
📞 Call: +91-8959070757 /
+91-8390707573
💬 WhatsApp: Click to message
🌐 Visit: www.divyajaininteriors.com
During consultation:
●
We'll review this checklist
together
●
Customize it for your specific
project
●
Identify any additional steps for
your situation
●
Give you a project timeline with
milestone dates
●
Provide realistic budget and
expectations
Preparation prevents problems. Let's
get it right from day one.
Related Reading
🔗 Top
Design Mistakes to Avoid
Planning your interior project? Print
this checklist or bookmark this page. You'll reference it dozens of times.
Questions? WhatsApp us—we respond within 2 hours during business hours.
