How Do I Choose A Landscaper?
1.
Who are the best landscapers? This depends somewhat on your requirements, whether for a small pathway or a major resort project but the essentials remain the same.
It's not difficult to be one of the best but it's surprising how many tradesmen seem to miss the obvious: · Response to your enquiry should be prompt.
This is usually a measure of what to expect down the road.
· Look for practicality as well as creativity.
A design on paper may not match the way people move and use outdoor spaces in reality.
Think clearly how you use your garden.
· Awards, testimonials and work history should be readily available.
· They should be good communicators and problem solvers and readily available for consultation.
They should give advice on future maintenance.
· Continuity.
An over-committed tradesmen who is usually elsewhere and difficult to contact is not good at their business.
· While financial arrangements vary, a clear, detailed and fixed quote from a landscaper is a sign of confidence as well as a budget certainty.
2.
What kind of landscaping work am I looking for? Landscapers cater for the smallest residential requirements to the design and construction of major resort and high-rise projects.
Many are prepared to do all types but some prefer to specialise.
Use the directory in Landscaping Connections to locate those in your area or to find a specialist if your project requires a skill not available locally.
3.
What budget do I have in mind? You may have only a broad idea but it is essential to have a figure in mind to allow the landscaper to design exactly what you want.
Remember that the hardscaping, such as walls, paving, ponds, etc.
may be the most costly yet the most useful.
Soft aspects can be added and changed more easily over time.
You can, of course, just pay hourly for someone's skills until the money dries up but it is much more satisfying to contract a professional to fulfill a clear plan.
Expect your own ideas to evolve during construction but remember that costs are dependent on the order of progress and that changes may be expensive.
4.
How do I use my outdoor space? Is it for parties and socialising, for solitude and contemplation or largely for practical living? 5.
Is my garden primarily exterior decoration? Or do you hope to have an evolving eco-system with elements such as wild foods, vegetable garden, fruit trees, passive solar and alternate energy? 6.
Am I an active gardener who enjoys maintaining the garden? If not, who will look after it and at what cost? 7.
How long will landscape elements last? Ask your landscaper about the life span of things like pond liners, pavers and plants.
It's always true that quality and longevity go hand-in-hand and spending more upfront will not only give longer life but can also conserve energy by recovering and recycling quality materials later.
8.
How much will landscaping improve the value of my property? It can have a significant impact on the value.
In fact, a small investment in thoughtful landscaping can easily pay more dividends when selling than the equivalent in renovation.
Who are the best landscapers? This depends somewhat on your requirements, whether for a small pathway or a major resort project but the essentials remain the same.
It's not difficult to be one of the best but it's surprising how many tradesmen seem to miss the obvious: · Response to your enquiry should be prompt.
This is usually a measure of what to expect down the road.
· Look for practicality as well as creativity.
A design on paper may not match the way people move and use outdoor spaces in reality.
Think clearly how you use your garden.
· Awards, testimonials and work history should be readily available.
· They should be good communicators and problem solvers and readily available for consultation.
They should give advice on future maintenance.
· Continuity.
An over-committed tradesmen who is usually elsewhere and difficult to contact is not good at their business.
· While financial arrangements vary, a clear, detailed and fixed quote from a landscaper is a sign of confidence as well as a budget certainty.
2.
What kind of landscaping work am I looking for? Landscapers cater for the smallest residential requirements to the design and construction of major resort and high-rise projects.
Many are prepared to do all types but some prefer to specialise.
Use the directory in Landscaping Connections to locate those in your area or to find a specialist if your project requires a skill not available locally.
3.
What budget do I have in mind? You may have only a broad idea but it is essential to have a figure in mind to allow the landscaper to design exactly what you want.
Remember that the hardscaping, such as walls, paving, ponds, etc.
may be the most costly yet the most useful.
Soft aspects can be added and changed more easily over time.
You can, of course, just pay hourly for someone's skills until the money dries up but it is much more satisfying to contract a professional to fulfill a clear plan.
Expect your own ideas to evolve during construction but remember that costs are dependent on the order of progress and that changes may be expensive.
4.
How do I use my outdoor space? Is it for parties and socialising, for solitude and contemplation or largely for practical living? 5.
Is my garden primarily exterior decoration? Or do you hope to have an evolving eco-system with elements such as wild foods, vegetable garden, fruit trees, passive solar and alternate energy? 6.
Am I an active gardener who enjoys maintaining the garden? If not, who will look after it and at what cost? 7.
How long will landscape elements last? Ask your landscaper about the life span of things like pond liners, pavers and plants.
It's always true that quality and longevity go hand-in-hand and spending more upfront will not only give longer life but can also conserve energy by recovering and recycling quality materials later.
8.
How much will landscaping improve the value of my property? It can have a significant impact on the value.
In fact, a small investment in thoughtful landscaping can easily pay more dividends when selling than the equivalent in renovation.
