3 Important Questions to Ask a Landscape Designer

Whether you just moved in or have lived in your home for years, whether you’re staying forever or moving in a few months, your yard might need some work.

Making some upgrades and improvements is a good investment, a way to appeal to buyers, or just a guarantee you’ll enjoy your home more in the coming years.

The catch is, you need somebody who can help you create the yard you’re envisioning while staying within your budget. They need to have the right expertise and mesh well with your own style.

If you’re thinking about a whole new backyard, here are three questions to ask your potential landscape designer before the work begins.

The Right Questions to Ask a Landscape Designer for Your Project

Find the right designer for your project. Narrow down the field with these key questions.

1. Ask for Past Work Examples or Their Portfolio

Before you can decide if they’re the right landscape designer for you, you need to ask to see samples of their past work. For instance, they may direct you to a website, hand you a portfolio, or give you a business card with their online portfolio address.

If they don’t have samples, steer clear. You won’t know if you’ll like the work they’ll do for you unless you see (and like) successful examples of what they’ve done in the past for other clients.

2. Ask about Their Services

Not all landscape designers provide the same services. For your wants and needs, you should make sure you’re getting the right person who can do the entire job.

For example, some designers provide “design-only” services, which means that they’ll draw up the plans, but you’re in charge of hiring out the work. Others will do the design and build, which means they’ll draw up plans and execute them.

3. Ask a Landscape Designer for a Consultation

If you’re still unsure about who to hire, ask your best prospects for a garden consultation. The landscape designer will walk around the yard with you at this time, listen to your ideas and needs, then offer their own ideas and vision. They’ll also explain what they can do in more detail.

Ask Your Landscape Designer Good Questions for a Good Outcome

To get the best person for your landscaping job, you need to ask the best questions. These will help you come to a decision about who to hire, but they’ll also ensure you and your landscape designer work well together with the same goal in mind.

It can be daunting to dive into redesigning your yard, but it can be well worth it no matter what stage of home ownership you’re living in.