How long have you been a Landscape Designer? (The more experienced they are the easier Your Garden Designs Experience will be)

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)

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)

Follow-up question... Can You Give Us A list of a few projects we can drive by... Or can you arrange for us to visit the sites with you ? (This is a good follow-up if you like them but their portfolio isn't quite up to your expectations)

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)

Follow-up questions:

• What specifically will the Construction Document Package Include ? (They should included: A Detailed Construction Plan with grading and drainage; Construction Details Sheet(s) with Materials call outs, referenced to the construction plan; A Planting Plan: An Irrigation Plan; A Planting and Irrigation Details Sheet; A Garden Lighting Plan; and A Landscape Construction Specifications Sheet listing all construction specification requirements)

• How Long Will It Take You to prepare the plans ? (You should expect a Preliminary Design Concept and Cost Estimate within 3 to 4 weeks after signing the Designer's contract or 5 to 6 weeks if a professional land survey needs to be prepared. Once the preliminary design plans have been completed Your Designer may need to file the plans with one or more local governing agencies... After approval your Designer will prepare the necessary construction documents. This can take 6 to 8 weeks if the services of an Engineer are required)
  

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)

Follow-up question... How many preliminary sketches are you willing to provide, before presenting us with the Final Preliminary Plan ? (How many times are they willing to allow you to change the plans during the preliminary design process... Keep in mind that the number of Times you want to change the plans and the number of Design Meeting Hours this requires will be reflected in the designers final proposal/contract fee structure)

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...
2 - An hourly fee for all services with a Not Expected to Exceed Amount; this is an open end fee structure, but if your budget allows, it gives you the opportunity to have the Designer at your disposal on an unlimited basis during the design and installation phases... 3 - A Percentage Fee based on the total final cost of your gardens design installation (10 to 15%). Again, this gives you the opportunity to have the Designer at your disposal on an unlimited basis, but with the advantage of knowing up front what the Final Garden Designer Fees will be +/-... You should let the designer know Which Fee structure You Prefer at this point... Most designers will present their proposal /contract in the way you feel most comfortable with]

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)

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]