Understanding Landscaping Estimates

Why Prices Vary

In the landscaping industry it’s common for pricing in estimates to vary wildly from one company to another. Why is that?

How does experience affect landscaping estimates?

On the face of it, with experience and expertise comes value, and with value comes cost. It's easy to think that more experienced landscapers charge more per hour, and that's where the price difference lays.

But this difference in cost can manifest in ways beyond a simple labour charge.

Here are two examples

  1. New Lawn Installation
    A quality landscape company like North Arrow Landscapes will recommend a minimum of six inches of topsoil for your new lawn, whether imported over poor soil or incorporating usable existing soil. A less reputable company may cut their costs – both labour and material – by estimating on three to four inches.
  2. Tree Pruning
    When estimating the cost for pruning a tree, a less reputable company may present a price based on using a hedge trimmer (gasp!) or making indiscriminate heading cuts. North Arrow Landscapes will price a pruning job based on expert level pruning techniques. We take a full understanding of the specific tree’s biology, pruning response, industry best practices, and seasonality into account, which is reflected in our rates.

In both of the examples above, the client is presented with two rates for what appears to be the same end result, i.e. a new lawn or a pruned tree. In reality, the work performed is vastly different, and the finished project will reflect those differences.

IT TAKES TIME: Some differences in quality are not noticeable immediately after a job is complete. Errors in technique and installation can take time to manifest, and may even result in having to redo a project at the cost and the hassle of the client.

The more experienced approach, with increased material and labour rates, may require a higher initial investment but ultimately will produce a much favourable long-term result.

Do Your Homework

If you have received estimates for your project that differ wildly in price, it’s to your benefit to dig deeper and start asking questions.

Why should I ask questions about my estimates?

Asking questions will help you better understand exactly what you're getting from your landscaper, and also help you better understand the contractor.

A professional landscape contractor should be able to effectively communicate and justify every single item in their estimate or proposal.

DIG DEEP: In general, significant differences between the high and low bids should invite a higher level of inquiry on the part of the client.

Your contractor should be able to explain:

  • Material choices and specifications (what and why)
  • Installation methods
  • Plant selection and/or placement
  • Design considerations
  • Safety planning
  • Adherence to industry standards

Your contractor should also be able to provide background information on the industry standards they follow, such as the Irrigation Industry Association of BC or the BC Landscape Standards.

We always recommend that our clients take their time to review proposals, do the necessary research, make the necessary inquiries, and be sure to compare apples to apples when making such an important decision.

North Arrow Landscapes is guided by a formally educated, fully certified Horticulturist, and you can expect that level of expertise to be shown in every single job.

Ready to build a beautiful, manageable landscape that thrives on Vancouver Island? We’d love to chat.