Making the Most of Your Landscape Lighting Designer Relationship

25 Aug Making the Most of Your Landscape Lighting Designer Relationship

By Mike Gambino

1. Be as clear as possible about your ideas: what you want, as well as what you don’t
2. Do your research. Not only should you find the best designer that you could ask to help you, but you should also be aware of the cost to build the type of project you need. Ultimately, this will help you be have the most realistic expectations of what is possible within your budget, time frame and other defining factors.
3. Being informed as well as Being open and honest about what your desires are with your designer, is the key to a successful relationship.

Informing your designers about your ideas through:

Gathering Inspiration: use images that you like or even dislike in order to help better illustrate what you were thinking. These can be design related, or pictures of effects, brightness levels etc. – anything that inspires you.

• Be realistic about the financial aspect of your project and budget. Making an initial list, or creating one with your designer, of the design aspects you may need, as well as what you would like, can help you through the process of prioritizing where and how the overall budget will be allocated. Sometimes, you may be surprised that you are able to get exactly what you really desired as long as you allow your designer to help guide you through the development of the project. Honesty here is Key!

• Be receptive to ideas. If you have made an informed decision when hiring your designer, trust yourself in that decision by relying on some of the knowledge and expertise that this professional is bringing to the conversation. Ultimately, as the client, you have the final word, so it can’t hurt to hear your designer through.

Some of the most common mistakes made when hiring a designer:

1. Not taking a proper business approach
2. Not being clear about your expectations
3. Not researching sufficiently the method of working, style and qualifications
4. Not getting a proper agreement or contract established prior to beginning the process, outlining each parties responsibilities
5. Not establishing a budget
6. Not being prepared for the unexpected!
7. Not being prepared for the *emotional* tensions which can occur when there are worker present on the property and construction being done at the home.
8. Not trusting the professional, especially at the *Leap of Faith* moment – where as the client, you feel frightened or unsure of the outcome, but that is when you need to REALLY trust the decisions you have made with your designer and allow everything to come together before making your final decision.

Some common misconceptions about working with a designer:

1. A designer will impose their tastes, styles and selections on you – NO!
2. Using a professional will end up costing much more money – NO!

Of course designers have access to product and vendors that as a retail customer, you would not be able to purchase, but more importantly as designers we spend every moment sourcing, reading, visiting vendors and workrooms in order to gather as much information as possible.

Also, just like an account manager, a landscape lighting designer will help avoid any costly mistakes and will be able to guarantee the sizing and delivery of all products as well as providing you with the service of a hassle-free experience.

Designing your landscape lighting is FUN – so enjoy it!

This landscape lighting blog is published by Mike Gambino of Gambino landscape lighting inc. all rights reserved. Mike is a professional landscape lighting system designer/ builder and has been designing, installing and maintaining landscape lighting systems for more than 27 years. Mike resides in the Los Angeles area with his wife and 2 sons. To visit his website go to www.Gambinolighting.com . To inquire about hiring Mike please click here .

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