How to Price Out Landscape Work

When it comes time to do landscape work on your property there are a number of things you should do to make sure there are no nasty surprises when it comes to paying for your landscape work. Here are some suggestions that should help to price out landscape work and avoid mistakes or disagreements.

First, you will save money if you are clear on what you want and need for each step of your landscape work. Get a clear idea of what features you want in your landscape and what you realistically can spend. Sketching out your design is useful or calling in a garden designer or garden coach to help hone your ideas into a workable design for bids will save you money in the end. This way all your bids are on the same design and if your budget requires you to install your landscape in steps, you know it will still fit together right when all the different parts are done.

When you know what work you want done on your property, always get several bids. Just because you have a landscaper friend or you get a promise you think sounds good always get some second opinions in the form of other bids. With other bids to use for comparison you can get a more realistic idea of costs.

Make sure all bids are on the same work. List exactly all the work you want done and try to be as detailed as possible. Matching your bids on the same work will give you realistic prices. For example, if you say you want a 20' x 40' yard landscaped with garden beds, a walkway, a lawn and a fountain, you can get bids for widely divergent designs. If, instead, you do a plan that shows exactly how much lawn, what sized garden beds, the material that will be used for the walkway and what kind of fountain you want, you will be getting truly competitive bids.

Get everything in writing. Once you decide on who you will work with and what is to be done, get it all recorded on paper. Even the best intentions can go awry with misunderstandings. Then there are changes that need to be recorded each step of the way. The more detailed your agreements are the better both builder and owner will be likely to avoid mistakes, misunderstandings and lawsuits.

If there's something you are not sure about, ask questions. Get prices for everything. If you do not feel the charges are right, query them BEFORE work is done. In fact, the best way to price out landscape work is to get everything detailed out for as much labor and material as is possible. Be honest with your designer or contractor about what you can afford and don't hope things won't cost more. One thing about construction you can usually expect is that there are likely to be complications and unexpected expenses. That means it is likely the project will take longer and cost more than everyone wants. With written contracts, you are secure that you will at least get what you specified for the cost agreed upon even if other issues arise.

The best way to price out landscape work is to be honest, straight-forward, detailed and get everything in writing every step of the way! This is a good way to handle any major project whether it is landscaping or construction of another sort.