I meet with new and potential clients every day. As a business owner I want to provide the best level of service and detail to each person. This can vary though from client to client. Here are some great questions to look at when considering the investment into a landscape master plan. 

Most customers don’t know what they want beyond some generalities. This is where creating a master plan becomes very beneficial. Many cities and HOA’s now require some type of drawing or plan when approving permits for drainage work, hardscaping, retaining walls, and in some cases even landscaping.

  1. What type of plan is right for you?
  2. Does the city you live in require a design or a more detailed construction drawings?
  3. Will a landscape designer be enough or do you need a landscape architect?
  4. Does your HOA have any restrictions on what type of plants can be used, retaining wall material, or other approval processes that must be worked thru before a project starts?
  5. Do you want an ICPI or SRW certified installer for your patio or retaining wall?
  6. Are black & white drawings good or do you want full color renderings of plants and other areas?

WalkwayThese and other questions are things that I review with each customer when we meet. I’m surprised how many people tell me they have a budget in excess of $10,000 but don’t want to spend $300-500 on creating a design and plan before construction.

Plan 3The value in a plan for the customer is significant. It gives you a clear picture of what is and is NOT included in the project. It helps you determine within the yard and how much space the new landscaping or hardscaping will take up. It gives us accountability to the project.

landscape_plan_lgI once bid a job and another contractor was over $1,500 cheaper than my “same bid”. I went back a few months later after the job was complete. The landscaper that was chosen didn’t do half of the work we had quoted on our bid. It clearly was not an apple to apples comparison and in fact we were cheaper in price for the amount of work that was done.

I share this story to just illustrate this is why you need a plan. It allows you to make sure you are getting what you pay for. When I ask for a budget it’s not so I can see how much money I can get out of you as a potential customer, it’s so I make sure we create a plan you can afford and enjoy. You wouldn’t go in to buy a new BMW with a $10,000 budget, but you could find a very nice used care for that price. Let us help you.

We serve the Kansas City metro area including: Leawood, Overland Park, Shawnee, Lenexa, Olathe, Mission, Mission Hills, Prairie Village, Waldo, Brookside, Parkville, & South Kansas City.

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