How much to pay for someone who manages your garden renovation project?

fantasyvn

Could you pls advise?

We plan to renovate our garden soon, with the assistance of a professional garden designer. In our mind, that designer would take care of everything, from the design of the new garden to managing the whole project.

By 'managing' I mean 'Throughout the project, they will maintain contact with the contractors and make site visits as required to ensure the build follows the plan and to deal with any on-site issues'.

Does anyone have an experience with this management aspect? How much do you expect to pay?

We estimate our whole budget is £10,000. I asked a designer, who said he charges £50 per hour for this managment alone. So if the project takes 10 days, his management fee alone is £4,000, which is unrealistic for us.

Does it mean with our budget of £10,000, we cannot afford to have someone to manage the project?

Thank you

System

They wouldn't be working full time, on site, for the entire duration of your project - in my experience most good landscape companies can take care of everything inc the site management...
You should ask your designer how much time they would estimate for managing the site with your project, rather than just their hourly rate as it will vary depending on the complexity of the project

MisterBaxter

For small(ish) building projects I've seen fees being quotes as around 8-10% of the total works costs. I am not so clued up on landscaping but I find it hard to see fees being more expensive than those of a building surveyor. On that basis I would have thought £1000 max.

If you know roughly what you want then I would ask for a firm price on the fees. Alternatively agree a fee for the design and then once you have that agree a separate fee for the management; at that stage the agent would know exactly what was involved in the project and how much time they are likely to need to put in to the project.

At the most I wouldn't expect them to be on site for more than an hour each day provided they help you pick a decent contractor. With that said many landscaping firms will do the whole package including design within the price they quote.

The problem with agreeing to pay an hourly rate is that the agent could take advantage, particularly if they haven't got much work on and spend a lot more time on the job than they really need to. Not only will this cost you money but will almost certainly end up with tensions between the agent and contractor.

tonyh66

MisterBaxter wrote: »

For small(ish) building projects I've seen fees being quotes as around 8-10% of the total works costs. I am not so clued up on landscaping but I find it hard to see fees being more expensive than those of a building surveyor. On that basis I would have thought £1000 max.

If you know roughly what you want then I would ask for a firm price on the fees. Alternatively agree a fee for the design and then once you have that agree a separate fee for the management; at that stage the agent would know exactly what was involved in the project and how much time they are likely to need to put in to the project.

At the most I wouldn't expect them to be on site for more than an hour each day provided they help you pick a decent contractor. With that said many landscaping firms will do the whole package including design within the price they quote.

The problem with agreeing to pay an hourly rate is that the agent could take advantage, particularly if they haven't got much work on and spend a lot more time on the job than they really need to. Not only will this cost you money but will almost certainly end up with tensions between the agent and contractor.

this...., why you feel the need to have a 'garden designer' separated from the actual dirty work is confusing.

Head_The_Ball

tonyh66 wrote: »

this...., why you feel the need to have a 'garden designer' separated from the actual dirty work is confusing.

I agree.

OP, get quotes from a few reputable local companies and choose the one you feel most comfortable with.

The company you choose should project manage the job. They do that all the time.

You can keep on eye on progress yourself without needing to pay someone £50 an hour.

rustyboy21

I just spent £8k on my garden and the whole thing was done and managed by the guy doing it. He had 2 lads with him most days, I specified what I wanted doing, he throws in what he thinks and the job was perfect.

IMO, I wouldnt have gone down the road of a designer and a team to fulfil his wishes, to me, that would only end up costing more.

You are the one to have to put up with the hassle and mud everywhere, why pay someone in a jacket and tie , to supposedly 'look over' the job?

Some of these so called designers can be stroppy so and so's if they dont get their own way !

fantasyvn

Thank you very much for your kind advice. So I think I will scrap this management idea.

BTW, do you still recommend using a separate professional design service for your garden? I suppose one still needs a drawing up of the final design, the preparation of a planting plan and plant schedules, etc?

RADDERS

We had our drive and front garden made over last year and the company did all the drawings and planting ideas as part of the quotation for doing the work. Maybe ask for a couple of quotes. We are in the north west if you want a recommendation.

arbrighton

We have paid a landscaping company to do our drive/ build raised beds/ returf. Fencing will follow when it isn't going to be knocked door by next door's building works. THey did all the hard labour and the boss project managed, with consultation with me.

Design evolved to suit existing plot, but the aim was always to get the hard landscaping done so I can garden rather than firefight with the mess/ weeds etc. I am enjoying what is now a more or less blank canvas to plant up myself, finding out what works in the plot, to my tastes etc.

Stevie_Palimo

Agree look for a reputable firm who will complete this from start to finish without the need for a additional person that by rights will just add on additional costs that could go into the actual project to give you more work.