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Landscape architectural designer interview questions...
What do You Need to Ask Your Landscape Architectural Designer during that all important First Meeting?
Below is A List of Questions to Ask Your Landscape Architectural Designer during your First Meeting (For your records a place is provided to keep track of your brief responses)
The First Step... Ask these questions Only After You Have Walked Through Your Garden with the Designer and discussed your design ideas and listened to theirs... If you aren't impressed by their ideas or don't feel comfortable with the Designer at that point, Thank them for their time and tell them you'll let them know if you decide to hire them
The Next Step... Sit Down, share a beverage, relax; Allow the Designer to show you some samples of their work. It may be in the form of: A photo portfolio; A PowerPoint or Video computer presentation; A sample of the preliminary design presentation and construction documents you will be getting if you sign with them... Followed by photos of the garden completed from these plans; Or various other visual aids of the landscape designers choosing
What you are looking for here... Is the Designers Presentation of their work presented in a professional organized manner... An indication of how organized they will be?; How well do they deliver and explain the presentation - Is it easy for you to follow or is it confusing to You... An indication of their communicative skills?; Do You have a positive response to the work they are presenting to you - Does it excite you?; How Do You Feel they will be to work with - Do You Feel Comfortable with them... Do They Seem comfortable with you?
Again, if you aren't impressed by their presentation or don't feel comfortable with the Designer at that point; thank them for their time and tell them you'll let them know if you decide to hire them. (This way You Don't Waste Your Time or Theirs when there is No chance You are going to work with them)
Don't worry if you can't answer all of the questions... This is merely a short guide (Eight Questions Total) to Familiarize You with The Landscape Designer's education, background, and professional experience. To get you thinking: How experienced are they?; Can You work with them?; Do You feel confident that they can Design The Garden of Your Dreams to Your Satisfaction?
Keep the First Meeting Lite and Friendly... Have Fun asking
these questions! This should be A Pleasurable Experience for
You and the Designer you are interviewing. You'll have plenty of time to
review and analyze their responses later after the first meeting has
ended
Please Note: I suggest you
review these questions thoroughly prior to your first meeting so that you are familiar with them... That way you can concentrate more on the
Designer's Responses than focusing on these questions. It might help to
think about which responses would be more favorable to you... What
responses would make selecting this designer as your final choice easier
for you - And which responses would have a negative impact on selecting
this particular landscape designer? [This
BRAIN TEASER will be of great help when it comes to narrowing down your
selection to Your Three Favorite Designers, and in
making your final choice]
Ready... Let's get started!
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How long have you been a Landscape Designer? (The more experienced they are the easier Your Garden Designs Experience will be) |
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What's your Landscape Design background ? (Where they learned their craft: College Degree; Trade School; Apprenticed under another designer... The better schooled they are the more detailed your completed plans will be) |
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Have you Done Any Projects in our area ? (Although this is not a selection process game changer - This is important if you live in an area governed by local restrictions. The Designers past experiences in working with your Home Owners Association or local governing agencies can limit the amount of time the approved design process can take) |
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What Is Included in the design package we will be receiving ? (It should include: A preliminary design plan/elevation sketches with the final presentations rendered in color; Materials Samples - hardscape, plant photos, lighting tear sheets, etc; A preliminary cost estimate prepared by a landscape contractor of the designers choosing at this point; A complete set of construction documents with engineering if necessary, ready for the contractor to pull permits)
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Will your first preliminary presentation be a series of rough plans and sketches, allowing us to make changes and give our input... Or do you prefer to present us with a full blown preliminary presentation, rendered in color; materials samples; and preliminary cost estimate, at our next meeting ? (This is important if you would prefer one method over the other... It really depends on how involved you want to be in the design process, and any time constraints you have on getting your garden completed for a special event - You should let the designer know your preliminary presentation preferences at this point... Most designers will present it in the way you feel most comfortable with) |
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How do You Charge For Your Services ? [Various fee structure options are: 1 - A fixed fee for preliminary design meeting(s), plans, preliminary costs estimates, and construction document preparation. In addition they may also charge an hourly rate for site visits during construction... |
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Are there any other additional charges we should be aware of ? (Most designers will charge You reimbursable expenses for: Additional approved plan sets over and above the one set included in your proposal/contract.. Such as additional plan sets required by any local governing agency or additional sets required by contractors/subs during your gardens installation phase; Surveyor/engineering fees if required; and any local governing agency review fees required during the design phase of your garden) |
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Does Your Proposal/Contract Include a Cancellation Clause ? [You should require they include a clause stating, "Should it become necessary for the Client and/or Designer to cancel this contract for any reason, the Client agrees to compensate the designer for all services performed up to the date of written cancellation. Such compensation will be billed to the Client, at the designers current hourly rate for completed design services (not to exceed the total agreed to contract fee)." This allows You or The Landscape Designer the option to cancel at any stage of the design process... For example, if You and Your Landscape Designer are unable to agree on a final preliminary plan/budget, that might be a good time to look for another designer] |
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Once You Have Completed The Landscape Designer Interview you have two options:
1 - You can tell the Landscape Designer You would like to take some time to decide... Or
2 - You can tell the Landscape Designer you would like them to submit a Proposal/Contract for review... (If you feel they are going to be one of Your Three Favorite Landscape Designers to choose from)
Call TODAY to setup Your
FREE Design Services Consultation...
626.794.6628