Assembling Your Team

Last month, we emphasized the importance of choosing an experienced interior designer to achieve the finished look you desire inside your home. Just as poor decorating can spoil the best architectural design, so unsightly landscaping can distract from your home's curb appeal and overall beauty. A landscape designer creates an overall plan for your property and helps you to anticipate certain lot issues that only they could ascertain, so incorporating them into your design/ build team early on can save you time and money in the long run.

When choosing your designer, you might ask: Does the professional have experience in sites similar to yours? Do they have credentials through a professional affiliation such as American Society of Landscape Architects or Association of Professional Landscape Designers? Does their portfolio of work reflect the style you desire? Are master plans and drawings detailed and do they reflect the finished project? If changes were made from the master design, was it for cost or aesthetic reasons? Are they capable of handling other aspects of the landscape as well? (brick walkways, patios, decks, retaining walls, pools, etc). Interviewing the landscape designer and builders who have worked with the professional can give you an idea of their knowledge and overall capability compared to other landscape professionals, as well as the quality and timeliness of their work. Likewise, homeowner clients of the professional can share their insight regarding the designer's service, warranties and overall performance. By asking all the right questions, you can enjoy a positive, smooth process with your landscape professional from the very beginning of your project. To request a FREE guide to home building with more tips on assembling your team, send an email to jessica@pippinhomedesigns.com.