What to Expect From a Landscape Design-Build Project, Start to Finish
If you've never redone a yard before, the process can feel like a black box. How long does it take? When do you pay? Who do you call when you have a question? Here's how a project works with us, step by step.
1. Get in touch
It starts when you reach out by email, through the form on our website, or by phone. Email is the easiest way to reach me, and it keeps everything in one place. We talk about what you want to change, how you use your yard, a rough budget range, and your timeline. If it sounds like a good fit, we set up a time to meet.
2. Site visit
I come out to your property and walk the space with you. We chat about your goals, your wish list, your budget, and anything else that matters to your landscape vision. We also look at slopes, drainage, sun and shade, access for equipment, and what's worth keeping. This is where a lot of the best ideas come up, because we're standing in the actual space.
3. Design
Next comes the design. Depending on the project, that can be a 2D plan or a full 3D design that lets you see the finished yard before anything is built. We work through layout, materials, lighting, general planting areas, and the details that make the space work for your family. Specific plant selections come later, once the contract is signed.
4. Design and pricing review
We meet to go over the design and pricing together, either at our demo yard or at your home. I'd rather walk you through it in person than send a PDF, so you can ask questions and we can adjust on the spot. Most proposals include options, so you can choose what fits your budget.
5. Contract and scheduling
Once you're happy with the plan, the agreement is sent electronically for signature, and a deposit holds your spot on the schedule. I'll contact you directly to confirm your start date and answer any questions before we begin.
6. Construction
Our crew handles everything from demolition and grading to hardscape, irrigation, lighting, planting, and final cleanup, and anything else in between that your landscape may need. I stay involved throughout, checking on the work and making sure the finished project matches the design. Payments are made as weekly progress payments as the work is completed, so you're paying for work as you see it happen.
7. Final walkthrough
When the project is done, we walk it together. We go over irrigation and lighting controls, plant care, and anything you want touched up. Hardscape, irrigation, and other construction carry a 2-year warranty, plants and trees are covered for 90 days, and if something comes up, you call me.
Why design-build?
With design-build, the same team designs and builds your project. The person who drew the plan is the same person standing in your yard during construction, so nothing gets lost between a designer and a separate contractor. That means fewer surprises, clearer pricing, and one person accountable from start to finish.
Everything we design, we also build, so we know what it actually takes to install it. If the budget gets tight or something needs tweaking, we can offer different materials or design options right away. A designer working alone can draw a great-looking yard, but it often blows the budget out of the water or calls for materials that aren't the most practical or economical to install.
Ready to get started? Get in touch. We serve Castro Valley, Hayward, San Leandro, Dublin, Pleasanton, Livermore, San Ramon, Danville, Alamo, and surrounding East Bay and Tri-Valley communities.
— Louis Siegel, Owner & Designer, Transformation Construction & Design
