[mrusk]

The thread about decks got me thinking. What exactly is high end work?

[Nebraska]

I think most will connotate "high end" with a large overall dollar cost to the consumer for the job.

For me personally "high end" or "low end" really mean nothing. All that I am concerned about is how much is "left in the end".

If there's nothing "left in the end" then in my opinion you're "low end".

[mrusk]

Originally posted by Nebraska
I think most will connotate "high end" with a large overall dollar cost to the consumer for the job.

For me personally "high end" or "low end" really mean nothing. All that I am concerned about is how much is "left in the end".

I do not think the dollar amount of the job can determine if the job is high end or not.

Whats left in the end is very important. But i must have something wrong with me. I am more concerned trying to buid crazy designs to make a name for myself.

[Fine Edge]

I think high end tends to reflect more on: 1- how much $$ they are willing to spend &: 2- how much quality are they expecting from this amount of work and how much are they willing to pay for this quality.

There are different levels of quality for any aspect of our industry.
Think of how many different ways you can install a flagstone path for someone.
* Hardly any excavation, sit the stone on limited sand base.
* Excavate a little deeper, level the stones a bit more.
* Pour a concrete base, mortar stones down.
* Etc........
You get my drift.

We do jobs that hit all spectrums of the money wheel and there is a distinct difference between high & low end.
For us, it is definitely based on the above criteria because I know that most of our "high-end"clients will pay for the project done a certain way while others may not be able to afford a higher quality job.
Not to say that we hack our smaller jobs, it's just that they have been versed on the quality scale and have chosen whatever fits their budget.

[AZTLANLC]

For me is just a word that many people uses to impress others, trying to convince customers or themselves they are above someone else cause is easy to look down.
I'm pretty sure there is a high end in our business, it's just that all the people I know claiming it are far to be one, and most likely those that really are they don't even mention it, they let people judge.

As my brother use to say referring to musicians.
"Por cada chingon ay otro chingon y medio"
For each damgood players there is someone else one and a half times better.

[TrickyDick]

High end to me starts at the point where quality and craftsmenship are valued more by the customer than price. If price is the determining factor in what gets done it ain't high end. You can call it what you want but there is definately a point where creativity, craftsmenship, scope of work and margins start to expand because the customer isn't counting thier pennies every five minutes.

[PSUscaper]

"I think most will connotate "high end" with a large overall dollar cost to the consumer for the job."

That is along the lines of what I feel most people think these days. Size and dollar amount does not make a job anymore spectacular than a small, lower priced one. If all we strive to do is do 'high end' work, why not just move into the skyscraper building business......it will definitely be 'high'........and the headaches will never 'end'.

'High end to me starts at the point where quality and craftsmenship are valued more by the customer than price'

I think more along these lines, and think this is a pretty good start on what high end is.

I see a lot of big jobs that people claim are high end with clients who do nothing but skimp on every aspect of the project.

[cutntrim]

I think the average customer equates "high end" with high cost. I think the average landscaper (me included) thinks of high end in reference to the materials/projects installed rather than the total job cost.

[GLAN]

I don't associate $ to "High End"

I look at details.....intricacies of the layout and job...the finishing touches..yes all that will come with a price.....but that would be expected.......so not the first thing I think of

[mrusk]

I looked at a job the other week at a 18,000 sq ft house. Yes 18,000 square feet. The house was very high end.


Yet they wanted a SRW retaining wall. The wall along would be 6 figures. Yet its basically just a retaining wall, nothing high end about it.


I just signed a 6 figure job. Is it high end? Parts of it are. We could of came up with a plan that would cost 50% less and still give the people a walkway, nice backyard, pool etc.

Some people just want a retaining wall to level their back yard to get the pool in. Then others want the retaining wall to be a focal point and part of the landscape.


The total job is alot of $. Yet we are not doing anything over the top. We are just doing ALOT of stuff. But it should have the nicest landscaping in the neighborhood, and it should be nothing like any other landscape on the street.

What kills me is seeing the same exact landscapes installed on every street. In one town i work in everyone has almost the same exact damn pool. But now that i am doing design work i am mixing things up alittle.

[mrusk]

On the richie rich houses they do decks. But they run a ton of steel. Pour 4 inchs of concrete and mortar on whatever their heart desires! Now thats high end.

[F.E.2]

I agree with TrickyDick. He hit the nail on the head. High End Is quality and fine craftsmanship on an entire project . Down to the very last details. This usually only happens when the customer only values the overall quality over the dollar cost. If a lexus or mercedes has a poka dotted paint job, I no longer consider it high End.

[agla]

The term "high end" is like the word "fat". It is all relative. So it might depend who you hang out with. It is a very common term that means different things to different people.

Here are a few more:

Sustainable
McMansion
Lowballer (I think Gold Member was one of them, wait, I'm a Gold Member at GTX now as my wife likes to remind me)

[Pelican]

Tricky Dick nailed it. High end is not a number, it's the quality that's built in to the job. Finding a customer that's willing to pay for that quality is always satisfying.

[Fine Edge]

Is it OK to have a Lexus with flames?