client relation - description of process

INITIAL MEETING

Our initial meeting is free of charge for up to one hour. During this we explore your wishes and ideas. We also establish whether there is a desire to continue. If I am acting as a consultant or garden coach all time is charged.

DESIGN

The design phase is initiated by: establishing parameters and determining a realistic budget that you are comfortable with. It is not necessary but is helpful for you to create a clipping folder or put post-it notes in books and magazines highlighting what you like and dislike. A few written goals also help. There is a page under ‘client relation’ called ‘parameters worksheet’ to help with this. A final design is documented with a simple scaled site drawing, a plant list, job costing sheets, and a short written description of project scope.

JOB COSTING

I base my installation charges on one of two methods: either a contracted price for very specific work, or, work within a set budget. When working within a set budget there is freedom for redirection or prioritizing certain aspects. This allows the design to evolve. With either method, billing is supported by materials receipts and an hours log. You choose one of the two.

My clients benefit from the contractor reductions I get from suppliers. I do not earn my money from materials mark-up, rather I charge for the time I spend obtaining the materials. My trade reductions are passed on to you.

Progress payments are planned on an individual basis.

PROJECT REALIZATION

I prefer to work on one project at a time. In most circumstances scheduling comes down to a rough window of time that coincides with the end of the preceding project. On site activity will occur over as short a period as possible. We do not work soil if it is wet ( that destroys soil structure ), and we don’t build if weather brings significant inefficiency costs.