HOW TO BUY A LANDSCAPE: THE RIGHT WAY!
HOW TO BUY A LANDSCAPE: THE RIGHT WAY!
It is relatively easy for consumers to compare price and value in the retail marketplace where most vendors carry exactly the same or very similar products. Comparing price and value among service oriented companies is more difficult and requires a consumer to first establish a well defined "conceptual" product that all service companies can use as a basis for establishing their prices. In the landscape industry this conceptual product is the landscape plan with its accompanying specifications. All competing service companies must use the same conceptual product to arrive at their prices in order for the consumer to make valid comparisons. There are several types of firms in North Carolina that can produce landscape plans: Landscape designers, landscape architects, landscapers, landscape contractors, and landscape design- build contractors Landscape designers any person or firm who so chooses, regardless of education or experience that practices and performs landscape designs services Landscape architects: any person who practices and performs landscape designs services that has a combination education or experience and that has passed the Landscape Architect Exam. Visit the boards' web site@ http://www.ncbola.org/index.html Landscapers: any person or firm, who so chooses, regardless of education or experience that practices and performs landscape services Landscape contractors any person who practices and performs landscape services that has a combination education or experience and that has passed the North Carolina registered Landscape Contractors Exam. Visit the boards' web site @ http://www.nclcrb.state.nc.us Landscape design- build contractors any person who practices and performs landscape services that has a combination education or experience and that has passed the registered Landscape Contractors Exam and offers Landscape design services as well as landscaping services. The first step in buying a landscape is to select a designer qualified to handle the size and scope of the intended project. The design process then begins, producing at some point a "plan" (i.e., Master Plan) and specifications. If the designer is also a landscape contractor, then a proposal to complete the project is usually submitted along with the plan. If desired, the plan can also be sent to competing landscape companies for their bids (i.e., prices to do the job as specified). For all practical purposes bids, prices, estimates, and proposals are the same things. An estimate should be free (i.e., "free estimate") because it is merely a price to do a previously defined job. Do not confuse estimating with designing: one task is done for free, the other is not. An estimate is an approximate price for completing a well-defined job The customer needs a complete and accurate set of landscape plans, detailed construction documents, and project specifications for a project. You can expect a good landscape designer to charge at least $75.00 per hour, plus expenses, to produce a plan: total design costs are directly related to the size and complexity of the job. Some design-build companies, such as Turftenders Landscape Services, Inc., offer design-purchase rebates where some or all of the design fee is rebated when their crews complete the project: this can be a decided advantage over companies which only offer design services. After reviewing all proposals, the customer then contracts with a company to do the work, and the project begins. A customer should expect to pay 25% - 50% of the estimated project cost prior to initiation of work.. Other payments (i.e., draws) are made at predetermined intervals if the project is of long duration, or the balance is made upon completion if the project takes less than a month. Often when people ask for free landscape estimates, what they really mean is do we design landscapes for free. An estimate, or price, must be based on a plan and a detailed set of specifications, which are the end product of the design process. It is impossible for anyone to give a meaningful price without a plan that was generated through the design process. To do so would be merely guessing. So, the usual answer to the above question is "no" for the same reasons other professionals (e.g., doctors, lawyers, architects, webmasters, financial planners, consultants, etc.) do not provide their services for free. A qualified landscape designer has many years of concentrated education and experience. The landscape design process is both time consuming and exacting. It requires skill, creativity, and the ability to communicate effectively. Free plans generally do not have the client's best interests at heart; they are usually at best a guess as to what the salesperson thinks they can get the potential client to buy - this is salesmanship, not design! Steve Hill President Turftenders Landscape Services, Inc. www.Turftenders.com |
HOW TO BUY A LANDSCAPE: THE RIGHT WAY!
While I agree with your definitions of landscape professionals, I don't
agree with your average cost in this area. Most companies or individuals charge about $60. per hour for consultations or designs. I also think that finding a good landscape designer is based on references and creative imaginations. I happen to know several landscape designers who have a full horticulture/design education background, but they suck when it comes to imagination. It's like trying to teach someone how to paint a canvas by classroom instruction instead of letting their own creativity flow onto the paper. I also know people who have taken a few courses in landscape design/master gardeners, etc. who are fantastic at putting together plans. To sum it up, I would say that just because someone is employed by a landscape design company, doesn't mean that they are particularly good. I had to go back in to one of my customers yards and add lots of color and textures after Greenscape had finished in her yard. By the way, she fired Greenscape and is now in search of a maintenance/weeder/trimmer person to work in her yard year round. I do all her flower beds, boxes, pots and urns every season. So far, she has been totally thrilled with what I put together. All my customers are word of mouth referrals; I do not advertise or list my phone number in the yellow pages. My business grows each season without advertising. If anyone is in search of a good architect, landscape designer, etc., I would highly recommend asking neighbors or friends who they used and their opinions. Penny Flowers By The Yard "steve hill" wrote in message ... HOW TO BUY A LANDSCAPE: THE RIGHT WAY! It is relatively easy for consumers to compare price and value in the retail marketplace where most vendors carry exactly the same or very similar products. Comparing price and value among service oriented companies is more difficult and requires a consumer to first establish a well defined "conceptual" product that all service companies can use as a basis for establishing their prices. In the landscape industry this conceptual product is the landscape plan with its accompanying specifications. All competing service companies must use the same conceptual product to arrive at their prices in order for the consumer to make valid comparisons. There are several types of firms in North Carolina that can produce landscape plans: Landscape designers, landscape architects, landscapers, landscape contractors, and landscape design- build contractors Landscape designers any person or firm who so chooses, regardless of education or experience that practices and performs landscape designs services Landscape architects: any person who practices and performs landscape designs services that has a combination education or experience and that has passed the Landscape Architect Exam. Visit the boards' web site@ http://www.ncbola.org/index.html Landscapers: any person or firm, who so chooses, regardless of education or experience that practices and performs landscape services Landscape contractors any person who practices and performs landscape services that has a combination education or experience and that has passed the North Carolina registered Landscape Contractors Exam. Visit the boards' web site @ http://www.nclcrb.state.nc.us Landscape design- build contractors any person who practices and performs landscape services that has a combination education or experience and that has passed the registered Landscape Contractors Exam and offers Landscape design services as well as landscaping services. The first step in buying a landscape is to select a designer qualified to handle the size and scope of the intended project. The design process then begins, producing at some point a "plan" (i.e., Master Plan) and specifications. If the designer is also a landscape contractor, then a proposal to complete the project is usually submitted along with the plan. If desired, the plan can also be sent to competing landscape companies for their bids (i.e., prices to do the job as specified). For all practical purposes bids, prices, estimates, and proposals are the same things. An estimate should be free (i.e., "free estimate") because it is merely a price to do a previously defined job. Do not confuse estimating with designing: one task is done for free, the other is not. An estimate is an approximate price for completing a well-defined job The customer needs a complete and accurate set of landscape plans, detailed construction documents, and project specifications for a project. You can expect a good landscape designer to charge at least $75.00 per hour, plus expenses, to produce a plan: total design costs are directly related to the size and complexity of the job. Some design-build companies, such as Turftenders Landscape Services, Inc., offer design-purchase rebates where some or all of the design fee is rebated when their crews complete the project: this can be a decided advantage over companies which only offer design services. After reviewing all proposals, the customer then contracts with a company to do the work, and the project begins. A customer should expect to pay 25% - 50% of the estimated project cost prior to initiation of work.. Other payments (i.e., draws) are made at predetermined intervals if the project is of long duration, or the balance is made upon completion if the project takes less than a month. Often when people ask for free landscape estimates, what they really mean is do we design landscapes for free. An estimate, or price, must be based on a plan and a detailed set of specifications, which are the end product of the design process. It is impossible for anyone to give a meaningful price without a plan that was generated through the design process. To do so would be merely guessing. So, the usual answer to the above question is "no" for the same reasons other professionals (e.g., doctors, lawyers, architects, webmasters, financial planners, consultants, etc.) do not provide their services for free. A qualified landscape designer has many years of concentrated education and experience. The landscape design process is both time consuming and exacting. It requires skill, creativity, and the ability to communicate effectively. Free plans generally do not have the client's best interests at heart; they are usually at best a guess as to what the salesperson thinks they can get the potential client to buy - this is salesmanship, not design! Steve Hill President Turftenders Landscape Services, Inc. www.Turftenders.com |
HOW TO BUY A LANDSCAPE: THE RIGHT WAY!
"Penny Morgan" wrote in message .com...
While I agree with your definitions of landscape professionals, I don't agree with your average cost in this area. Most companies or individuals charge about $60. per hour for consultations or designs. I also think that finding a good landscape designer is based on references and creative imaginations. I happen to know several landscape designers who have a full horticulture/design education background, but they suck when it comes to imagination. It's like trying to teach someone how to paint a canvas by classroom instruction instead of letting their own creativity flow onto the paper. I also know people who have taken a few courses in landscape design/master gardeners, etc. who are fantastic at putting together plans. To sum it up, I would say that just because someone is employed by a landscape design company, doesn't mean that they are particularly good. I had to go back in to one of my customers yards and add lots of color and textures after Greenscape had finished in her yard. By the way, she fired Greenscape and is now in search of a maintenance/weeder/trimmer person to work in her yard year round. I do all her flower beds, boxes, pots and urns every season. So far, she has been totally thrilled with what I put together. All my customers are word of mouth referrals; I do not advertise or list my phone number in the yellow pages. My business grows each season without advertising. If anyone is in search of a good architect, landscape designer, etc., I would highly recommend asking neighbors or friends who they used and their opinions. Penny Flowers By The Yard "steve hill" wrote in message ... HOW TO BUY A LANDSCAPE: THE RIGHT WAY! It is relatively easy for consumers to compare price and value in the retail marketplace where most vendors carry exactly the same or very similar products. Comparing price and value among service oriented companies is more difficult and requires a consumer to first establish a well defined "conceptual" product that all service companies can use as a basis for establishing their prices. In the landscape industry this conceptual product is the landscape plan with its accompanying specifications. All competing service companies must use the same conceptual product to arrive at their prices in order for the consumer to make valid comparisons. There are several types of firms in North Carolina that can produce landscape plans: Landscape designers, landscape architects, landscapers, landscape contractors, and landscape design- build contractors Landscape designers any person or firm who so chooses, regardless of education or experience that practices and performs landscape designs services Landscape architects: any person who practices and performs landscape designs services that has a combination education or experience and that has passed the Landscape Architect Exam. Visit the boards' web site@ http://www.ncbola.org/index.html Landscapers: any person or firm, who so chooses, regardless of education or experience that practices and performs landscape services Landscape contractors any person who practices and performs landscape services that has a combination education or experience and that has passed the North Carolina registered Landscape Contractors Exam. Visit the boards' web site @ http://www.nclcrb.state.nc.us Landscape design- build contractors any person who practices and performs landscape services that has a combination education or experience and that has passed the registered Landscape Contractors Exam and offers Landscape design services as well as landscaping services. The first step in buying a landscape is to select a designer qualified to handle the size and scope of the intended project. The design process then begins, producing at some point a "plan" (i.e., Master Plan) and specifications. If the designer is also a landscape contractor, then a proposal to complete the project is usually submitted along with the plan. If desired, the plan can also be sent to competing landscape companies for their bids (i.e., prices to do the job as specified). For all practical purposes bids, prices, estimates, and proposals are the same things. An estimate should be free (i.e., "free estimate") because it is merely a price to do a previously defined job. Do not confuse estimating with designing: one task is done for free, the other is not. An estimate is an approximate price for completing a well-defined job The customer needs a complete and accurate set of landscape plans, detailed construction documents, and project specifications for a project. You can expect a good landscape designer to charge at least $75.00 per hour, plus expenses, to produce a plan: total design costs are directly related to the size and complexity of the job. Some design-build companies, such as Turftenders Landscape Services, Inc., offer design-purchase rebates where some or all of the design fee is rebated when their crews complete the project: this can be a decided advantage over companies which only offer design services. After reviewing all proposals, the customer then contracts with a company to do the work, and the project begins. A customer should expect to pay 25% - 50% of the estimated project cost prior to initiation of work.. Other payments (i.e., draws) are made at predetermined intervals if the project is of long duration, or the balance is made upon completion if the project takes less than a month. Often when people ask for free landscape estimates, what they really mean is do we design landscapes for free. An estimate, or price, must be based on a plan and a detailed set of specifications, which are the end product of the design process. It is impossible for anyone to give a meaningful price without a plan that was generated through the design process. To do so would be merely guessing. So, the usual answer to the above question is "no" for the same reasons other professionals (e.g., doctors, lawyers, architects, webmasters, financial planners, consultants, etc.) do not provide their services for free. A qualified landscape designer has many years of concentrated education and experience. The landscape design process is both time consuming and exacting. It requires skill, creativity, and the ability to communicate effectively. Free plans generally do not have the client's best interests at heart; they are usually at best a guess as to what the salesperson thinks they can get the potential client to buy - this is salesmanship, not design! Steve Hill President Turftenders Landscape Services, Inc. www.Turftenders.com I wish I had this information before I hired my landscape designer. I will pass this message along to all my friends looking to get theri yard landscaped. RP |
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