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You want to begin a long overdue garden project so where do you start? Some of you will go to the local DIY store and pick up one of the many flyers that these stores produce that show how to do virtually anything from putting a post into the ground to building an extension to your property. Some of you will go to a library, hunt out the most relevant books that are available and then return home and hope that your research has uncovered the books that have all that you need in them. Then there are those who need to know how things work, who want to take control so, they will treat the project as an excuse to learn something new and will attend night school or college to achieve the desired result. However and whatever it is that you do for your project you will need to keep track of your costs. It is no use not having a clue on what it is going to cost as you will quickly realise that unless you keep them under review they will spiral out of control and you will spend more than you intended to. When you are doing the job yourself it is important that you use a software package that allows you to be in control of your costs. It must be easy to understand and allow overspend areas to be identified quickly. It must be easy to use otherwise you won't bother to use it and control will be lost. There are a few suitable software cost estimators on the market that can be used to help you but not all of them work on the behalf of the everyday designer/builder in a way that is understandable and straightforward. As an individual you will find this process quite stressful and difficult. Imagine how the stress levels would rise if you were in a gardening / landscaping business where people come to you for your knowledge and expertise and who want you to the work on their behalf. They will expect you to provide a professional looking quote, a detailed breakdown of costs around each element of the garden design and they will expect and demand that their money is being spent in an agreed manner and will not be interested in excuses as to why something is going to cost more than has specified. They rightly feel that if costs escalate after the quote has been agreed and confirmed then the loser should be the landscaping company and not the customer. This is why is it is imperative that the professional has control over all aspects of design, build and costs because it protects their profit and this is an essential element of today's cut throat business activity. To protect and enhance your most precious commodity, that is, your reputation, is a vital part of your future business. Your clients must trust in every thing that you do for them. They can see that your testimonials show that you work closely with Landscape Architects, Garden Designers, Landscape Contractors, Local Authorities and Domestic Clients on a regular basis. They can see that you are a professional in the delivery of Landscape and Garden designs to cost and quality specifications, and as a Landscape tender consultant who wins and manages profitable projects for both employers, design professionals and contractors. What THEY want from you is someone who understands, and communicates that understanding of what THEY want, by providing clear, concise and accurate information on the project you are undertaking for them.
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