|
...
What is your area of expertise?
We are
a full service landscape design/build/maintenance company
for residential and commercial customers. Our award-winning
designs are noted for their creativity, aesthetic appeal and
environmental sensitivity. Our landscape installers are craftsmen
skilled in carpentry, masonry and landscaping.
We install:
- Patios,
Walks and Walls
-
Landscape Lighting
-
Gardens
-
Fountains
-
Decks and Arbors
|
- Fences
- Irrigation
-
Lawns
-
Ponds
-
Trees
|
Our Complete
Care Plan, IrriGuard and FloraGuard maintenance programs provide:
- Mowing
-
Edging
-
Fertilizing
-
Pesticide Applications
-
Weeding
|
- Pruning
- Mulching
-
Lawn Renovations
-
Seasonal Flower Changes
-
Irrigation Startup/Winterization
|
How
many customers do you currently have?
We have
250 clients on our customer file. Of these, 130 are active
maintenance contracts and 10 design/build clients are in process
at any point in time.
How long have you been in business?
Leisure Landscapes began business in 1993 and is incorporated
in the State of North Carolina.
What areas do you serve?
We
regularly serve the Triangle area of North Carolina, which
includes the cities of Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill and
the townships of Apex, Cary, Clayton, Creedmoor, Fuquay-Varina,
Holly Springs, Rolesville, Sanford, Wake Forest and Zebulon.
We also
will perform contract work in Greensboro and Wilmington, NC.
For work
outside these areas, please contact us.
What credentials do you currently hold?
The principal is a registered landscape contractor with a
BIE degree in engineering from Georgia Tech and a Master's
Degree in business from the University of North Florida. The
lead designer has a BS degree in horticulture from NC State.
We
hold the following licenses or certificates:
-
Landscape Contractor #1320
-
Pesticide Applicator # 11983
-
Irrigation System Backflow Assembly Tester
-
II-415N Apex
- TOC
0024, Cary
-
II-415N, Raleigh
-
Orange County Water and Sewer Authority
- Reuse (Reclaimed) Water conveyor, Raleigh
The
firm or members of the firm have membership in the following
professional and trade associations:
How do you go about designing a landscape
for a customer?
We
set up an appointment where the customer and designer meet
to review their needs. Attention is given to the style of
the neighborhood, the customer s desires, the architecture
and placement of the property, planting issues such as sightlines,
scale, lighting conditions, and finally resale considerations.
After the initial discussion, a concept drawing is prepared
on site, reviewed with the client and then finished in the
design studio. The design is sent by e-mail for comments to
the customer along with the installation plan. Once the design
is finalized, an itemization of the list of materials and
labor is created and the business proposal contract is prepared.
When all is complete, a presentation meeting is held with
the customer and designer to sign the contract.
Do you give free estimates?
No.
All of our installations are customized to the owner and the
property. Before a cost can be determined, a design must be
created. And that takes at least two hours. The quotation
process may take one to four hours depending on the complexity
of the design. We charge for these design and quotation services.
There
is one exception:
You are calling in and have the dimensions we need to enter
into our pricing algorithms. An example might be a concrete
patio, flat on grade. You give us the dimensions by phone,
we ll give you the base price over the phone. However, this
is not binding. Before there is agreement to do the job, we
will need to go to the site, prepare a site plan and design
so that our crews will know what to install and where to install
it. And design and project management fees will be applied
in the contract preparation.
How much do you charge for a design?
The
cost of a design will vary with the complexity. Our hourly
charge is $65. A basic landscape design costs $325. A complicated
design will cost $600 or more.
Each
design will require one hour on site to establish the property
baseline and concept drawing. A second hour in the studio
will finish the drawing. A third hour will establish the implementation
plan, a fourth hour the cost analysis and the fifth hour the
proposal and contract forms.
An
example of a complicated design is one that involves carpentry,
such as a deck or screened porch. These require a complete
itemization of each board and determination of structural
loads to correctly size the material and determine its form.
Project
success comes from thorough planning. And it is the project
design that separates a mediocre project from an exceptional
one. Leisure Landscapes is recognized in the industry for
its award-winning project designs.
We
make sure your project is done right. Your investment in a
good design pays off in your satisfaction and in the increase
in your property value.
What if I have my own design?
If
you already have a design prepared by an architect or outside
design firm, there will be no charge for the design fee. However,
we will charge for the time to interpret the design and develop
the materials and labor quotations and prepare the contract
documents.
Do you have a business relationship
with any company whose products or services you recommend?
No.
Do you provide a written contract?
Yes.
The contract specifies the materials and labor as outlined
in the project itemization and the financial terms. (Which
is normally 50% down on execution of the contract and the
balance on the day of completion of the job).
Do you provide financing?
Yes.
Special terms can be arranged for larger contracts. Past due
balances are charged a rate of 1 1/2% per month (18% per year).
We also
accept Visa, Master Card and Discover
credit cards. A nonrefundable pre-authorization fee of $.23
and a convenience fee of 2.44% will be applied to every transaction.
Are you insured?
Yes.
Leisure Landscapes carries general liability coverage and
its employees are covered by workers compensation insurance.
... |