What You Need to Know for Your Next Big Landscaping Renovation |
Posted: December 29, 2017 |
If you find that coming home to your yard after a long day of work fills you with dread, rather than relaxation, it might be time for an update. Maintaining a home is hard work, and designing a yard worthy of attention is even harder. It may be time to call in a professional landscape architect to help you make your next move. Envision Your IdeaThe first step is of course to figure out what you want to create. Take some measurements, make a rough map of your current yard, and bust out some pens: get creative. Your landscape architect will be happy to suggest ideas, but if you start brainstorming ideas early in your renovation process it can affect your initial search. Get some crazy ideas on the page, and budget how much you’re willing to spend to get there. Why Hire a Landscaper?You may find, if you have the time to spare and a project limited enough in scope, that you don’t need to hire a landscaper. However even after your project is finished there are still a lot of reasons to hire landscaping professionals. You may require a contractor to install features in your home that require advanced knowledge, such as water features, or a gardener. Next, figure out if you need a full service landscaper, such as one that plans and executes your homes look, or a more maintenance focused firm. If you do have a big renovation, you’ll want to go with the former. They’ll send out a landscape architect who will plan out the look. There’s a lot to take into consideration when designing a landscape. As the father of landscape architecture Frederick Olmsted said, a great lawn will exemplify “elegance of design” – a composition in which the whole scene forms a single, coherent effect on the viewer. A great landscape architect can elevate your home and garden into so much more than you might expect it to be capable of. Shop AroundThere are some criteria to keep in mind while looking online for a landscaper. First, start it off regionally. If you’re looking to install custom pools San Diego contractors can help you if you live in that area. Your search criteria should also include specialization. Once you get an initial hit, compare their reputation to other comparable companies in the area, using review websites or discussing with other homeowners in the area. Don’t be afraid to meet with multiple contractors, you should be able to get the best deal with the best fit for you. When meeting, come equipped with relevant questions for them, such as asking them to discuss their experience and body of work, and their guarantees of quality. Either ask them to bring an example contract, or discuss the process of building a contract with them. You’ll want to know the schedule of payments, what’s included in the contract, the timeline and guarantee of quality. Will you be able to hire an inspector to ensure all agreed upon work was completed? It’s good to come prepared with these questions. Discuss Their CertificationsLandscape architects in California are required to be licensed for their profession, but there are many degrees. Depending on what you’re looking to do in your project, you’ll want to make sure your landscaper has a degree of expertise relevant to what you’re looking to do. There are a host of different degrees for landscape architects, as well as maintenance managers, arborists and more. Come to the meeting with your landscaper equipped to discuss their degree, and research theirs online to make sure you get the most bang for your buck.
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