Not sure why you have an issue with the "need" change question...if the answer would be no it would be to your benefit wouldn't it? Don't understand that one

After several estimates from different landscape companies, which varied several thousand dollars for the same requested work, I had a personal recommendation from a neighbor. It was for MAINTENACE BY EVERGREEN. We met with Luis discussed our plan. We did the front yard first. It was a great. Four months later we did the backyard water feature etc., we couldn't be happier. His number is 352 821 9967 office his cell is 352 504 5960. Message me if you'd like to see it. Good luck Ernie

This is a unique location for landscaping. Stuck between Subtropical and temperate. The only registered landscape architects I know of near here are in Gainesville (temperate) or Orlando (subtropical). Either way you aren't getting a designer with good familiarity to this particular region.

Sadly, most of the 'designers' in TV area have only a decent sales talk and a knack for placing plants. Most are repeating a couple designs they copied from the few talented landscapers who have/had the needed mixture of artistic, horticulture and construction experience and talent to actually produce a design for you that will not just look good on day one, but look even better in a few years without monthly pruning.

Soil acidity is 2nd most important only to water for the health of a plant, so if your designer or architect isn't talking to you about how this affects your design and TESTING YOUR SOIL to know themselves what your pH situation is, I would keep looking.

How would that "benefit" the customer?

It is pathetically rude to ask a customer if he "needs" change when he pays his bill.
You don't ask.
You simply bring the customer his change.
Period!

Unless you know exactly what you want, asking a landscaper for a design without a budget makes no sense. Tell them how much you'd like to spend and what your expectations are. It's a quote, nothing more. After you've got designs and estimates from a couple of landscapers, you can figure out what you want and negotiate an acceptable contract.