Updated: 08/05/24
Trusting a designer with your garden can be a stressful process.
With so many elements to choose from, it’s challenging enough to decide what kind of garden design you want, let alone the person who’s going to implement the changes.
So, how do you choose a professional garden designer?
There are a few steps you should be aware of to ensure you choose the best garden designer for your needs.
If you’re wondering how to choose a garden designer, you’ll need to do the following:
- Determine your budget
- Carry out thorough research
- Ask for quotes
- Check out reviews
- Look at garden designer’s portfolio
1. Determine Your Budget
Before you begin looking for a garden designer, it’s a good idea to determine your budget.
When determining your budget you should be as realistic as possible about what you can afford, as no project is worth putting financial strain on you.
While every designer will have their own breakdown of costs, your budget will generally need to cover a site survey, a deposit, as well as the garden design quote to name a few of the costs.
It’s important to remember that similarly to other design projects, you will need to account for a buffer in your garden design budget. This will ensure that you’re covered should unexpected costs arise.
As such, whether you have a large or small garden, it’s better to be conservative when it comes to determining a budget for your garden design.
The right garden designer will be upfront with you about whether your budget is realistic for what you’re hoping to achieve.
2. Carry Out Thorough Research
The next step involved with how to choose a garden designer is to carry out thorough research.
You can begin by asking friends and family whether they would recommend any local garden designers and what their experience of working with them was.
This is important, as your friends and family will provide you with an unbiased opinion and highlight any issues they might have experienced with certain designers.
Another option is to ask local nurseries, as they will also likely have information on local garden designers.
You can also contact the garden designer or visit their website to learn more about their design process and whether they’re a good fit for you.
3. Ask For Quotes
After you’ve determined your budget and done enough research, you should ask for quotes from multiple designers.
Every garden designer has their own pricing in place, but according to The Guardian, you could pay as much as £10,000 for a 100 sq metre garden area. If you want a complete overhaul, you may need to pay even more.
It’s generally recommended to ask for a few quotes to make comparisons between them.
However, it’s worth noting that while some garden designers might look more competitive than others, the cheapest option isn’t always the best.
It’s better to opt for a designer with several years of experience and that doesn’t cut corners when it comes to quality.
Raine Garden Design is an award-winning garden designer, and we have over 22 years of experience in the industry.
If you’re interested in carrying out a garden design and landscaping project, be sure to get in touch today.
While every designer will have their own pricing in place, on average, you can expect to pay anywhere from £5,000 to £10,000 for a transformational project on a garden of 100 m2.
4. Check Out Reviews
If you’re wondering how to choose a garden designer, a good piece of advice is to check out reviews of others in the industry.
Reviews are important as they provide you with a wider understanding of a company, and you’re more likely to find a trustworthy designer by reading them.
Considering that ‘up to 84% of consumers noted that reviews were important in their purchasing decisions’, reading reviews when looking for a reputable garden designer is crucial.
Checking reviews will also provide you with the reassurance that the designer can bring your garden design idea to life.
While problems can arise, how a garden designer handles them will reveal a lot. Reviews will highlight this, and give you a bigger picture of who you’re dealing with.
5. Look At The Garden Designer’s Portfolio
Last, but not least, you should look at the garden designer’s portfolio.
A portfolio is a curation of a designer’s best work and will contain photos and information about projects they’ve completed in the past. Portfolios are a great reflection of standards and quality, and may even provide you with inspiration for your next garden project.
Most importantly, a garden designer’s portfolio will provide you with reassurance that they can complete your project to a high standard.
If a garden designer hasn’t got a portfolio on their website or doesn’t produce one when asked, this should be taken as a red flag and you should proceed with caution.
We hope that this article has given you a better idea of how to choose a garden designer.
About Us
At Raine Garden Design, our award-winning designer, Raine, has over 23 years of experience in landscape design and an in-depth understanding of the design and construction process.
To learn more about our garden design services at Raine Garden Design, get in touch at studio@rainegardendesign.co.uk or on 07702 042559.
Written by Jemima Thomas for Raine Garden Design.
