[trees]

We charge $100 for the initial visit for consultation / small scale design (on-site sketches), and have a rubric of sorts that defines charges for more formal design work. All charges are refundable.

Being that we are a garden center as well as landscape firm, we get a TREMENDOUS amount of calls (30-40 per week currently), and have a fair number of DIY clients that pay the $100 up front, but get credit at the garden center for that amount. Good for business, great for the client.

I have a very firm belief that EVERYONE should be charging for their time. Whether you give it back or not is your call, but by having that up front charge, you CYA and at least bring in a little something for your time.

Of the 30 calls I take each week, about 10 or 15 have reservations regarding the charge. I simply explain that it is our way of encouraging their business, and it wouldn't make much sense for us to do this for free and have them run to the nearest big box to pick up the plant material. Most people get it. Those that don't, I'm more than happy not to work with.

[scl]

With my market, and my small town setting, I still don't charge for first consultations and estimates. Seems crazy, but most of my contacts are referral or aquaintances, and I usually have a good visit anyways. This is the first year though that I have made it a point to distinguish between est.s and designs, and quickly point out that design fees are $75 an hour, 2 hr min, when it starts going that way. This has been received quite well actually. I don't get many look-e-loos, and have gotten pretty fair at weeding them out. One thing that has weeded them out real well is telling them that we're working 2 mos out, that will usually bring out the seriousness of their inquiry. I also make it a point to point out that if they can find someone not busy,esp. this time of year, there's probably a reason why! If you've got the horn, sometimes you have to toot it!
Scott

[GLAN]

Ya know.....There was a time when you were asked to do a design and could do it on a napkin......tell the property owner it will cost about $x.........and you got the job........or........You got the job installing a new landscape just cause they wanted one and you were their gardener to begin with.

It was a much simpler time back then......mostly one income families.....and you would smell all kinds of baking and cooking going on at the various houses you were working that day.

What it's turned into today..........I don't like.

Today it's all about "Me" and having it done yesterday and who can beat up who more regarding pricing...........forget about who knows more, who does better work, whos' work and reputation stands the test of time......It all comes down to $

And believe it or not....some of the public disregard value for the bargain.

It wasn't like this once upon a time.

The more time passes I feel people are to quick to over look quality in the wrong places

[concept]

Prequalify lead from office to determine if its basic maintenance or enhancement D/B work. half the time the customer does not know what the want they just want they're property to look nice. When we meet with the customer for professional site evaluation then we will qualify further with a design fee agreement and they will prepay us for any design work at acost of $100 to$700 average being$150 for basic concept drawings (not to scale). Basic site evaluations are not free we choose not to charge for them so that we can then build up value for the design process. All design meetings require a second appointment always between the hours of 8 am and 5 pm mon - fri NO saturdays except for the occasional close meeting. The acct mngrs doing the initial site evaluation are the key to educating the customer about the benefits of a good design