Recommendations and Suggestions
for Projects
- Remember that you get what you pay for – be sure to hire a qualified landscape architect, not the least
expensive one!
- Do not expect to save money by hiring non-professionals.
- Contracts
are essential! Execute a contract or letter of agreement with the landscape architect detailing fees and tasks.
- Take time to plan for your project, and the time needed to both properly design and build your project.
- Do not rush into decisions, and if at all possible make all design decisions before construction begins –
it gets expensive to change your mind later (it is far easier to erase a line than to remove a wall).
- Understand
that most permitting processes consume a fair amount of time and effort. Depending on the type of project, the permitting
can cost as much or more than the design!
- It may be difficult to achieve your “dream design”.
Rather allow a design to evolve from a thorough understanding of your needs.
- While it is within the clients
purview to revisit decisions once they have been made, keep in mind every decision affects the schedule, and changes can be
costly.
- Be patient during the process, especially the construction phase. The weather or horticultural
demands often affect the schedule of a project.
- Keep in mind “construction fatigue”.
When the project started there was a great deal of excitement, but as a project wears on, you can become weary of invoices,
dirt, noise, etc.
- Convey timing of special events so accommodations can be made to address them during
the construction process.
- Do not substitute ‘bargain’ materials for quality materials.
- Allow budget contingencies for both the design and construction phases.
