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Landscaping project - deposit
TheCyclingProgrammer
Posts: 3,702 Forumite
We are having our rear garden landscaped later this year. We have a designer and are working towards the final presentation plan stages.
We have had quotes from two landscaping firms - one of whom was recommended by the designer as she has worked with them on projects in the past.
There wasn't much in it between the two quotes, but the landscaper recommended by our designer came in a couple of grand cheaper.
My main concern is their proposed payment structure. Both have staged payments but the more expensive landscaper does not require a deposit in advance.
The cheaper quote requires a 25% deposit to secure the date. I've read their terms and the deposit is refundable but this still strikes me as excessively high to secure the dates 3 months in advance. The total quote is in the region of £15k so we are talking about over £3k deposit. Requiring an initial payment before starting to order materials I could understand and would be happy to pay this closer to the start date but I'm very uncomfortable handing over this much 3 months in advance. It may be "refundable" but that doesn't help me if they go under in that time.
Am I worrying about nothing? Is this normal practice?
We have had quotes from two landscaping firms - one of whom was recommended by the designer as she has worked with them on projects in the past.
There wasn't much in it between the two quotes, but the landscaper recommended by our designer came in a couple of grand cheaper.
My main concern is their proposed payment structure. Both have staged payments but the more expensive landscaper does not require a deposit in advance.
The cheaper quote requires a 25% deposit to secure the date. I've read their terms and the deposit is refundable but this still strikes me as excessively high to secure the dates 3 months in advance. The total quote is in the region of £15k so we are talking about over £3k deposit. Requiring an initial payment before starting to order materials I could understand and would be happy to pay this closer to the start date but I'm very uncomfortable handing over this much 3 months in advance. It may be "refundable" but that doesn't help me if they go under in that time.
Am I worrying about nothing? Is this normal practice?
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