You may have watched hundreds of hours of landscape designer shows. You may have created multiple vision boards. When it’s time to take your landscape dreams into reality, it helps to put pen to paper.
At Hittle Landscaping, we’ve worked with clients for over 40 years in the Indianapolis area. We’ve heard many questions from clients over the years and can help you prepare. Let’s review what you’ll need for your free consultation and the questions you should ask.
Prepare to Meet with Your Landscape Designer
- Review your wish list and prioritize them.
- Determine your budget. You may look at the numbers in a “good, better, best” fashion.
- Identify which parts of the project you’ll need professional help. The big stuff? The heavy stuff? All of it? It’s ok if you don’t know. A professional landscape designer will help you weigh the pros and cons to make the best use of your time and money. He or she will also help you decide if your project is a good fit for their services.
Questions to Ask Before Hiring Your Landscape Designer
- What is your process?
One landscape designer might be full-service, which includes the design, build and maintenance. Another might be design-only or design and build. Depending on the answer, you may decide you prefer one process or another. Will subcontractors be involved or is one company performing all of the work? - May I see examples of your past work?
The landscape designer may refer you to a gallery on a website or have another portfolio. In addition to the pictures, ask for specific examples of designs in your preferred aesthetic.
Be careful to weigh your feelings over someone who may be “figuring it out for the first time” or someone who’s delivering the same cookie-cutter “English country garden” design everyone gets. Memberships in professional organizations and degrees from accredited design colleges establish credibility.
- How do you estimate costs?
Also inquire about ranges and how changes in scope are handled. In general, a landscape designer will present an estimate for design and one for installation.
Be advised, materials and the amount of hardscapes can dramatically alter a budget proposal. Feel free to ask for insight into reducing costs, if necessary. Certain materials or items may be drastically impacting the fees. It may help to know these outliers and revisit your priorities.
Call Hittle Landscaping – Your Next Landscape Designer
First, we get to you know you. Second, we listen to your ideas. Then, we’ll bring more than 40 years of expertise in thoughtful landscaping, lighting and design to create your dream.
Locally-owned and operated, Hittle Landscaping is prepared to apply our trademark attention to detail to any challenge. To explore how our landscape design may beautify and improve your property, call Hittle Landscaping today for a free consultation.
