What is the consult, proposal, and design process like?

Every project, big or small, is just as important to us as it is to you. We follow the same process for every proposal request we receive. This process helps us ensure that we are a proper fit to be your contractor.

• During the first communication, we gather the information we need to determine if moving forward with a consultation is the right fit for both parties.
• We follow that up with an in-person consultation. With any landscape, there are many details that can be lost just by communication via phone or email.
  • Consultations are usually 30-60 minutes, depending on the scope of the project.
  • During the consultation, we will take any necessary photos, measurements, and elevations we may need to continue the process.
  • Large projects may require multiple site visits throughout the design and proposal process.
• The next phase would be design; however, not all projects need a design. This mainly applies to landscape tear-outs and installations, and hardscape installs such as paver patios, driveways, outdoor kitchens, etc.
• The last step is creating your proposal. Proposal creation time varies throughout the year as our project load fluctuates. For most landscape maintenance-related projects, 24 – 48 hrs is typical. Projects requiring designs have a proposal turnaround dependent on the design being completed. During the consultation, we will inform you of our current turnaround estimates.
• There is a one-time non-refundable consultation fee of $79.00. Should you decide to have us complete your project, the consultation fee will be deducted from the final invoice.

Why is there a fee associated with scheduling a consultation?

During a consultation, we offer the needed knowledge and experience to guide clients through the process of making educated decisions regarding your landscape and outdoor living spaces. We invest a lot of time in educating clients on best practices and services that will best enhance their space, as well as creating a plan to bring their vision to reality, no matter how simple or complex. Should you decide to have us complete your project, the consultation fee will be deducted from the final invoice.

Why are project designs not free?

Designs are an integral part of putting together complex, large-scale projects or projects utilizing a lot of materials. Our designs are both traditional 2D and 3D. We also offer video walkthrough designs. Designs are not free for a few reasons that we will list below:

• Before the design can begin, we visit the site and take any photos, measurements, and elevations that we need before we can start building a design. This process usually takes 1-4 hours.
• Designs themselves take an immense amount of time to create and finish as they are drawn to scale. Most often, we need to create not just the layout of the installation but also areas around the install area, such as the house or business, driveways, pools, and all sorts of other outdoor areas in order for the design to bring to life the vision of what your newly created space will look like. The actual design time can range from 10 – 30 or more hours.
• Once a design is created and the invoice is paid, the design and assets of the design are turned over and become the property of the client to do what they wish with.

Does my design fee come off the remaining balance of my installation?

The short answer is no. Design fees cover the travel, labor, research, and physical actions of creating the digital design. The design fee is in no way monetarily related to the production of the project. Landscape and Hardscape Design is a service in itself.

Why is a down payment required to schedule my project?

Down payments happen for multiple reasons. We invest a lot of time during our free consultations and proposal creation in order to bring your project to life. As of now, the consultation and proposal process is free.

• We want to make sure our clients are as invested as we are; therefore, every project, no matter the size, requires a minimum of a 10% down payment to be scheduled after being approved.
• Any project using materials that cannot be returned to the vendor can be subject to up to 75% of those material costs as a down payment in order to secure those materials.
• All projects that require materials that fluctuate, such as rock & stone, aggregates, certain chemicals, seed, pavers, and wall block, etc., may be invoiced in order to secure materials to avoid price increases.
• Ensuring our clients are invested in their project leads to fewer schedule disruptions throughout the year and, on large projects, can be the difference between a material being out of budget due to price changes because materials were not secured.

What is your warranty/craftsmanship guarantee?

Our Warranty information and Contract Terms & Conditions can be found at the links below.

• Click here to read our Guaranty & Plant Warranty
• Click here to read our contract Terms & Conditions

Can I supply my own mulch?

We do not apply mulch provided by clients, whether it is free mulch provided by your municipality or store-bought mulch, for the following reasons:

• Municipality mulch usually is more compost than mulch. It contains high amounts of leaves, weeds, dirt, and other debris. It is inconsistent in texture and contains weed seeds that make weed control on properties more expensive and require 2-3 times the amount of chemical usage to control in a given season.
• Store-bought mulch ranges in a wide variety of types, like cedar, pine bark, pine nuggets, single processed, double processed, triple processed, hardwood, etc. Just as it ranges in types, it ranges in quality.
• Quality. Quality matters for two reasons.
  • 1 – Quality is our number one goal. Not being able to control what products we select can have a negative effect that could result in a less attractive job finish.
  • 2 – We use only quality hardwood double or triple processed mulch in brown, black dyed, or brown dyed, that is made from hardwood tree material. We only purchase from two suppliers for this reason.

Can I supply my own plants and/or trees?

Yes. You can supply your own ground covers, perennials, shrubs, ornamental grasses, and trees. Plant material supplied by clients is not covered by our plant warranty and is only subject to whatever warranty the vendor you purchased from offers.