Topic:
Landscape Design
Your garden is a reflection of your personality as well as the personality of your home, and it can be quite challenging to find a professional landscaper who can take your personality and translate it into an outdoor area that you will love.
While it might be tempting to go the DIY route to tackle your landscaping project, a good professional landscaper has the expertise to take your needs into account, but will also ensure that the landscape works in terms of choosing the right plants for your area, having buildings placed sensibly and ensuring that the garden is as easy to maintain as possible.
What do you need to consider before hiring a professional landscaper? Finding the right designer for you can be quite tricky, so here are a few questions to think about before making a decision.
When looking for a person to help you with your landscape design, you will run into a number of terms, and it’s important to know what the differences between the various job descriptions entail.
Landscape architects have usually been formally trained and hold advanced degrees. In a large number of states, they have to be licensed and may not practice without this license. Landscape architects are comfortable with advanced construction designs such as drainage systems, retaining walls and outdoor structures, and will oversee a project from start to finish.
Professional landscapers are usually not licensed, but they may have the same training as licensed landscape architects. They have a more horticultural background compared to landscape architects and will be a good fit for you if you want a garden without any complex structural elements such as retaining walls or drainage systems. Even if they don’t have a state license, most professional landscapers are registered with an association of designers.
Landscape contractors are the people who will carry out the design of the project and install the plants, irrigation, construction elements and any other design features. Your professional landscaper or architect will generally have a team of certified contractors who they will hire to carry out their designs.
Regardless of whether you choose to go with a landscape professional or architect, make sure that you check their certifications and ensure that they are registered with the relevant associations or boards and that they have the professional know-how to meet your needs. Most professional firms will meet with you to discuss the project free of charge, and will only charge you a design fee once they have stated interest in your project.
Knowing what type of work you want and the reason for doing it will help you set project goals and clarify your needs.
Knowing the answers to these types of questions will help your contractor identify any possible problems and give them an overall goal to work toward for a successful project.
A budget sets the scope of the project and also gives the designer a good idea of how much they can do in terms of the design. It can be intimidating if you don’t know what things cost, but having an honest figure that the contractor has to adhere to means that there won’t be any complications further down the line.
A good designer will discuss the spending range with which you’re comfortable, and will also discuss what your priorities are as well as the quality of the materials you expect. The contractor will then use this information to give a budget estimate which will factor in aspects such as existing vegetation, design features, the quality of the materials to be used, the side and state of the terrain as well as the project size.
Apart from making sure that your contractor is certified and registered with any relevant boards or associations, you can check their ratings and reviews, particularly if you found them via the internet. Review sites like Yelp and Angie’s List can offer candid reviews from fellow homeowners, but be aware that people will always choose to complain and never to compliment. However, a lot of negative reviews can be a good indicator to move on and carry on looking.
You should also ask the contractor for references as well as examples of previous work. References may provide hints to any weaknesses of the contractor, such as going over budget or going over time that portfolios will not reveal. Most landscape design firms will have a portfolio available on their website, which will provide a good indication of whether the professional landscaper had designs that match your personal aesthetics and if they are a good fit for your needs.
While most landscape firms will have dedicated teams of contractors that they work with and trust, they may sometimes need to call in the specialized services of somebody else. You must be comfortable not only with the professional landscaper, but also their subcontractors.
Ideally, keep the entire project under the domain of one landscape company to ensure that progress is smooth and that the project moves along the estimated pace. If your professional landscaper is planning on using a subcontractor, make sure they use only insured companies that they have worked with before.
Once you’ve decided on the best landscape designer for your project, make sure that you sign a comprehensive contract that details every step of the project. This should include:
Most landscaping firms will have their own contract templates that they use, but if you find that they’re not detailed enough and don’t cover all of the aspects above, don’t hesitate to draw up your own or add addendums to theirs. Having a clear contract isn’t about trust, it’s about ensuring that the project is successful and that everybody understands what is required of them at all times, resulting in a successful landscaping project.
After you’ve finished designing and installing your new landscape project, it’s crucial that you have a plan to maintain and care for it once the building phase is over. You should ask any landscape professionals you’re considering hiring if they offer additional landscape maintenance services, such as mowing, lawn care, fertilizing and mulching.
Finding a good professional landscaper is the same as for finding a good contractor for any other type of job. Firstly, make sure that both you and they understand the project and your needs, and that they are able to meet these requirements. Most reputable contractors will be registered and will gladly give you references from prior projects.
Checking their track record of their professional landscaping services will ensure that they are reputable and that they can deliver on time and on budget. Having a solid contract will ensure that all parties know what’s required of them and what the expectations for the project are and how the project will be conducted.
For more information about the benefits of working with a professional landscaping company, please download our free ebook, Personalized Landscape Design: Why You Should Leave It to the Professionals.
