What Would You Like To Know?

FAQ

Do you give free estimates?
We are not contractors, and do not estimate contractor pricing for having work done at your home/business. As the client, you need to know what you can spend. If you want to work on the ‘frosting’ layer of your landscape (i.e. flowers, plants, containers, small décor touché) you need to have between 1 to 5 thousand dollars at your disposal. If you want to change the hardscape (i.e. concrete, patio covers, bbq’s, etc…) you need to have a working budget of at least ten thousand dollars. If you are interested in installing a built in Jacuzzi or pool, you need to budget at a minimum twenty-five thousand dollars.

Angeffects can speak to the costs of the design process alone.

What do you charge?
Angeffects, Inc. will work from an hourly rate or a fixed cost pricing structure depending upon what the client wants.

• A complete set of design plans for a backyard or frontyard make-over can cost $1,500.00.
  
• A complete softscape design plan can start at a cost of $ 450.00.
  
• A flat fee price can be set once the ‘scope of work’ is defined following an initial design consultation.

Services outside of Design Plans billed on an hourly basis. *hourly rates range $35.00 dollars and $85.00 dollars an hour depending upon the design service.purchased.

How much will it cost to landscape my yard?
Angeffects specializes in creating customized landscape designs. Although there is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, since each yard is unique, our goal is always to create a design that fits your budget.

How long will my project take?
Depending on the complexity of your project and your availability for meetings, the design phase of your project can take approximately 3 to 16 weeks..

Why do I need a design?

1. Because a contractor cannot build with out a plan, and they are not mind readers.
2. To keep you from wasting a lot of money on work you do not like or didn’t ask for.
3. To make sure you get what you want when you hire a builder.

Your landscape design is your plan for transforming your current yard into the yard of your dreams. It’s the road map that provides a solid visual tool to communicate effectively with the building community. In contrast, a haphazard approach often results in homeowners wasting money on a poorly conceived design, or beginning construction with no plan at all. This can lead to higher installation costs due to change orders, modifications, and rework.

Having a professionally prepared design eliminates guesswork and shortcuts that can negatively impact how your yard turns out, and takes into account all of the environmental factors (such as soil conditions, drainage, sun exposure, and much more) that need to be considered. Then, by insisting that each of the contractors and craftsmen involved with your project follow this plan exactly, you ensure that the end result will be as envisioned.

Will hiring a landscape designer save me money in the long run?
Yes! Having a well thought out plan ensures that mistakes are not made and that you get exactly what you want out of your investment. A professional landscape designer is experienced in the artistic side of designing, knows which plants and trees will thrive in your garden (based on your soil conditions, sun exposure, climate, and other factors), and is familiar with a wide range of hardscape materials. Your designer will be able to advise you what will work for your yard and what will not, and will create a plan where all elements work together harmoniously. It’s always less expensive to do it right the first time than to create something that doesn’t work (“I forgot about drainage,” “the plants died in the first frost,” “the sprinkler system was inadequate”) and have to re-do it!

What style of landscape design do you specialize in?
Because Angeffects’ focus is on YOU – your lifestyle, vision, preferences, and needs – we do not specialize in any particular style of landscape design. No matter what style you’re envisioning for your garden, including tropical, cottage garden, desert, formal, Asian, contemporary, or anything in between, we can transform your vision into reality.

Are you a licensed contractor?
No, but we would be happy to recommend licensed contractors for the implementation phase of your landscape project.

What will I sacrifice by letting my contractor do the design?
Your backyard could very well look like every other project they have built. They are mechanically minded, not creatively minded professionals. Contractors tend to suggest elements that will give them the highest profit margin, or be the easiest to build.

The most important thing you will miss out on by giving the task of the landscape design to your contractor, is having a custom, personalized result. You owe it to yourself to understand what your want in your landscape and why. Your choice of contractor should be based on what their building expertise is. It is only possible to choose the correct professional to build your project, when you know what type of professional you need, and you will not know who you need until you define what will be built.

Do you handle the whole job (including implementation) or just the design?
Angeffects can handle as much or as little of the project as you want. We can create the design, assemble a team of licensed contractors and highly skilled craftsmen, order all of the materials, and oversee your landscaping job all the way through to completion. We can create a landscape design and hand it off to you for a do-it-yourself project, or for you to hire and oversee your own contractor. Or we can come in at the project management phase, and oversee the implementation of your previously-created landscape design. It’s up to you!

What is “softscape”?
The term “softscape” refers to the plant elements of a landscape.

What is “hardscape”?
The term “hardscape” refers to the non-plant elements of a landscape, such as patios, decks, walkways, porches, gazebos, masonry, wood, lighting, walls, fencing, gates, fire places, water features, and more.

Do you design softscape or hardscape?
Angeffects provides complete landscape design services, including both softscape and hardscape. We believe that your yard is (or can be!) the theatre for your life. Our job as your landscape designer is to extend the warmth of your home to your property line, to create a fabulous outdoor living space that will enhance your relationships and create happiness for you and your family.