The scope of services is the foundational component of a letter of agreement. It must be clearly defined and agreed upon first, as it outlines the exact work the designer will perform and the deliverables the client will receive. All other elements of the agreement, including fees (like the retainer), responsibilities, and legal obligations, are directly dependent on the established scope. Defining the scope at the outset ensures a mutual understanding between the client and designer, forming the basis for the entire contractual relationship and preventing future disputes.

A. Legal obligations are defined in response to the specific services being provided; therefore, the scope must be established first.

C. The amount of the retainer is a component of the overall fee, which cannot be determined without first defining the scope of work.

D. General bid conditions are a specific task that would be included within the detailed scope of services, not addressed before it.

1. Piotrowski

C. M. (2017). Professional Practice for Interior Designers (6th ed.). Wiley. In Chapter 10

"Contracts for Design Services

" the "Scope of services" is presented as a primary and essential clause that must be precisely detailed to form the basis of the agreement

preceding discussions of compensation (p. 238).

2. Ballast

D. K. (2012). Interior Design Reference Manual (6th ed.). Professional Publications

Inc. Chapter 8

"Agreements

" identifies the scope of work as a fundamental provision of the owner-designer agreement

upon which other terms like compensation are based (p. 8-3).

3. American Institute of Architects. (2019). AIA Document B152™–2019

Standard Form of Agreement Between Owner and Architect for Interior Design and Furniture

Furnishings

and Equipment (FF&E) Design Services. In this standard industry contract

Article 3

"Scope of Architect's Basic Services

" is established before Article 11

"Compensation

" demonstrating the standard professional practice of defining the work before the payment terms.