While it may be freezing cold outside today here in Chicago, I am not letting that bother me. In fact, I am more looking towards the spring when I will once again get out and plant annuals and flowers to brighten up my home. But what about the bigger projects like brick paver patios and retaining stone faced walls? Well, it may be time to outsource those bigger landscape jobs to a professional contractor. Here's what I recommend.
Here are some quick tips on hiring a landscaper or landscape construction company in your area.
First off, get a professional landscape design completed by an actual landscape architect. This may cost you a couple hundred bucks, but it is well worth it for you to see and envision the finished project on paper. This will also allow you to decide just what you can afford to do now, or wait til the next year.
Secondly, let's take a look at the plans your landscape architect laid out and see if we can do any of the work on our own. This is where the inner "do-it-yourself-er" will come out of you. You can save big bucks by parsing out pieces of the job and getting them done yourself. Just be sure you don't get in too deep and mess up some other portion of the project. If you need your contractor to come in and bail you out, you are going to end up losing money!
It is now time to call out a few local landscape contractors and see what they can do for you. Show them the plans you've already had drawn up and see what they think. You should be able to tell which contractor seems to be the one you will be able to work with the best. Keep in mind that this guy and his crew will be at your home for several days or even weeks, so get someone who you like! You should also ask the contractor to provide some addresses of work he has already completed so you can check out his work beforehand. Most of them are happy to show off their work and would love to take you to their former customers.
Finally, you should set a time frame that you think the design should be completed in. Keep in mind there are weather issues that crop up during any project and patience will be a virtue to you. It is always advised that you start your landscaping project in the early spring so you can use the summer to either run the overages, or actually enjoy what you have paid for!
If you follow these simple ideas and get started early, you should be able to oversee your landscaping project this year. Don't forget: get a design you like, figure out if you want to do some of it yourself and then go out and find the landscape contractor of your choice. Just think about it; you'll be out and enjoying a beautiful landscape before you know it.
Here are some quick tips on hiring a landscaper or landscape construction company in your area.
First off, get a professional landscape design completed by an actual landscape architect. This may cost you a couple hundred bucks, but it is well worth it for you to see and envision the finished project on paper. This will also allow you to decide just what you can afford to do now, or wait til the next year.
Secondly, let's take a look at the plans your landscape architect laid out and see if we can do any of the work on our own. This is where the inner "do-it-yourself-er" will come out of you. You can save big bucks by parsing out pieces of the job and getting them done yourself. Just be sure you don't get in too deep and mess up some other portion of the project. If you need your contractor to come in and bail you out, you are going to end up losing money!
It is now time to call out a few local landscape contractors and see what they can do for you. Show them the plans you've already had drawn up and see what they think. You should be able to tell which contractor seems to be the one you will be able to work with the best. Keep in mind that this guy and his crew will be at your home for several days or even weeks, so get someone who you like! You should also ask the contractor to provide some addresses of work he has already completed so you can check out his work beforehand. Most of them are happy to show off their work and would love to take you to their former customers.
Finally, you should set a time frame that you think the design should be completed in. Keep in mind there are weather issues that crop up during any project and patience will be a virtue to you. It is always advised that you start your landscaping project in the early spring so you can use the summer to either run the overages, or actually enjoy what you have paid for!
If you follow these simple ideas and get started early, you should be able to oversee your landscaping project this year. Don't forget: get a design you like, figure out if you want to do some of it yourself and then go out and find the landscape contractor of your choice. Just think about it; you'll be out and enjoying a beautiful landscape before you know it.
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