"Being Prepared"
What do You Need to do to Prepare
For that all Important First Meeting
With the Landscape Contractor
Below is A List of Questions to Ask Yourself
before You Interview a Landscape Contractor:
(For your records a place is provided to
keep track of your brief responses)
Please CLICK HERE to Print
Your Copy Of This
"Being Prepared Questionnaire"
Don't worry if you can't answer all of the questions... This is merely a short guide (Six Questions Total) to get you thinking about What You Expect during Your Gardens Installation. And it will save you many hours of time, when working with your Landscape Contractor during Your Garden Designs Installation Phase.
Take Your Time With This! Preparing Yourself Now, before Your First Landscape Contractor(s) Interview(s) will limit mistakes that could Cost You $$$ later on.
Ready... Let's get sarted with the First Question:
1) What level of Professionalism do you expect from
the Landscape Contractor, his crews, and
sub-contractors... What type of behavior during your
gardens installation is acceptable... and what type of
behavior is not?
(BRAIN TEASERS: What hours do you want them work...
Acceptable starting and quitting times... Do you have a
problem with them working on Saturdays? [You should
check with local governing agencies... Most have
restrictions on construction starting/quitting times and
weekend hours];Will you allow them to play music?;Will
you allow smoking?; Will you allow use of your phone?:
Will you allow use of your bathrooms facilities?... Try to
think of all the behavioral things you will allow and what
you won't!)
SPECIAL NOTE: I personally Do Not Recommend that
you let Your Landscape Contractor or any other workman:
Have access to your house... They are installing your
garden and have no need to enter your residence (Also,
many people who work in the landscape construction
industry are transients or illegals and aren't always trust
worthy); Use Your Phone (They will run up your bill with
disregard in most cases... and in this age of cell phones
it's not necessary for you to provide them with
communications); Use Your Bathroom facilities (Most
crewmen in this industry do not have the best hygiene
and use of your facilities may be leaving you and your
family open to unwanted germs and viruses)... That said
most Landscape Contractors are willing to provide on-site
portable toilet facilities for their crews.
CLICK HERE (If You need more space to Respond...)
2) What level of Quality do you expect from the
Landscape Contractor in terms of workmanship...
Are You a perfectionist?
SPECIAL NOTE: Perfectionist? Yeah I guess you could say
I am... The first garden I designed took two years to install
and I went through five(5) Landscape Contractors. I was
fanatical about all elements of the design being perfect...
So fanatical that I drove not only the contractor(s) nuts
but tried my clients patience as well. That's when I realized
that given all of the natural materials you are working with
in a garden design installation, and the human nature of
the Landscape Contractor mentality, that achieving
absolute perfection is an impossibility... But God knows I
have come close many times.
What I came to understand is that perfection is a
long-shot... Just strive for the best quality possible, Your
Garden will turn out beautifully, and you won't drive
yourself or your Landscape Contractor insane in the
process of trying to achieve absolute perfection... We all
know Life Is Not Perfect!)
(BRAIN TEASERS: Demand the best Quality of
workmanship, but don't get carried away... This is
supposed to be a pleasurable experience for
You and Your Landscape Contractor;Be prepared
to check their workmanship regularly in the beginning
stages of your garden installation and politely point out
anything(s) that bother you... You will be doing the
contractor a favor by letting them know the level of
quality you expect early on; And don't be afraid to insist
that the Landscape Contractor re-do elements that are
not installed to your satisfaction... You not the Contractor
must be in charge of your garden installation, at all times,
if you want to be pleased with the final results.)
A FINAL NOTE: If you're not sure if your being too
picky... Consult with Your Landscape Designer about
anything that bothers you during the installation. They will
most likely present your concerns to the Landscape
Contractor... I have found that a professional
opinion from your Designer usually make more of an
impression on a Contractor than a novice opinion from a
Client.
CLICK HERE (If You need more space to Respond...)
3) What level of involvement do You want to have in
the installation of Your garden ?
(BRAIN TEASERS: Are you willing, and do you have the
time, to check the contractors progress daily...Or do you
prefer to have weekly on-site meetings with the
contractor to discuss progress, questions, or issues either
of you might have?; Are you willing to provide some of the
materials that will be used during the garden installation?
[Maybe you have a tile/stone source that will save you
money]; Do you have a favorite tradesman you may have
worked with before that you want involved in the
installation? [Maybe a specialist in creating decorative
ironworks that you want to use]. Take some time and Give
this some serious thought.)
SPECIAL NOTE: Make sure that You have reviewed the
approved design plans, and made a complete list of all
items called out as being supplied by You (These might
include: all cook center appliances; custom pool/spa tiles;
prefab fountains; garden planters; garden furnishings;
etc...). These are usually items that the contractor will
install as part of their contract... But are to be provided
by you.
ADDITIONAL NOTE: If you are not willing to provide all
or some of the items on Your List... Be prepared to
let the Landscape Contractor know which items you
would like them to include in their contract (This will
avoid any misunderstandings as to Who Is To Provide What
later on).
CLICK HERE (If You need more space to Respond...)
4) What Budget Constraints are you willing to put
on the Landscape Contractor ?
(BRAIN TEASERS: Do you expect the Landscape Contractor
to adhere strictly to the budget you have established with
Your Landscape Designer? If so keep in mind that the
budget established by You and Your Landscape Designer
was a Preliminary Cost Estimate to be used as a guide
in getting you financing together... The final budget may
vary as much as 5-10% depending on how long it has
taken to prepare final construction documents and how
long you have waited to solicit final installation bids).
SPECIAL NOTE: Also keep in mind that if You make
changes to the original design plans (The plans the
Landscape Contractor's final bid is based on) this will
increase the cost of Your Garden Installation.
CLICK HERE (If You need more space to Respond...)
5) What Time Constraints are you willing to place
on the Landscape Contractor ?
(BRAIN TEASERS: Are You planning an event and expect
the Landscape Contractor to adhere to a specific
completion date... Or are you willing to be flexible on the
completion of Your Garden Installation? Keep in mind
that Delays Will Occur during the installation phase
[delays due to: weather conditions; materials deliveries;
and other unforeseen obstacles that will arise]. Are You
prepared to insist that the Landscape Contractor
include a completion date clause in their contract with
daily monetary penalties for each day beyond, that it
takes to complete the installation?).
SPECIAL NOTE: Be aware that If You Make Changes to
the original approved design plans (The plans the
Landscape Contractor's final bid is based on) this will
nullify any agreed to contractual completion date as
a result of the added work.
CLICK HERE (If You need more space to Respond...)
6) What do You Need to do To Help Make that First
Landscape Contractor Meeting Run Smoothly...
So You Don't Waste Your Time or Theirs ?
(Please Note: Here is where Your Use of The
"Interview Questions" Form I prepared for You will
come in handy).
(BRAIN TEASERS: Establish a time limit for the meeting
in your mind - 1 1/2 to 2 hours maximum; Have copies of
the "Interview Questions" form to hand out - and then
go down the list as the Landscape Contractor Responds;
Have pads and pens for both of you to take notes on;
Meet on-site so the Contractor gets a visual of what
will be involved in the installation of Your Garden Design;
Meet at a table and have coffee or beverages to create
a more relaxed atmosphere - or set up a table/stools in
advance if meeting on a construction site).
SPECIAL NOTE: You should arrive early out of respect
- But only wait for the Landscape Contractor for twenty
minutes if they are late - unless they call you... If they
are late to the first meeting and do not call that's a
good indication they are either disorganized, too busy, or
don't respect your time.
Keep the meeting LITE and FRIENDLY - This Landscape
Contractor will be the person who will be making Your
Personal Dream Garden a reality... You want to Feel
Comfortable With Them - And it's Important that they
are Comfortable With You.
This is YOUR ORGANIZATION LIST... This will Insure
That You and Not The Landscape Contractor(s) will
be In Charge of the first meeting.
It will also allow You To Gage how the Landscape
Contractor will react to Your Being In Charge during
your Garden Designs Installation Phase... And if You Feel
you can establish a relationship of Mutual Respect for each
other. The Landscape Contractor will appreciate the fact
that you are organized... It shows that You respect their
time and will be accessible, responsive, and easy to
work with.
CLICK HERE (If You need more space to Respond...)
PLEASE CLICK HERE to Print Your Copy of this Questionnaire
RETURN TO THE TOP OF THIS PAGE
Return To "Landscape Contractor" - How to Select the Right One
|
