Can I see some representative examples of drawings you give your clients?

Look at the whole package, from initial concept drawings to final plans.

Do the initial drawings have perspective sketches? Are they in color?

How well are the plans labeled?

Can they provide any computer modeling, animated walk-throughs or otherwise use current technologies to show you what they're proposing?

We normally don't do walk-throughs unless asked - but we often use computer modeling as a base for our perspective drawings.

Who is doing the design?

How much involvement will the principal have with your design? If a designer is mainly involved with books, television and magazines, they might be too busy pursuing these activities to actually work with you on your project. Do you want to pay that much money to have a student intern or draftsperson work out your design?

What is your typical scope of service?

How many meetings are included? What drawings and plans will be done? How about design revisions?

Do their fees include site measurement or surveys - if they don't, you may need to pay a surveyor (if a job is too hilly, large or complex to measure, we'll let you know during the consult - otherwise measurement is included).

Can I see some construction drawings?

Are the drawings clearly organized? Do they show dimensions? If a structure or special feature is called for, is there a scaled detail (or manufacturer's reference) for it? What does it include?

Does it show layout, planting, construction details, notes, lighting, drainage, irrigation? If something isn't there, why not? (we don't normally include irrigation because the contractors we work with can do it without plans - so you don't pay for them).

What details do they provide with their basic plans? Are the details custom drawn for your project or "boilerplate" that apply to just about everything?

Can I see a typical contract? How much do you normally charge for a project like mine?

How much would they charge for a project similar to yours? How much money would you have to pay up front? When are payments due? Can you tell how much their services will cost and what is included in their base fee? How many revisions can you make before they charge extra service fees?

May I see your portfolio?

Do the landscapes they've built match your style? Do they match your budget? The designer should have an idea how much their built projects cost.

How would you approach this project? What are the opportunities & constraints?

Talk to the designer, ask about things you'd like to include in your new landscape, issues such as sustainable design, or a style you'd like to create.

Do you have a good personality match with the designer? Do their ideas make sense and fit your budget? Do they listen to what you're saying? This is where you can use consults to good effect - it's a lot better to pay several hundred dollars for on-site consults than to be stuck with a designer you have trouble working with.

What is your background?

What level of education do they have? Are they designers or landscape architects? What range of projects have they worked on?

This should be a direct dialog between you and the designer - not being told to look at magazines where the designer was published.

Who will I be working with at your company?

Were you able to talk to the designer? Did they call you back or return your e-mail within a reasonable amount of time? Remember that they may be out of town or out of the office during certain days, so 48 hours is probably a reasonable amount of time for a callback. We to send e-mails on days where we don't get back into the office until late.

Ask for references? Maybe not.

If you ask for references, you'll get a list of people they know will give glowing reviews. You can always ask, but any dissatisfied people wont' be on the list.

We prefer giving non-client references like architects and contractors who know our work and who have worked with us over numerous projects. (We do have client references if you want them.)