OUR PROCESS
Design & Installation Services
HOW DO I SCHEDULE A CONSULTATION WITH A DESIGNER?
If you would like to schedule a design consultation, please don't hesitate to contact us today. We will gather a few details about your property and answer any questions you may have regarding our services and workflows. If it feels like a match, we'll schedule an on-site consultation to walk through the property and discuss your project goals.
WHAT HAPPENS IN THE DESIGN PROCESS?
Introductory Call & On-site Meeting
We like to begin each project with an introductory phone call with a designer, followed by an on-site meeting. The introductory call is a great opportunity to address any general questions and explain our design and installation services, project workflows, and budget considerations.
The on-site meeting gives us a better sense of the property setting and of course, answer any additional questions you may have. If the project is determined a good fit we will then provide an engagement contract in the form of a design fee retainer request.
Launch Meeting
Upon receipt of the retainer (50% of design fee) we will begin the design based on your preferences, project goals, and establish a project timeline.
Design Review
The next step in the design process is the presentation of the design concept which includes a full-color 24 x 36” plan with an itemized breakdown of project costs. A 3-D movie walk through is an add-on option to get a real feel for your transformed property. Based on your feedback we then refine the design as needed, typically addressing stylistic choices, plant materials, and budget considerations.
Design Approval
Upon final approval of the project design, we then provide a formal installation proposal and contract, and determine the timing of the installation phase.
If you would like to learn more about our design process and see a few of our recent designs, please don't hesitate to contact us.
HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO CREATE A DESIGN FOR MY PROPERTY?
There are many factors that can impact the design timeline including property size, project scope, and plant preferences. That said, we find that our designs usually require 1-4 weeks from start to finish, with review cycles and scope changes being the largest variable.
WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO BEGIN MY LANDSCAPE PROJECT?
We design throughout the year and are available for consultations even in the snowy winters. There's no wrong time to begin the design process, though please keep in mind that things can get quite busy especially during the spring and early summer months. For that reason, we encourage you to start the design process as early as possible.
Our installation window typically begins in early April and concludes in December. As you know, Mother Nature is difficult to predict, but our philosophy is to be on-site whenever the ground is workable.
DO YOU PROVIDE DESIGN-ONLY OR INSTALL-ONLY SERVICES?
River Birch will separate our design and installation services as individual offerings. However we encourage design integrity by sticking with us for the install and years after. Always remember we commit our team to providing unparalleled attention throughout the entire project-from concept to completion.
WHAT SIZE PROJECTS DO YOU TAKE ON?
We've tackled a wide range of project sizes, from simple plantings to full property transformations installed in a phased approach over several years.
DO YOU REQUIRE A DEPOSIT FOR INSTALLATION PROJECTS?
Upon your approval of the design and budget, we will provide a fixed bid proposal and contract. At this time we request a 50% deposit for jobs under $30,000 and ⅓ deposit for projects over, in order confirm the installation schedule for your project. The terms are available in detail in are contract and is available upon request.