Spring will be here before you know it, and that means it is time to start thinking about landscaping projects. Im not talking about planting flowers or other annuals. Im more speaking of the big jobs, like retaining walls, decks and patios. These may require the hiring of a landscape pro.
Here are some quick tips on hiring a landscaper or landscape construction company in your area.
Before you do anything, you should bring out a professional landscape architect or two and have them draw up a detailed landscape plan for you. These guys can anticipate problems such as drainage or grading, as well as let you know about local codes and regulations. This way, you are saved a few hassles. This process may cost you a little money, but it is well worth it.
Secondly, let’s take a look at the plans your landscape architect laid out and see if we can do any of the work on our own. This is where the inner “do-it-yourself-er” will come out of you. You can save big bucks by parsing out pieces of the job and getting them done yourself. Just be sure you don’t get in too deep and mess up some other portion of the project. If you need your contractor to come in and bail you out, you are going to end up losing money!
The next step is to actually bring in a few landscape contractors and share with them the plans you had drawn up in step one. I would try to interview at least 3 contractors and see what they say. Compare their prices and also their optimism and realism. If a guy tells you he can get the whole project done in a month, yet another guy says it will take 6 months, then you need to reconsider what you are being told. In addition, ask to see some properties he has completed and take a field trip to check them out.
In the end, we want to aim to be able to use and enjoy the new landscape by the summer of 2009. With that goal in mind, you need to talk to your landscaper and see how long the project will take. Always remember that weather issues will hamper a lot of the project, especially if it is a bigger construction job. That’s why we need to get started now so we can be out this summer enjoying the work!
If you follow these simple ideas and get started early, you should be able to oversee your landscaping project this year. Don’t forget: get a design you like, figure out if you want to do some of it yourself and then go out and find the landscape contractor of your choice. Just think about it; you’ll be out and enjoying a beautiful landscape before you know it.
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