What comes first: Design or budget?
For smaller projects, as with large, the process of drawing and designing a landscape is the act of solving. Combined with understanding the client’s needs and site conditions, designing offers solutions to problems that have occurred but, more importantly, will never occur because the landscape professional has invested their time, experience, and education to identify and avoid future issues. Further, knowledge and understanding of local zoning and permit requirements, grading and parking limitations, as well as privacy concerns ensure meeting the client’s needs for the function and appearance of the finished design.
The true test of a designer is to take the scope of work—from conceptualization to the finished product—and define a budget to the client that identifies all the costs before moving ahead. It is important professionals plan design options and phasing considerations to reduce waste before construction begins.
To establish a preliminary construction budget before designing, some homeowners use a formula where approximately 10 to 20 per cent of their home’s assessed value should be considered a reasonable landscaping budget. This estimation might help; however, formulas do not consider the cost of proper grading required to prevent flooding or savings calculated due to a properly placed tree. Keeping optional materials and increasing costs in mind, many more homeowners are investing more than simple formal values and consider property value added, affordability, and the expected value received over time occupying the home. Added value appears in the equation where owners incorporate one or more luxurious items such as outdoor kitchens, pools, and hot tubs. These additional elements help with meeting esthetics and basic recreational prerequisites; however, sometimes there are greater needs when investing in aging homes, such as the client’s house mentioned earlier.
