It really doesn't matter if you are extremely wealthy or middle class. When you have a landscape contractor install your landscaping, a budget must be considered. We all have our dream list of things we desire and feel we need in our landscape, but can we afford them? Landscaping can be expensive, especially if you are considering adding any hardscape elements. Hardscapes include retaining walls, flagstone or paver patios, seat walls, water features, brick work, boulders or simply put, anything hard and permanent.
Hardscaping can cost many dollars a square foot. So, the landscape budget is a must.
Much of the time, my clients want the whole dream list, but when they get the estimate, they are quite discouraged. I try to ask for a budget, but usually they hesitate.They don't realize landscaping costs that much and they don't have any idea of what they are getting into.. I've done many estimates for my clients in which landscape designers, have designed the landscape. Many landscape designers neglect the budget process with their clients. The plans were exceptional. Paver patios, walls, and water features, beautiful plantings and the list goes on and on. The budget however wasn't ever considered. The design, the bidding process was a waste of time. The potential client just couldn't afford the package as designed. If only a budget was considered from the beginning, the design could of been scaled down, to a landscape they could afford and attain.
Don't be afraid to talk budget with your designer or landscaper. Once you develop a good relationship with them, please talk about what you can afford as well as what you want. The shock will go out from the estimating process.
The landscape budget process also makes the estimating easier for all. Howver you nust make sure all bids are apples to apples. Make sure quanities and sizes for each landscape proposal are the same. If one landscape contractor is installing a 200′ sq. foot patio and the other a 180 sq. foot patio there may be a difference of $300.00 in costs. Keep it apples to apples. The quanities and sizes should compare all through the landscape estimate. A smaller lawn is less money. Less soil mix is less money. Smaller sizes in plant material means less money. However, as you lmay of noticed each bid item is getting less product. It is up to you the homeowner to make sure you are in fact getting the best price, product and service.
Woody's Custom Landscaping, Inc. has been serving the Pacific Northwest with exceptional landscape services for over twenty years, we are here to help our clients realize your landscape dreams.
Landscape Architect and Garden Designs, Princeton NJ
