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

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

"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