Initial Project / Site Consultation (~2hrs)

I vistit your property & discuss the character of your project, existing landscape, assess your personal style & needs vs wants, ideal project budget, targets & timelines. I follow up with an email, summarizing everything from the property assessment & often share sketches & images of intent, before acquiring approval for Phase 1 - Concept Design. This is a separate one-time fee of $250 & includes a design scope & fee estimate.

Phase 1 - Concept Design

I inspire you by asking about your needs and wants, likes and dislikes. I often conduct a 2nd site visit to record property extents, structures, comfortability, opportunities & critical issues. Concept Design is presented as sketches and a basic plan highlighting areas, rough dimensions of existing & proposed features and discussing budgets. We review this plan to discern circulation, congregation, hardscape & planting areas, site furnishings, lighting and maintenance.

Phase 2 - Design Development

I envision your project presenting a set of detailed plans, to assess the cost of all landscaping elements and make adjustments as we refine the design. The final design package often includes the following:

o    Demolition, excavation & earthwork (ponds, berms, ditches, parking, recreation zones, foundations)

o    Hardscape (paths, retaining walls, patios, decks, etc.)

o    Site furnishings (hot tubs, fences, benches, tables, firepits, sculpture, fountains, kitchens, etc.)

o    Softscape (planting buffers, specimens, gardens, lawns, naturalized areas, etc.)

o    Lighting (safety, vehicule, paths, structures, plantings, ambiance & activity)

Phase 3 – Construction Drawings & Installation Supervision

To transform your property, design plans and details are shared with contractors so they can price your project accurately. It’s sometimes necessary to assist contractors during construction with additional detailed design drawings or on-site clarification. Landscape supervision is common during construction to ensure hardscape gets built as intended and plants are handled with care. I coommonly coordinate construction inspections, furniture siting & aiming landscape lighting.

Design Rate

Design, project supervision & installation fees average 8-10% of the total landscape project costs. For instance, if your project costs $150k, design fees will run about $13-15k depending on complexity of site features, based on $150/hr. Minimum charge is 1/4 hr.

Travel Time & Mileage

If your project requires a site visit beyond 25km from my office, I charge the standard mileage fee (Nova Scotia - $0.70/km). However, I often divide mileage fees among projects in the same vicinity to keep costs to clients lower.

Invoicing

Invoices are sent monthly or coinciding with install milestones. Payment is due 30 days from date issued. Outstanding invoices must be settled prior to further work.

Retainer

A 25% retainer is charged on projects with estimated design fees exceeding $50k.