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Originally Posted by saslandscape
Thank you AGLA! That is quite the book- I'll be sure the buy it. It definitely clarifies some of the frustrations I have. I'm thinking of doing a certain percent based on the amount and complexity of the project- anywhere from 6%-10%, like what tfld was saying. I like your idea, tfld, of charging less for the design in order to project manage it.
On my rant about design only- some people just don't understand how important a landscape design is and how much thought goes into each design. It just gets insulting when I have some people (especially doctors out here) think Landscape Designers should be paid like $10/hr or draw free designs when we're professionals too. This might be why I always dread presenting clients with an invoice for the design.
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Not at all pointing any fingers, because I've certainly been in this position, but I think the reason educated clients have a hard time paying fair design fees is because by and large it takes very little if any education to become a landscape designer. Dont stop reading though!!
I understand (because I was/am from the same situation) that to be a good landscape designer you probably have experienced many, if not all aspects of landscape construction, maintenance, and horticulture and have a keen understanding of spatial organization, scale, and site analysis. Now, I think the key is, so long as you have these attributes, to highlight or advertise these skills in some way so as to qualify yourself. Small(ish) scale residential design is a unique organism. Traditional methods of design apply, but the clients most of us are talking about only allow for an abbreviated "SD." Projects requiring much more usually require much more technically as well (far beyond my stand-alone capabilities at the moment). In a lawsuit-crazy society perhaps it's better to keep things simple. I just can't see the homeowner dropping 10% for your supervision when they can barely dig deep enough for that $300. More than that, we're having the wrong conversation..