Why “Free Designs” Often Miss the Mark
Many companies position design as “free” but here’s what you need to know:
Lack of Design Training:
Builders or contractors may sketch out a plan, but without formal design education, their proposals often fall short in composition, plant selections, material harmony, and long-term vision. It’s like asking your plumber to redesign the interior of your house.
Build-Driven Profit Models:
When a company makes 30–40% profit on a $50K build, they can afford to absorb $2–4K in design costs and still profit significantly. That “free design” is just a marketing tool so long as your yard looks decent enough after, they’ve still won.
Flexible Numbers, Fluid Transparency:
Line-item ambiguity lets them adjust figures like demo costs to make it seem like they’re giving you a discount, even when they’re not.
* * * * * The bottom line: * * * * *
A professional plan from the start saves you from investing thousands of dollars in a build that may not satisfy if it wasn’t properly designed up front.
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Transparency & Empowerment:
I walk you through every budget item in relation to the design so you know exactly what you’re paying for and can intentionally choose where to invest.
Fair, Open Bidding:
You’ll receive bids from two vetted preferred contractors that gives you full leverage to negotiate fairly.
Hands-On Oversight
Once the build begins, I stay involved, supporting key decisions, making refinements, and maintaining accountability so the project stays true to the plan.
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This model ensures:
You win, with a new beautiful landscape thoughtfully designed and competitively built.
The contractors win, through clear direction, fewer competitors, and fair compensation.
I win, for delivering a design that fully aligns with both your vision and practical reality.
If you’d like to discuss how this approach can work for your project, I’d love to chat.