As we navigate the usual spring uptick in prospective inquiries, it seemed like a good time to revisit our ‘Landscape Architect’s Process’ series and go back to the beginning: how we engage with homeowners who call or write to us for help designing their landscape.

Since we accept so few new projects each year, we want to be sure every one of them will be a great fit. (This leads to better results, and more fun for everyone along the way!) So we invest a lot of time getting to know our prospective clients, just as they are interviewing us.

Although folks sometimes ask us to “come out and give an estimate,” we almost never begin with a site visit. Instead, our first step is typically a phone call to learn more about your project and help you get a better feel for us. And in order to make the most of that conversation, we ask you to do a bit of homework first:

1. Make sure that a Landscape Architect is indeed the best professional for your project (instead of, say, an unlicensed landscape designer or a landscape contractor). We’ve written previously about what distinguishes a Landscape Architect from a landscape designer, as well as the differences between a design-only and design-build firms, so you might start there.

2. Define your budget: just as you have a price in mind when you’re investing in a house or buying a car, you’ll want to have at least a starting point for your landscaping project. Our earlier post on determining an appropriate landscaping budget might provide some food for thought.

3. Outline your priorities for your new landscape: do you want plants that can thrive despite California's dry summers (and ongoing drought)? will you be grilling for a crowd? is time of the essence? In short, what matters most to you?

4. Feel certain that Verdance is in fact the best fit for your project. Our website outlines who typically achieves the best results working with us, as well as the values that guide our work. Hopefully these will both resonate with you! If you’re feeling hesitant, that’s an important sign.

5. Finally, fill out (and submit) a project inquiry form. This will be the basis for our introductory phone call, so include as much detail as you can. While you’re at it, think about whether you have any clarifying questions for us — such as anything not covered in our FAQs, or conflicting information or advice you might have gotten from other sources.

Once we receive your project inquiry form we will begin doing our homework, learning more about your property in anticipation of our call. We’ll do a little sleuthing to see satellite images of your site and its surroundings. We’ll scour your inquiry form to understand your needs, while considering whether your budget and wishes are aligned. And we’ll probably come up with some clarifying questions of our own.

In our phone conversation, we will ask you about the current state of your landscape; your hopes and dreams for its future; and practical matters such as your timeline and budget. We will of course happily answer any questions you have about us, or our process. And although we hope to use the time as efficiently as possible, we’re also happy to educate you on the industry, local landscaping trends, and other sources that could be helpful for you.

If our call indicates we’ll be a good fit to work together, we will help you schedule a paid design consultation at your home. We’ll have more to say about the consultation in a future post. But for now, if you’re ready to realize the full potential of your landscape, we hope to have the pleasure of talking with you soon!