The Design/Build Process
The art of Landscape Design combines elements of creativity (color, textures, imagination), and science (soil types, slope calculations, specs). Both are needed to create a functional fusion of indoor and outdoor living spaces. Landscape Design also works to blend man's hard lines (houses and buildings) into nature’s surroundings, and in order to do that one must have a plan.
Just as you would not build a house without blueprints, you should not put together a landscape without a design, no matter how small.
The Landscape Design Center works with many different clients. A design job can range from a $375 foundation drawing to a $2000+ high-end, multi-phased, residential project. It really just depends on what the client is looking for, what they need, and what kind of budget they are working with.
Any project should have a budget, because, why design something that looks wonderful on paper, but would take hundreds of thousands of dollars to implement? Who wants to get excited about something that may never happen?
So with that said, The Landscape Design Center works, with their clients, towards a desirable, and feasible plan. Every step of the way all three factors of the design process will be considered; Aesthetics (the beauty and feel of the design), Needs (what the client desires to have in the design), and Monetary abilities (what the client can truly afford).
It’s very easy to get caught up in the process, and forget the main focus of the design by trying to incorporate too much. It is also easy to get stuck inside the infamous “box” and not incorporate enough!
Initial Consultation
So how does a potential client get started?!
- The Client calls in (or emails) with a list of landscape needs.
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Their information is given to one of the designers, who calls
the client back
and goes over the project in detail then sets up an appointment.
Important Note: There is an $85/hour consultation fee for this meeting. If the
client proceeds with The Landscape Design Center for the project, the $85 will be
credited back to the job.
- During the appointment, the designer walks through the project with the client and goes through the portfolio.
- The designer takes notes, measurements, and sometimes pictures to get a comprehensive view of what needs to be done.
- An estimate is provided within 7 days and is good for thirty (30) days. The client is welcomed to meet with the designer/estimator again if further clarification is needed.
Design Contract
- Once an estimate is agreed upon it is put into contract form
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The following is included in a design contract:
Site layout using recorded plat plan
Photographs of Property for design purposes
Preliminary Meeting - first draft design meet on site or Contractors office
Landscape Plan - finished meeting on site or Contractors office
One additional meeting can be scheduled at contractor's office if needed
2- Scaled Landscape Plan Views
Plant List and materials list (if needed)
Bid on a portion of installation - Once the design process is complete the client then has the option of continuing to the installation process.
***Incentive***
If a portion, or all, of the work is installed by The Landscape Design Center, then a portion of the landscape design package cost will be credited back to the client. Credit will depend on amount of work completed within one (1) year from completion of design package
This gives clients an incentive to go with The Landscape Design Center for the installation!
Installation Process
After the meeting and estimate, or after the design process, the client reviews the final contract with the same designer/consultant that initially came out to their site.
The contract consists of a detailed description of the work that will be completed, the warranties, payment arrangements, start and completion dates, and information regarding outside utilities.
Overview of Maryland Legislation:
Ticket Check®: Law passed in May 2001 requires that all owners of underground facilities in the state of Maryland provide a positive response to excavators via Ticket Check®. [more...]
Time between locate requests and site marking: 2 business days
Ticket life: 10 business days
Required hand-digging distance: 18 inches except in Montgomery County which is 36 inches.
Penalties for violating the Miss Utility laws: Actual repair costs and civil penalties up to $1,000 per violation for the first offense, plus up to 10 times the actual cost of repairs, which can equate to millions of dollars, for each subsequent offense.
Payment Arrangement
Once the client reviews the contract, one third of the total contract cost is due upon the contract's acceptance. The second third is normally due within one week from onset of job. However, this depends on material deliveries and progression of job. (It could be required sooner). The final third is due upon completion of contracted work. This does not include any additionals to contract, nor changes. If 'changes' occur during the job that prolong it, they must be approved by both parties, and a new agreement signed and dated.
Pros and Cons of Design/Build
Also known as SINGLE-SOURCE responsibility, Design/Build, is an all inclusive effort in-which a company - from Designer to Laborer - are involved in the Design/Build Process. From the start to finish everyone works as a single entity under contract with the owner. It can significantly reduce costs, as well as enable that single entity to work towards a common goal.
PROS:
- Eliminates redesigning, and unnecessary costs from the redesign
- Reduces problems with conflicting relationships among multiple contractors
- Ensures better communication between project participants (i.e. one contract and one client)
- Emphasizes team work from conceptualization to installation
- Allows for the owner to be an important member of the team instead of depending on multiple contractors to do the job
- Provides a single source for management, quality, problem solving, and cost
CONS:
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Some companies claim they are Design/Build, but have limited design capabilities.
Just be careful! -
If a problem occurs in one area of the job, but not another; attempting to eliminate
the contractor from a portion of the job may be difficult.
Just check credentials! -
Some companies have the Designer "hand off" clients to Project Managers.
Just make sure the Project Manager is on the same page as the Designer. - Some companies attempt to use up materials they have "in stock" instead of using creative and innovative materials/ideas.
Additional Information on the PROS of Design/Build:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Design-build
http://www.land8lounge.com/forum/topics/design-build-pros-v-cons
http://www.blvdplan.com/Design%20-%20Build/benefits_of_db.htm