Before Your Have a Consultation
Landscaping can be a complex series of decisions. You've got the basic aspects of wind, water and sun as well as soil, slope and drainage. Mix in the difficulties of budgets, phasing and the fact that you have to make the decision with your spouse...and, well, we don't need to tell you how difficult it is. We help people make these decisions all the time. It really doesn't have to be that difficult for you. In fact, if you break it into simple steps, landscape solutions can be relatively easy to resolve.
First of all, take a few moments to analyze your property. Make some notes. What is it that you like about your home site? Are you having drainage problems? Do you need to screen or accent a view? What plants do you like or dislike? Is there a "style" of plant arrangement that appeals to you? Would you be willing to complete portions of the work yourself? Take a few moments to establish a budget. Not just your "first phase", but what you might invest in the outside of your home over a few years. Of course we're going to say, "landscaping's a good investment". Up to a point, that is. You've also got to think of your home's overall value and contrast that against how much you plan to enjoy the area around your home.
Proposal or Plan?
Are you decided on moving ahead with a complimentary proposal or with a landscape plan? At the time of your initial consultation, most landscape companies will be happy to write up a proposal for you. It usually takes about a week or so. A plan is a more methodical process, involving more time, (from two weeks to a month or more), as well as an additional investment on your part. This includes multiple drafted, scaled, blueprinted copies, estimates and a revision to the plan at your request. The design fee is not based upon your budget, but the complexity of the design. This could be related to issues involving your property measurements or the types of construction.
Most properties will fall into the 20-40 hour range. If you are having trouble determining whether to have a complimentary estimate prepared or invest in a design plan, the following information may help: Choosing an estimate only for your project: Advantage: No charge, Can be prepared in 7-10days. Disadvantage: Does not graphically show you where each item is placed.
Choosing a plan and estimate for your project: Advantage: Shows all the work to be completed. May be implemented as a "Do it Yourself" or phased project more easily. Allows a number of companies to bid the same thing. Disadvantage: Invest $40hr, minimum 10hr charge.
Note: One way to determine whether a landscape architectural plan might be a good value for you is to consider how long you will live in your home. Cut that time in half and assume that you will be done with all of your landscape phases within that period. Try to project how much you will have been comfortable investing in the landscape (including decks, walks and patios,etc.) by that future date. Take 5% of that number, and if you can have plans prepared for less than 5%, design plans may be a good value for you. Please note that planning costs are not based upon your budget, but on the complexity of the project. Just being able to discuss ideas clearly with your spouse and methodically "plant the lavender on the corner of the patio" yourself has good value once you know where everything is going. So does having the ability to send a plan out to bid. All of our plans are reviewed by a licensed landscape architect and include firm estimates based upon the discussed and approved budget.
To establish a simple budget:
1. Number of years I will live in my home divided by 2 = what year? _________
2. Amount that I am willing to invest by year noted above $________
3. 5% of that amount = $________
4. Quoted price of my landscape architectural plan $________ Is #3 higher than #4. above? If so, a plan may be a good investment for you.
Keep in mind that one of the greatest mistakes you can make in commissioning a design is to not set budget parameters for your designer. We know. We bid plans from other companies. You'll want to be careful that your designer can guarantee that your project will stay within a stipulated, mutually agreeable budget. We are what is called in the trade, a "design/build" firm. That is, we install what we design. We will always try to design within a pre-established budget for you. At the same time, you are always free to "shop" our plans.
