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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
- Water
Collection Systems
| - Fences
- Irrigation
-
Lawns
- Ponds
-
Trees
- Drainage
|
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 6,800 clients on our contact file of which 250 are active customers. One
hundred and fifty are current maintenance contracts and 20 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, Knightdale, Mebane,
Pittsboro, Rolesville, Sanford, Wake Forest and Zebulon. We
also will perform contract work in Burlington, 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:
- Certified Plant
Professional
- Energy
Saving Landscape Certified
- Irrigation
Contractor #314, #C-158
- Landscape
Contractor, #0543, #CL0612
-
Limited Plumbing Contractor #32750
- Pesticide
Applicator # 11983
-
Irrigation System Backflow Assembly Tester
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II-415N Apex
- TOC
0024, Cary
- C-1476,
Durham
- 0072-PWC
Fayetteville
-
II-415N, Raleigh
-
Orange County Water and Sewer Authority
- Reuse
(Reclaimed) Water Conveyor, Raleigh
- Stormwater
BMP Inspection & Maintenance Certification #1825
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 will 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 $350. A complicated design will cost $700 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.
What is your policy
on the privacy of client information?
Leisure Landscapes
does not share client information with any other party. Contact information including
addresses, email addresses, phone numbers and financial data such as credit card
numbers and bank account numbers are maintained in our private and secured database.
Are you insured?
Yes. Leisure Landscapes
carries general liability coverage and its employees are covered by workers compensation
insurance.
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