If you have a client who has been dreaming of a special outdoor barbecue setting where they can enjoy a few games and relax after a long day, hiring a freelance landscape design architect service might help your company develop the perfect outdoor space for a lower price, whether the area is 20 acres or 20 square feet. But before you decide to hire one, here are a few essential things you should know about these professionals to ensure you will get the best freelance landscape design architect with expertise, experience, and skills.
Table of contents
- What does a freelance landscape design architect service do?
- The main job of landscape design services
- What does a freelance landscape design architect service need from you?
- What to expect from freelance landscape design architect services?
- Landscape design installation or construction
- How Cad Crowd can help
What does a freelance landscape design architect service do?
A freelance landscape design architect service comprises trained professionals who have spent long years learning about architectural styles, design concepts, horticulture, and care for outdoor environments. Landscape designers develop plans resembling a site map or blueprint to guide professional contractors and landscapers to beautify or update an outdoor area. Landscape designs can range from simple hand-drawn sketches written on paper to a 3D model or CAD-designed rendering of an outdoor space.
These freelance landscape designers usually charge fees ranging from $300 to $700 or higher for custom landscape designs. A full freelance landscape design architect service often provides landscape designs at a minimal to no cost, provided they will also handle the construction and labor, if not at least a section or phase of the entire design concept.
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The main job of landscape design services
Many landscape designers schedule an on-site meeting to assess the project personally and engage in a more detailed discussion of the landscape design project with you. The landscape designer can identify the best plants, solutions, and materials that work well with the yard. Once there, they will take photos, take measurements, and even collect soil samples sometimes to gather the critical details they need before they start the actual landscape design concept.
Landscape designs always include a descriptive list of plants and outdoor or building materials and the specifics of what goes where and the amount that will go there. Some landscape design services will offer a bid for installation or other things that should be carried out, including site preparation work, remediation, tear-out yard grading, or demolition.
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What does a freelance landscape design architect service need from you?
Like other home renovation projects, a vision marks the beginning of any landscape design, even if this vision is to make the space attractive. Almost everyone who consults an architectural planning and design service is interested in making their indoor or outdoor space more beautiful. However, since client preferences vary, it’s normal for landscape designs to feature various elements. For instance, a client may think that a neutral color palette and calming greenery can improve their backyard garden.
In contrast, another client may prefer a bountiful garden in the summer with herbs and veggies filling the planter boxes. Others opt for the ultimate oasis in their outdoor space, complete with an outdoor dining and kitchen area, fire feature, and showy exotic plants surrounding the pool. You can ask your client to jot down what the revamped new space will do for them on a piece of paper. This is where they can outline their budget and dream big. An experienced swimming pool design company can help with designing and drafting the swimming pool of your dreams.
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Don’t forget the concept of landscape design is about coming up with the master plan for the outdoor area instead of something you need to fix or correct right away. If your client plans to have a patio space covered with a backyard pergola in the next several years, for example, be sure to inform the landscape designer so that they can allot a space for this in their drawing. It’s also important to consider maintenance and be ready for the recommendations and suggestions of the designer.
A reliable freelance landscape design architect service will guide you through selecting materials and plants that best suit your yard and the natural environment. The client can also share style inspiration or images they like with the 3d exterior rendering professional. They can browse Pinterest, Google, or Instagram to search for photos of outdoor living spaces, landscape designs, or yards they like.
Even an image or two can convey their personal aesthetic preferences that will influence the final design. The most popular terms or trends they can search for today include monochrome garden, backyard makeover, outdoor living room, low maintenance landscape, and pollinator garden.
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What to expect from freelance landscape design architect services?
Getting custom landscape designs for a property is an intricate process that can last several weeks to months. First, you should meet with the landscape designer in person or virtually. After ensuring all the dimensions and details are in place, the design stage can often take days to several weeks before the service gets back to you. The timeline will depend on how many clients that landscape designer works with simultaneously.
Also, landscape design professionals need enough time to research, brainstorm, and develop ideas that they will put onto paper later. Although several landscape designs might have more sense of artistry than others, these are outdoor living space blueprints that expert landscapers and homeowners can follow and refer to when working on the property.
After the initial contact with the landscape design service, you can expect the first meeting within one to two weeks, or even longer, if you reach out during peak season. The first draft of the custom landscape design might be available for you to check within a few weeks to one more or longer, depending on the designer’s availability and the project’s timing.
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One recommendation is to hire a 3d landscape rendering firm during winter or late fall. This is the least busy time of the year for landscape designers. This will also give you the best of both worlds: the designer gets more time to focus on your project, taking them less time since their schedule isn’t as full as during the summer months. In addition, many people don’t realize that they can start on most landscaping projects during the off-season. Some people recommend against tearing up the yard when it’s cold outside, but the truth is that many hardscaping projects could be constructed during winter, provided that the ground isn’t frozen.
Installing outdoor sound and lighting systems can also be done during the off-season. Retaining walls, gazebos, and pergolas can be installed at any time of the year. Planting hardy evergreens, shrubs, and trees during off-season periods is also possible. After the design and revisions are completed, the planning and installation process can start immediately. It’s also an excellent time for the client to look for outdoor furniture or accessories.
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Landscape design installation or construction
After you and your client agree on the custom landscape design, it’s time for you to breathe life into this new vision. A trustworthy freelance 3D landscape rendering artist can work with the installation crew. Most landscape designs also have a competitive bid for every labor, plant, and material required to complete the project. It makes these services a one-stop shop for all things related to the outdoors.
Although you might be tempted to do everything independently, it’s best to ensure that experts will deal with and install everything according to the plan to achieve the best results. It might mean going to a few nurseries to look for a particular plant or buying some equipment or tools as requested by your client. After that, your client can look forward to a time filled with fun and enjoyment. They will surely appreciate their new beautifully enhanced outdoor environment. They might just need the new patio to enjoy a hearty meal outdoors with their family and friends.
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Once the plants mature, they will also see and realize why landscaping is one of the best home improvement projects they can take on. Just don’t forget to remind them that a freshly installed landscape might not be as gorgeous as a thriving and well-established landscape. The general consensus is to wait three years to allow the landscaped garden to take shape.
How Cad Crowd can help
Plug & play digital platforms and virtual landscape designs continue to become popular. Companies will soon see the enormous value of working with a freelance landscape design architect service. Cad Crowd should top your list of options if you’re looking for expert freelance services to help you bring your clients’ landscape ideas to life. Search for freelance landscape designers who can instantly transform outdoor spaces into complete works of art for a fraction of the cost.