We love the designs but we’d really like to…
It’s the classic landscapers’ nightmare to have the client override carefully drawn, and probably laid, plans to add something entirely inappropriate or just plain ugly. Trying to explain that the plants they want simply won’t grow in their location, limey soil, shady garden or inclement weather conditions can be far more difficult than it should be. As can pointing out that a six-foot circular water feature in a small space might not be the best idea or fit with the overall design of the space.
Oh, we don’t mind a bit of maintenance…
This may not be the worst thing they could say – so long as they mean it. It is a problem though when they turn around after a few months and complain that their beautiful new garden or space is too much work to maintain. Building in products like weed control fabric to your project will, however, make these situations less likely.
Nope, there are definitely no rubble or drainage problems in this garden…
Music to any landscaper’s ear – providing it’s true. There’s nothing worse than planning a great project only to find a serious problem lying in wait for you. There are some great solutions for drainage problems available, but it’s always best to have factored them in before you dig out the first clod of earth. Forewarned is forearmed.
Sorry, no we haven’t got planning permission for that…
A heart-stopping utterance, this one. While it is usually the client’s responsibility to gain planning permission for any building or long-term structure that’s part of a landscaping project, it always pays to double-check that they have indeed done so. Posthumous permission can be sought but it is always best to have it in place before work begins. Or have to take all your hard work apart.
I didn’t want that there. Can you move it two feet to the left?
Clients who nit-pick, micro-manage and generally stand over you while you work are enough to drive any landscape professional bonkers. Try gently pointing out that what you are doing is creating the design that they signed off, while doing your best to accommodate their less picky requests.
While you’re here, could you just…?
Sentences that start like that rarely end well and often carry the unspoken caveat of ‘but don’t charge me any more for it’. The best remedy is to simply say you’ll prepare them a quote – that usually does the trick.
Say hello to our Saint Bernard and four small children…
The best laid preparations of landscapers oft get wrecked by pets and children, not to mention the havoc they wreak on the finished article. There’s no easy solution to this, other than locking them up while you work and then taking a quick photo of the completed project so you can remember it as it was before they are let loose on it again.
To soften the blow from these misery-inducing proclamations, our Product That Works range for landscapers will make your life easier and help keep clients happier for longer.
To find out more about our landscaping product range and our network of stockists call us now on 0800 197 8885 or email sales@growtivation.com
