Partnering with Your Landscape Professional: A Complete Guide to Finding the Right Fit

Where To Start?

You have a landscape project in mind and know that you’d like it done professionally. In our area, there are a lot of companies to choose from and a wide range of styles, value, and professionalism. Choosing your landscaper to work with can be a challenging task to begin, so we would like to offer some insight and tips to help you narrow your search and understand what to expect.

Why Referrals Are Your Best Resource

The most valuable & trustworthy source to start your search will be your neighbors, friends, and family. Most of our business is driven by repeat clients and referrals. We love to be contacted by someone who heard of us from a friend or neighbor who was thrilled with our work. This type of referral can be more reliable for you as the client, compared to other search methods. Make sure to put these referrals near the top of your list but also keep your mind open to a company that you find and get a good feeling about! All our branches of referrals started with somebody trusting us after finding us.

Using Online Research to Find a Landscape Professional

An internet search and social media recommendations can be helpful but also overwhelming. You will find a lot of landscape designers to consider, and it may be difficult to determine what sets one apart from the other. We recommend that you try to do some research and narrow down your search as much as possible. While seeking multiple bids is great, you don’t want to overdo it and turn each company into a number on a bid.

How to Compare Landscape Companies and Their Portfolios

What you should be working towards is finding a company that you are comfortable with and confident in. If your decision is solely based on price, you might end up with regrets and surprises along the way. Spend some time reviewing the project galleries of the companies that you are considering. You will begin to get a feel for the style, creativity, and capabilities of each company.

• Does the style you have in mind match the work that they are showcasing?
• Did you find something that you hadn’t considered yet but love the way it looks?
• Does the company show a wide range of styles and scales?

A good company will help you blend your vision with their expertise. We love to hear your thoughts and put a little Magnolia touch on them to bring them to reality.

How Many Contractors Should You Meet?

Meeting with more than 2 or 3 landscape contractors may make your decision more challenging than it needs to be and could also be very time-consuming. If you have spent your time gathering referrals and reviewing the websites & social media of your top choices, you probably already have it fairly narrowed down. Having some key information and questions ready for your initial meeting will make you ready for your initial consultation.

Preparing for Your Initial Consultation

Here is a list of important things to think about before your consultation and be ready to talk about.

Does Your Project Require a Landscape Design?

If so, what is the design process for each company? Will there be a charge for design work and what will that product look like? Being prepared with lot survey documents, sketches of your own ideas, example pictures, and notes can really help your Designer streamline their process and potentially reduce any design fees there may be.

Understanding the Budget for Your Landscape Project

What is your desired budget? This can be a challenging one to want to discuss but it is important. As a consumer, you may feel like presenting this information too early will steer the contractor. A good trustworthy contractor will not be looking to take advantage of knowing your budget, rather they should be willing to help you get the most out of your budget. Talking about this at consultation can help cut down on having to redesign or quote work again if there is sticker shock.

We want you to have the dream yard you are envisioning. If your current spending capacity doesn’t quite match your vision, we can help find a way to get there with phases or just make the right choices to create what you want the best way possible within budget.

Project Timeline and Deadlines

Do you have a project deadline? What is the contractor’s current schedule? Our project schedules are always changing with weather and project needs, but we should be able to give you reasonable expectations at that time or talk about the process. It can also be helpful to ask how long your type of project will take. With the right equipment and trained installers, you might be surprised by how efficiently a good crew can get great work done!

Material Options for Your Landscape Project

Do you know what style of materials you are hoping to use? Do you know the benefits of each of the options? Maybe you want a patio, but you don’t know the pros and cons of natural stone vs pavers vs concrete and other options. Try to have a sense of what you prefer from a design standpoint but be open to the recommendations and experience of the contractor. The options are always changing and evolving, there are so many great products we can use.

• Do you prefer landscape rock or mulch?
• Do you have any favorite plants that you’d love to use?
• Do you have any plants that you know you want to avoid?

Considering Yard Conditions and Challenges

Does your yard have any drainage, sunlight, or use concerns that might not be evident during the meeting?

Understanding Who You Are Hiring

Make sure you understand who you are meeting with and what their role is in your project.

• Are they a Landscape Designer who will be working with you through the design process and then helping manage the install?
• Are you meeting with an owner/operator who is going to be the one leading the crew in your yard while also managing the business?
• Are you meeting with a Landscape Designer or Architect that will provide the design side of things but then be subcontracting the installation to another company?

If so, how closely will they be involved with the installation?

Making the Final Decision

After gathering all this information, it may be just as important to make your decision based on who you felt most comfortable talking about your project with.

Evaluating Communication and Professionalism

Was communication easy? Did your contractor listen and offer real feedback and validation regarding your thoughts? Did it feel like a sales pitch? Were they rushed and distracted, or do you feel like your time was important to them?

Choosing a Landscape Contractor Beyond Just Price

In the end, try not to make the final decision based on how much you like one design versus the other, or by price alone. A good Designer & company will be willing to work with you to get to where you need to be, even if that means revisiting design ideas or talking about budget options.

Building a Long-Term Relationship With Your Landscape Professional

Depending on the project size, you may be committed to communicating and working with this team for weeks or months, and hopefully years if it is a great and continuing relationship. Ease of communication and building your trust may just be the biggest factors in helping you make your decision!

Stonework and hardscapes don’t just serve your landscape in warmer months; they transform your yard into a winter wonderland of textures, contrasts, and functionality. Whether you’re admiring the snow-covered boulders or taking a brisk walk down a flagstone path, these features keep your yard inviting and beautiful all year long. Ready to elevate your winter landscape? Contact Magnolia Landscapes and Design to start planning today!