A luxury home includes an inviting and luxurious landscape. If you are not a person who prefers to Do-It-Yourself when it comes to landscaping look to professionals for assistance. As a luxury homeowner your investment into landscape design is an important decision that improves your property value, aesthetics and lifestyle. When hiring a landscaper, you will want to follow a systematic approach to ensure your investment is safe and applied to your landscape as effectively as possible.
Researching on the web to get ideas and inspiration should be your initial step to a successful landscape design. From there, start a picture collection of softscapes to include living plants, grass, trees and mulch. Next, add inanimate hardscapes to your collection such as water features, pergolas, fire pits, arbors, and walkways. As you search for ideas keep color, structure, and design in mind that aligns with your personal taste. Websites such as Houzz and Pinterest are great sources for creative ideas and ways to design your landscape.
It will also be helpful to take pictures of your current landscape and select things you currently like and things you would like to change or improve. If you would like a satellite view in order to see what your landscape looks overhead go to Google Earth and print out a copy as another reference for your planning.
There are also apps such as iScape which will allow you to photograph your existing landscape and insert plants, trees shrubs and other design features that will give you accurate representations of your planning prior to its actual implementation.
Now that you have identified your priorities and have some general ideas for your landscape designs itās time to solidify other requirements of the project by:
- Hiring and contracting with a reputable landscape professional
- Finalizing a detailed landscape plan including a start to finish timeline for the project
- Reviewing project cost and establishing a budget to monitor and track expenditures
The next step is to hire a landscape professional for your project. A landscape professional will evaluate your property for any potential problems, suggest solutions, develop a landscape plan, and present them to you for your approval. Not only will their suggestions relate to your projectās overall vision, but they will also include practical advice such as where to place trees to lower energy bills, provide a shaded area to relax, and how to enhance the overall practical aspects of your landscape.
When planning to plant trees, shrubs, and flowers ask about using drip irrigation instead of sprinklers. Drip irrigation provides moisture to plants at the root level and have proven to be more efficient at maintaining appropriate moisture as your plants get established. Consider adding an outdoor living space to further enlarge your living area and to meet your living style.
Landscape Architect, Landscape Designer, or Landscape Contractor
If your landscape project will be wide ranging and complex you should consider hiring a landscape architect. They have more expertise, training and understanding of materials, hardscapes, grading and drainage than a landscape designer or contractor.
A landscape architect will have a degree in landscape architecture and in some states, they may be required to pass a state license exam.
Landscape designers are not typically licensed by the state. The landscape designer might be able to do the same project as an architect but they are usually lacking similar academic knowledge and training.āāāāāāā
āāāāāāāA landscape architect may also be a licensed contractor so it is wise to ask as fulfilling both roles with the same person may be a benefit. Either way, the object is to know your investment is safe and in the hands of a competent professional.
Hiring a Landscape Professional
Interview at least 3 landscape professionals before making a final decision. As you walk the site with each one, it is important that you feel comfortable communicating your primary vision and how you and your family will use the finished plan. Talk to them about family gatherings, entertaining, a place for solitude, etc. Be consistent by asking the same list of questions to each of your candidates as you walk the yard and discuss your project.
Important questions to ask are:
- What licenses, certifications and experience do they have?
- Can they provide references for ongoing and completed projects?
- Do they provide a written cost estimate and what happens if it is exceeded?
- What are the projected start and completion estimates?
- Can they provide proof of liability and workmanās comp insurance?
- Is the company bonded to offer financial protection to owners throughout the project?
- What will their warranty cover specifically and for how long?
- Does the company provide for softscape and hardscape work or is it subcontracted?
- What are the terms and conditions for payment?
- Take time to check with the Better Business Bureau to see how each company rates and if there have been any complaints filed against them
Do not pay for the project job in full upfront. Payments should be graduated based on work completed and inspected. This will allow you to stop the work incase issues arise and you become unsatisfied with the work performance.
Working with Your Landscape Professional
Now that you have selected a reliable and legitimate landscape professional itās time to discuss the contract. A contract should include these items:
- The projected start and end date
- List of all materials required
- All costs and fees
- A lien waiver (A lien waiver protects you from being responsible for paying for materials from a supplier. The professional you hire should pay for them and charge you as stated in the contract.)
- Permits required to comply with local building codes. Maintenance costs and timeline
Before signing the contract, go over every detail and ask questions about any aspect that you are unsure about. Having a clear understanding and performing your due diligence now will save you stress, money, and valuable time throughout your project.
Getting a well-designed landscape is a challenging task. However, the end results will enhance your home, provide an aesthetically pleasing yard, and give you a relaxing environment to enjoy for years to come. As a result of you hiring a professional to plan and implement the design, you can have peace of mind that it was completed correctly and within the tolerances of the local building code.