Quote:
Originally Posted by Uptown Girl
I agree.
Landscaping is custom work and there are many variables.
i posted a photo of our back yard project on another(pond) thread awhile back.
I did not mention the cost, it was not relevant to the topic. No one asked, anyway.
I wouldn't have done so if asked. It would not be fair to the landscaping company, as the installation of our project was complex and unless one understood all that went into it, they would have no way of evaluating whether the cost was appropriate.
In our case, we had a similar landscape project done in a previous home, in a similar setting (an enclosed courtyard). I worked on that project with a japanese landscaper to design and install it- literally worked along side him as his partner, so I was well aware of the labor required and the prep work ahead of time. I shopped with him and bought all the component parts in person.
I went into our current project with my homework done and my eyes wide open. I did not do physical work on this one, but was present, watching the complete install.
We got an excellent custom job. The price was appropriate.
My neighbor here had landscaping done, but did not want to be bothered with the details. He had the landscaper (an independent) come to his house and take a look. I was present at the time.
He said he wanted the grass gone and the front done with palms- then said, 'How much?'
The guy threw a price at him and he said, "Fine, just make it nice and put in some color. My wife will be here in two days. I want it done by then". It took 5 minutes to accomplish their agreement.
The only thing my neighbor picked out was the color of the rock. He was given two choices to pick from- in those 5 minutes.
His project was done the next day, and my neighbor was pleased that he got it done without fuss and at what he considered a bargain price.
Less than a year later, it is not standing the test of time. He got a fast job, but not an appropriate one for his property's exposure. He's not real happy with it now.
Perhaps this is not the typical way that most homeowners go about getting their landscaping done. My neighbor chuckles at the efforts I put into things- and he and I are agreed that I am a fuss-budget in scenarios where he would be spontaneous, then be done.
It's just one example of how you can not compare landscaping jobs, or the cost of them.
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You know I am in awe of your design sense and artistic ability. Your enormous ability as a painter and artist in many mediums have always been admired traits. I know that when you are involved with your landscaping it ended up with all of the design principles in place and it didn't look like a "landscaping job". It looked beautiful, with colors and lines balanced and it looked rich and inviting and real and made your home more welcoming and beautiful.
There are very few landscapers here with really GOOD design ability in my very uneducated opinion. Most of us are not skilled in recognizing excellent landscaping design or the lack of it. I would say that most people move to Florida and want to have a palm tree or seven, hope to keep the Zoysia our of the planting beds and want a flower or two and that is what a lot of the landscaping jobs end up looking like.
Being a thrifty old busy body, (or is that busybiddy?) I have heard and noted an enormous difference in the costs of landscaping freely shared with me by friends, neighbors and complete strangers. I am all for people making a decent living and have no problem with profit and the American Way and I recognize the intense degree of hard, dirty work in this heat to take out trees and bushes and plants and put in new ones. I also know you USUALLY get what you pay for. But some times we villagers pay far more than we should for landscaping work because we really don't know how much a good landscaping job does cost. AND what makes a good landscaping job. We should know how long the plants are guaranteed to live, how big they will grow, and whether they will require a lot of maintenance or not, whether they are zone hardy, but for me it should be beautiful. When I lay out more than ten thousand dollars for something, it needs to be all of those things. And like most people I like a little diplomacy, good manners, patience, and good old fashioned niceness too from a contractor.
And...I don't have a dog in this fight. I like my landscaping the way it came. I am NOT shopping.I am an instigator and a rabble rouser and a PITA too.
I am from the south end of Columbus, Ohio. If you pay ten thousand dollars for anything, it should come with lights and a horn.