Have you ever considered building your new home without making a plan first? If you answer no to this question, we agree! Nor should you start landscaping without a plan. Our advice: hire a landscape architect before building your home. Why?
1. Evaluation of your property’s characteristics
Your very large lot is located on the waterfront, and you decide to have your house built in a specific location, without really visualizing what your landscaping will look like. Now, imagine that once the house is built, you realize that the vegetation you were planning to use will not have access to enough sunlight. Worse yet, you see that your house, too close to the shoreline, will not allow you to create the landscaping of your choice. Also, municipal laws might not allow you to build the layout you want.
These are just examples of problems that can be avoided by working with an expert. Amateur landscapers may forget to take into account certain important characteristics of the chosen lot before building their house! The landscape architect is the expert who will help you create the optimal layout according to your needs.
In addition, they will be able to advise you based on the construction plans to optimize access to your landscaping. A few minor adjustments can make all the difference in the final result. The landscaper will inform you about the luminosity of your yard, the amount of sunshine depending on the orientation of the lot and, even, the suitability of the interior and exterior spaces. The purpose of this consultation is to ensure that your construction plans will allow you to obtain exactly the results you want for your landscaping.
2. Designing a landscaping plan
The design of landscaping plans is one of the services offered by landscape architects. The goal of this plan is to properly plan your outdoor spaces. This overview will allow you to better visualize how the space will be divided, the proposed layouts and the different phases of the project. To set this up, the architect will gather many information, such as the lot’s dimensions, your needs, your tastes and your budget. Visit our page on the matter to learn more about the contents of a landscaping plan.
This step ensures that the final product is up to your expectations. It also updates you on the production’s progress and gives you a better understanding of the costs of your project.
3. Tailor-made advices
The landscape architect you will hire will offer you personalised advice. He will take your starting point and the results you want into account. Don’t forget to check their qualifications! Several certifications ensure you that you are, in fact, dealing with an experienced professional. However, there are no mandatory courses or certificates of competency in the landscaping profession. You can ask your candidates about the training they have taken or about their previous experiences. Learn how to choose the landscaper who has the skills you need here.
Hiring a landscaper will help you better understand your property’s particular situation. Then, if your lot is uneven or is close to the waterfront, this expert can advise you on the precautions to take to achieve a landscaping that suits your taste.
4. Support at every step of the process
The landscape architect will follow you throughout the entire landscaping process: from the first drafts of the plan to the coordination of the various contractors, to the finishing and maintenance of your yard, they will make sure that the project is following the pre-established deadlines and that the result is of high quality.
Make sure to discuss with the landscape architect about the services you want to hire them for. Some architects simply work as consultants. We recommend that you go for full support with an expert, because they will coordinate, advise and solve any problems that may arise during the project. This way, you will ensure the efficiency of your project with an expert who will be able to anticipate the next steps and, above all, call upon the right people.
The landscape architect is an expert who can help you ensure that your new home is in perfect harmony with its environment, even before it is built! Would you like to know the steps to follow to achieve the landscaping of your dreams? Download our guide!
