Hello everyone,
We have a “luxury problem” in that we can’t decide who to hire for our garden. We have received three quotes. All of them initially assured us that they could start the work promptly. First, there is a more pragmatic landscaping contractor who is by far the cheapest but probably does not place much value on the concept or design. The execution will likely be more practical and less meticulous compared to the other companies. Then there are two local, very experienced firms that work very professionally. They took a lot of time and even prepared plans, but they are significantly more expensive than the first contractor. The style and scope of their quotes also differ considerably from the first one, which makes comparison difficult.
Since we really want a functioning concept for our sloped property and value good design, we tend to prefer one of the established and experienced companies. Unfortunately, these are also the most expensive.
Long story short: Is there a noticeable added value in entrusting the work to such an experienced company? Will they definitely do a more thorough and better job? Or does it ultimately not make much difference?
Best regards
We have a “luxury problem” in that we can’t decide who to hire for our garden. We have received three quotes. All of them initially assured us that they could start the work promptly. First, there is a more pragmatic landscaping contractor who is by far the cheapest but probably does not place much value on the concept or design. The execution will likely be more practical and less meticulous compared to the other companies. Then there are two local, very experienced firms that work very professionally. They took a lot of time and even prepared plans, but they are significantly more expensive than the first contractor. The style and scope of their quotes also differ considerably from the first one, which makes comparison difficult.
Since we really want a functioning concept for our sloped property and value good design, we tend to prefer one of the established and experienced companies. Unfortunately, these are also the most expensive.
Long story short: Is there a noticeable added value in entrusting the work to such an experienced company? Will they definitely do a more thorough and better job? Or does it ultimately not make much difference?
Best regards
M
motorradsilke30 Apr 2022 06:58Nida35a schrieb:
Think about what would improve your life more positively:
a higher bank balance?
a garden you can enjoy for a long time with less maintenance?
a garden that was inexpensive and you see it every day? Some people really enjoy gardening work 😉. For example, I wouldn’t have a professional landscaper plant everything—I would prefer to do that myself. Of course, I would have someone install retaining blocks and basic slope stabilization, but I would handle the rest step by step on my own.
For me, it’s clearly the affordable option. For you, the more expensive one with a concept.
But that’s because I only need someone to handle the rough work and implement my ideas. I put thought into every single plant and stone. You want a functional outdoor area. You need someone who plans out the plants and stones and carries out the whole project.
The more expensive option tries to create a concept upfront that suits your needs.
If the budget gets too tight, split the whole project into 2 or 3 packages and have them completed step by step.
For us, the latter is common practice.
Ask for winter-hardy and drought-tolerant plants.
But that’s because I only need someone to handle the rough work and implement my ideas. I put thought into every single plant and stone. You want a functional outdoor area. You need someone who plans out the plants and stones and carries out the whole project.
The more expensive option tries to create a concept upfront that suits your needs.
If the budget gets too tight, split the whole project into 2 or 3 packages and have them completed step by step.
For us, the latter is common practice.
Ask for winter-hardy and drought-tolerant plants.
A
allstar8330 Apr 2022 08:19A landscaper available on short notice? That reliability would certainly be an important criterion.
Small company ... keeps working on it intermittently for 3 months.
Large company 1 week, 5 people, and done.
That’s the experience here.
I think a garden looks immediately nice at the beginning when the plants and trees are already large. And the costs are probably about the same between the expensive and the cheap provider.
Small company ... keeps working on it intermittently for 3 months.
Large company 1 week, 5 people, and done.
That’s the experience here.
I think a garden looks immediately nice at the beginning when the plants and trees are already large. And the costs are probably about the same between the expensive and the cheap provider.
M
Mitleser1232 May 2022 07:56If you have some knowledge yourself and can check the work regularly, you can definitely go for the cheaper option.
We recently had a similar situation. The cheaper contractor had worked on all the neighboring houses, and only his labor was paid for. The clients took care of the materials, organization, and so on. The work was actually done quickly and well, and was very affordable.
In contrast, I’m working with a larger landscaping company. I haven’t had to handle anything so far, and the work is starting this week – I will be paying almost twice as much. Whether this will ultimately be worth it or if the cheaper landscaping contractor would have done the job just as well remains to be seen.
We recently had a similar situation. The cheaper contractor had worked on all the neighboring houses, and only his labor was paid for. The clients took care of the materials, organization, and so on. The work was actually done quickly and well, and was very affordable.
In contrast, I’m working with a larger landscaping company. I haven’t had to handle anything so far, and the work is starting this week – I will be paying almost twice as much. Whether this will ultimately be worth it or if the cheaper landscaping contractor would have done the job just as well remains to be seen.
Apparently, I live in a truly low-income area. So far, no one here has had their garden fully completed by a landscaping contractor. Everyone only does driveways, patios, splash protection, or (slope) stabilization. The vegetation is all done by themselves, except for some rolled turf.
For me, it’s not that I absolutely want to do the plants myself, but the slope stabilization including angle stones financially force me to do it. 😉
We have a small one. So far they've been tinkering around for 1 month here.
However, from my anecdotal experience watching the neighborhood, I can’t say that productivity scales with the number of workers. The larger landscaping companies with 5 workers on site have mostly stood out for their breaks.
1 full-time worker operates the mini excavator and waits for the next step.
1 full-time worker operates the wheel loader and waits for the next step.
1 full-time worker gives instructions and waits for the next step.
1 full-time worker is currently on a coffee break.
1 full-time worker can’t find their shovel right now.
motorradsilke schrieb:
For example, I wouldn’t have a landscaper do the plants; I want to do that myself. Of course, I would have them do retaining walls and basic slope stabilization, but handle the rest step by step on my own.
For me, it’s not that I absolutely want to do the plants myself, but the slope stabilization including angle stones financially force me to do it. 😉
allstar83 schrieb:
Small contractor ... tinkers around for 3 months repeatedly.
Large contractor: 1 week, 5 people, and done.
That’s the experience here.
We have a small one. So far they've been tinkering around for 1 month here.
However, from my anecdotal experience watching the neighborhood, I can’t say that productivity scales with the number of workers. The larger landscaping companies with 5 workers on site have mostly stood out for their breaks.
1 full-time worker operates the mini excavator and waits for the next step.
1 full-time worker operates the wheel loader and waits for the next step.
1 full-time worker gives instructions and waits for the next step.
1 full-time worker is currently on a coffee break.
1 full-time worker can’t find their shovel right now.
Thanks for all your input.
We have now decided on the larger, slightly more expensive option. They will start work on our driveway in two weeks so we can move in at the end of June with dry feet. They also arranged the on-site appointment directly with our architect on their own. So, that part went smoothly as planned. We also managed to speak with some clients who had their gardens done by them. They mentioned that the main advantage is the time saved. If something needs to be done quickly, they have 5-7 workers on site.
We don’t mind doing some garden work ourselves; in fact, we already have some projects planned for privacy screening and additional planting. But we want most of it to be ready for us. We don’t want to wait 1-2 years before the kids can fully use the garden.
We are moving in at the end of June. The landscaping work will start on July 1st. So the timing works out well…
We have now decided on the larger, slightly more expensive option. They will start work on our driveway in two weeks so we can move in at the end of June with dry feet. They also arranged the on-site appointment directly with our architect on their own. So, that part went smoothly as planned. We also managed to speak with some clients who had their gardens done by them. They mentioned that the main advantage is the time saved. If something needs to be done quickly, they have 5-7 workers on site.
We don’t mind doing some garden work ourselves; in fact, we already have some projects planned for privacy screening and additional planting. But we want most of it to be ready for us. We don’t want to wait 1-2 years before the kids can fully use the garden.
We are moving in at the end of June. The landscaping work will start on July 1st. So the timing works out well…
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