New Tools in the Shed

Outdoor Design Group offers a new kind of partnership to landscapers, contractors and pool companies eliminating the need and overhead of a design staff.

Landscaping has moved away from just a patio and some new plantings to a wide range of features including pools, outdoor kitchens, water falls, pergolas, sun rooms and other unique items to fit homeowners’ lifestyles. Clients today are looking for a more comprehensive complete service from their company to seamlessly design and install the entire outdoor living space. They cringe at the thought of having to contract with several companies to have their outdoor dreams come alive.

Contracting companies are excellent installers. However, most lack the expertise or resources to produce state of the art drawings and the ability to implement all the complicated features that customers request. Having to oversee the installation of a pool, sun room, plantings or an outdoor kitchen intimidates many contractors. Because of these inabilities, companies are missing out on the direction in which the market is moving and loosing important business to their competitors.

Outdoor Design Group offers design and project management services to contractors. As a consulting company working through the contractor, Outdoor Design Group is completely in the background. All drawings and presentation materials have the contractor’s logo in the title block and the client only interfaces with the contractor’s representative. The contractor still presents pricing and scheduling.

Design services include, consultation, site analysis, problem solving, designs, presentation and construction details. Design assistance is also available in detailing clients’ wants and desires by providing a Landscaping Checklist. This checklist will help get detailed information from the client identifying landscape components, styles, plant preferences and other information.

Site analysis is done by Outdoor Design Group or the contractor. Smaller projects may only require measurements and a few photographs which can be done by the contractor and sent over the internet. Larger projects are handled differently. In this instance, if site analysis is performed by the contractor, a Field Measurement Manual can be provided detailing all information needed from the site to put together a design. This information can include accurately measuring existing structures, plants, trees, driveways, utilities and any other feature, then locating them on the property plat plan. Other needed survey information can include elevations, set back lines, restrictions and preserve areas. Large numbers of digital photographs are also needed for reference. If the contractor does not have the time or tools to perform complicated site surveys Outdoor Design Group can perform this service.

Using this information along with the Landscaping Checklist from the client, Outdoor Design Group works through the problems and creates a design. The design is then emailed to the contractor for review before hard copies are printed for presentation. All documents and drawings will have only the contractor’s name in the title block. The contractor determines what drawings and information are needed to help the client visualize the project. In addition to the basic CADD black and white landscape plans Outdoor Design Group can also provide color renderings, perspectives, elevations, and construction details. These drawings along with plant information and material options compile a complete package for presentation to the client.

Once the client is ready to move forward to implementation Outdoor Design Group can assist in project management. This can be done in one of two options. First, is helping the landscape contractor in areas where expertise is lacking. This can include help in site layout, establishing finished elevations, and selecting subcontractors for items such as pools, masonry, carpentry or specialty features such as pizza ovens and putting greens. Once subcontractors are selected Outdoor Design Group can manage the job progress, schedule sequence of implementation and communicate with all parties involved.

The second option is one in which Outdoor Design Group manages the entire installation process with little involvement from the contractor’s staff. Even though Outdoor Design Group does not do installation work, they will represent the contractor and have as much or as little direct contact with the client as the contractor desires. Implementation of the design can be done by using the contractor’s crews, all subcontractors, or a combination of both. This service includes site layout, setting elevations, scheduling, managing crews and subcontractors, quality inspections, resolving on site problems and seeing the project to fruition. Outdoor Design Group will provide regular communication and updates to all parties on progress and scheduling. The advantage of this second option is that it allows the contractor to more efficiently use its staff’s time to promote and pursue other jobs. Both methods result in a seamless installation process and a highly satisfied client.

Landscaping has changed quite a bit in recent years. Many contractors feel as if they have been left behind. Retaining a design staff is very expensive especially in the slower winter and summer months. Partnering with Outdoor Design Group offers an alternative to the expense and management of this staff thus reducing overhead while providing state of the art drawings and presentation materials.  This also allows the contractor to quickly move on to the next project increasing the chances of another sale. Working behind the scenes, Outdoor Design Group expands the contractor’s services, opens new opportunities, and takes their business to the next level.

Outdoor Design Group is based in Maryland and works with  contractors nationwide.