Consultations

There are times when someone could use our input regarding a situation. Our experience as Landscape Architects regarding design or our twenty-five years as a contractor can be invaluable.

Take for example:

In Residential Situations:

• You have a proposal from a contractor to perform a small task (walkway, small patio or retention wall or plantings etc.) and you think the solution and price presented is reasonable but you have no real way of determining if it is a good solution at a fair price, or even if it is needed.

• You have a proposal from a contractor to perform work that will ‘increase the value of your home’ or help you to market or sell it, but again you are not sure.

• You have a proposal from a pool contractor yet you do not know how to assess the design/contract. feasibility and what additional work might be required after the pool contractor has 'fulfilled' his contract. In short is the contract presented representing all the costs to be incurred?

• You know your yard needs ‘some help’ and could probably do the work yourself but you are not really sure what the best thing to do is. In other words you are great at doing the work yourself, but lack the design insight required.

For Professional Clients (Builders/Developers/Major project stakeholders)

• You are considering purchasing a property for to develop for a specific use and you want feedback as to the feasibility. Will this site work or will it be problematic or expensive to develop in a manner that fits your program and will it be allowed, what is the approval process going to require?

• You already own a site and are wondering what the highest and best use would be taking in mind the opportunities presented or it’s limitations. Again, will it be allowed?

• You have a project that seems to work but need ‘something to spruce it up’. Possibly an entry feature or plantings to tie things together.

• You have a proposal/solution from a design firm but you have no real way of determining if it is a good solution at a fair price, or even if it is needed.

The examples shown are not all inclusive. There are many other situations where a consultation with our firm could be a tremendous advantage. We can provide a unique perspective, help you look at things through ‘a different pair of glasses’ We see things not as engineers, contractors, developers, real estate brokers, investors etc. but as Landscape Architects and planners.

We are also not ‘emotionally involved with ’or attached to the property or project -we is that objective voice of reason that is often times overlooked.

The obvious question to ask is why pay for a consultation when I can get one for ‘free’ from other companies?

The answer is simple…. nothing is for free. If you are not paying for the consultation … they are not there as consultants. They are salesmen and are there to see if they can sell their service. Even if they are qualified, they obviously have their own agenda-which may not be the same as yours.

We have found over the years that our input can save clients thousands of dollars.

During consultations, we have come across and saved clients substantial amounts of money due to:

• Proposals for services, which aren’t necessary or  ignore a less expensive alternative.

• Designs/projects that with a little ‘tweaking’ can be better solutions usually at a lesser cost.

• Project being proposed that are not only expensive but would actually make a situation worse!

Remember…you get what you pay for; if  it is only a consultation if you are paying the expert for his expertise.

Our initial consultations cost approx $250.00 (2 hours at $125.00/hr). This is approximately the same cost as a 6-8’ tree installed or approx 10 sq ft of a brick patio!  Isn’t it worth a few extra dollars to make sure you are doing the right thing before you invest potentially thousands of dollars into a situation which may not improve your situation and in fact could possible make it worse?

We offer the unique service of having a Licensed Landscape Architect with over thirty years experience (twenty plus years doing construction) give review your situation. Even if after the consultation we find everything works-isn’t the peace of mind coming from that knowledge worth the investment?

Note;

If after an initial consultation you decide to retain our firm to perform additional services-the consultation fee will go towards the work. Every project we are involved in requires an initial client meeting to review the situation and develop a program to follow. This would have been covered in the consultation-so you are ahead of the game. There are no additional charges; again the consultation becomes part of the process.

J. Duggan Associates
151 Windy Hill Lane
Winchester, VA 22602
Phone: 540-974-2475
Email Us

"Joe and his team were wonderful. They guided us smoothly through the planning, drafting and execution phases on time and on budget. I can't recommend them enough." -- D. M.

"Fantastic service!"" -- A. S.