FAQs
- What should the customer know about your pricing (e.g., discounts, fees)?
I always try to be fair by not looking to get rich off one job but rather give a little and take a little. I take everything into consideration and I base it all off a $45 man hour of labor (meaning-considering what the task at hand will take to finish with a level of quality that is above most) with that being said i will consider what the time it would take to complete each facet of the project, whether equipment is used and if the equipment is rented or owned, costs associated with the maintenance and materials need to run it, the level of knowledge and safety factor in as well (like most people say--if it were easy everyone would do it). For instance, if two people are need during a job doing the same thing by helping each other out then I consider the production level not to warrant the pay of $90 for two people in the same hour. I will either give an explanation and discount overall on the invoice submitted for payment (most likely the invoice would based primarily on hourly accumulation) otherwise I bid by the job and it is what it is then, (If we work smarter, harder and finish quicker--then the bid never gets adjusted due to it being a contract that both parties had agreed on before work even started. I hope this kinda helps, it's like anything else when you have done the same thing enough, looking at the job, asking a few questions and crunching a few numbers is all it takes.
- What is your typical process for working with a new customer?
After first initial contact and introductions are complete, I begin asking them what they like most and least of the areas that gave me the reason for contacting them in the first place, provided we're talking landscaping. As we talk i am making notes on colors preferred, level of maintenance they are willing to sacrifice on a daily basis. Plants are are like children they need love and nurturing as well as a balanced diet in order to grow and thrive. As we talk I discover their ideas for utilizing the outdoor space in such things like privacy, colors scents and textures, which all translate into landscape design and implementation.
- What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I have two degrees from college (one is for science and the other is for the arts), the science one is for Ornamental Horticulture and Turf Management - the arts is for Business Administration. I also obtained 26 certificates throughout for various achievements in tutoring others in landscape design and developing schematics or blueprints of the project at hand including the hardscaping drawn to scale and then beds shapes and placement throughout the design. I would also select from the 3,000 plants that i became intimate with during my education. I always developed a legend reflecting the plant's Latin and Common names, height and spreads along with rate of growth and habit (shape), soil requirements if necessary, colors and bloom times. I also worked with the Corps of Engineers and was able to achieve 3 apprenticeships (2,000 hr / 4,000 hr and a 6,000 hr) during this time I became proficient on several pieces of heavy equipment while in commission of maintaining and expanding 5 public parks. I worked with the Rangers planting and maintaining natural habitats for wildlife. Then there is the school of hard knocks while growing up I became mechanically inclined, able to think outside of the box, which expanded my creativity and problem solving techniques (common sense). All of which are very helpful when working with others either as clients or coworkers. i still learn each and every day something new, forever building character.