The Time - Value Continuum

Here is a sample graphic I did for my first "really big project" back in 2000. 

In ten years, a lot has changed.

There are these things that I have been wondering for the past few years about time and value.  If I may, I would like to ask you (any reader of this, now or in the future) for your help with some answers.  I know I don't have any real "followers" on here.  But hopefully through Facebook and the potential HGTV enthusiasts,  or the weekend-warrior homeowners who might be out there, or even the fellow landscape professionals out there who might be able to offer some valuable advice through any of these channels.  I would appreciated any bits of good feedback.  Let's imagine for a moment...

*cue the harp music and dream imagery*

We are in the year 2010.  Let's imagine you are a homeowner with a "diamond in the rough" property, and have set aside a budget of $100,000 to invest into a well-conceived landscape for you, your family, and friends to enjoy over the next ten years.  It might include things such as a pool, pond, or outdoor living space with some features that you have been dreaming about to enjoy in your time outdoors. You have the funds and you have some ideas, but need to have them crafted into the ultimate design that will skillfully include all of the features you desire.  So.... you need a design, and you need a good designer.

Well, of course I always aspire to be that designer for you to call, and hopefully you will call me.  So, let's say that you do, and you happen to call one or two other possible designers.  Here it is, the "Landscaper's Challenge", which always sounds good in theory, but could often become a waste of time and delay the process of getting your work done.   (I thought about rambling on this for a moment, but please refer to the next blog post for an explanation.)   Anyway, sorry for the tangent...

Back to the time-value continuum.  So I have some different design tools to offer you in the process of creating your $100,000 landscape.  Each of these tools takes a certain amount of time to use in perparation of your plans, and each tool is effective in certain ways, some more than others.  But if I could ask for your advice, which tools are most and least effective, and how much might you think is reasonable to spend on each type of design tool, to get the design that you really want...

So, you start with some type of nice plan layout.... and you ask:  "what is this supposed to look like?"

Here are some options:

Case 1.  Hand-drawn graphics/sketches used to supplement a landscape plan.

1. How effective is this to you?

A. Very!

B. It helps, I would pay for this.

C. It is not really necessary, or I would not pay for it. 

2.  How much would this (type of) graphic be worth to you?  

A. $100 - $250

B. $250 - $500
C. $500 - $750
D. $750 - $1,000
E. $1,000-$1,250
F. $1,250 - $1,500
G. Nothing

Case 2:  Larger-Scale hand-drawn graphics/sketches used to supplement a landscape plan.

3. How effective is this to you?

A. Very!
B. It helps, I would pay for this.
C. It is not really necessary, or I would not pay for it.

4. How much would this graphic be worth to you?

A. $100 - $250
B. $250 - $500
C. $500 - $750
D. $750 - $1,000
E.  $1,000-$1,250
F. $1,250 - $1,500
G. Nothing


Case 3:  Computer Photo-Imaging.

5. How effective is this to you?

A. Very!
B. It helps, I would pay for this.
C. It is not really necessary, or I would not pay for it.

6. How much would this graphic be worth to you?

A. $100 - $250
B. $250 - $500
C. $500 - $750
D. $750 - $1,000
E. $1,000-$1,250
F. $1,250 - $1,500
G. Nothing



Case 4:  Computer-Imaging, to the Extreme.

7. How effective is this to you?

A. Very!
B. It helps, I would pay for this.
C. It is not really necessary, or I would not pay for it.

8. How much would this graphic be worth to you?

A. $250 - $500
B. $500 - $750
C. $750 - $1,000
D. $1,000-$1,250
E. $1,250 - $1,500
F. $1,500 - $1,750
G. $1,750 - $2,000
H. $2,000 or more is definitely justifiable.
H. Nothing


Each one of these are tools is effective in showing people their design, while allowing them to particicpate in the design process as they viusalize the finished project.  However, there are significant differences in how much time each of these techniques will typically require. A case can be made that the lastest/greatest and most time-consuming techniques used to illustrate a design are not the best and most cost-effective methods to use.  Their could be a case made for the old hand-drawn illustrations as the best method for design graphics, depending on how much people want to invest in their design and what they need to see, as they don't always take such an enormous amount of time.  

Hmmm, but it is great to be able to say:  "let me show you what this stone paver will look like on your terrace."    

Whatever answers or feedback you can provide are greatly appreciated!

***If you answer all of these and send them to me at:  Dave@landscapedesignstudios.com along with whatever feedback you have, I will offer you $100 off of any design work you need.***